Greg Hanks Design BA-660, Operation And Service Manual

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BA660.doc 01/01/97 13 of 25
Set threshold
The threshold control is designed to provide a range of -40 to +20,
with the "0" point occurring at the "0" LED. Threshold should be set
with an exaggerated ratio control, because the gain reduction meter
indicates how much limiting is going to occur, not where or when.
After the threshold setting has been achieved, then the ratio control
should be backed off to the point of auditory satisfaction.
Attack and Release considerations
In order to achieve pleasant results in heavy limiting for program
material, the attack and release times must be
VERY LONG
. To recover
sustained signal material in the face of heavy background, it is often
necessary to resort to very short attack and release times. Between the
two is where the majority of the operating life of these controls exist.
Stay between 9 O'clock and 3 O'clock in order to keep any concept of
fidelity.
Ratio and the concept of open-ness.
The robust characteristics of the gain cell make it easy to squash the
crap out of a good sounding dynamically alive signal and make
everything sound like an AM radio mix. This is not a desirable
objective. The design goal of the limiter is to be able to control the
dynamics of acoustically originated signals without sucking the life out
of them. The higher the ratio, the less dynamic range, and the more
control over the signal dynamics you maintain. The lower the ratio, the
more dynamic range, and the less control you exercise, but the better it
sounds. In the beginning, use the presets, determine which ones you
like the sound of the most. The curious can contact their GREG
HANKS DESIGN dealer or the factory for technical information
about attack and release times along with the ratio for each preset.
Presets.
A PCMCIA format plug-in programming card is provided on the rear
of the limiter. With this device you can tailor the characteristics of the
unit to your satisfaction. The offerings in the "Original" preset card are
my impressions of;
1.
Fairchild
660
2.
LA-2
3.
Neve
Console
Bus limiter