5
Scarlett Plug-in Suite Modules
Compressor
The Scarlett Compressor is modelled on the legendary Focusrite hardware devices, with individually tuned optos to help create the
sound of vintage 1960s compression. The plug-in can be used to squash the dynamics of a sound in varying degrees, e.g. remove the
sudden loud bursts, so that the overall level can then be turned up to make the signal as loud as possible. A compressor essentially
acts like an automatic volume control, turning down the volume of a signal if it gets too loud. This reduces variation between loud
and quiet passages, as it automatically reduces the gain when the signal exceeds a given volume, defined as the threshold. Using the
Compressor helps to even out a performance, stopping a signal from clipping and/or disappearing in the mix, and can also give it a
whole new sonic character.
The controls are:
INPUT Knob –
Increases or decreases the level of the signal at the compressor input. No gain modification occurs with the knob
in a central position. Rotate clockwise to increase and anticlockwise to decrease the level by up to 18dB
THRESHOLD Knob –
Sets the level at which compression begins. The lower this value is set, the more of the signal will be
compressed as the audio will compress when the threshold is reached. Rotate the TRSHLD dial anticlockwise to lower the threshold
and so increase the compression
RATIO Knob –
Determines how much the signal is reduced by when it exceeds the threshold. For example, a ratio of
10:1 means that when the level of the uncompressed signal exceeds the threshold by 10dB, the compressed signal will
only increase by 1dB.The higher the ratio therefore (the further the dial is rotated in a clockwise direction) the more
heavily the signal is compressed
GAIN REDUCTION Meter –
Indicates when compression is occurring by showing the gain reduction that the
signal is undergoing
ATTACK Knob –
Defines how quickly the compressor kicks in, e.g. how fast the signal is turned down when it exceeds the threshold.
In other words, setting a slower/longer attack time by rotating the dial clockwise will mean more of the loud
part of the signal gets through uncompressed, which makes the signal much more punchy but also more likely to clip
RELEASE Knob –
Defines how quickly the compressor stops acting on the signal after it has begun to compress. Setting
a quicker/shorter release time by rotating the dial anticlockwise will normally make the signal louder overall, however this
is dependant on how often the level exceeds the threshold and how fast the attack time is
OUTPUT Knob –
Defines how much the level of the compressed signal is increased after compression. This means
that a heavily compressed signal can be turned up loud to give it much more presence without fear of any overload
or clipping occurring
