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Joemeek SC2.2, User Manual

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Joemeek SC2.2 User Manual Download Page 9

8

'SLOPE' This control alters the ratio of compression. In practice, '1' is very 
gentle compression while '5' can give severe 'pumping' effects. I find that '2' 
or '3' is right for voice and for overall effect, while the higher numbers are 
better for instruments.

'COMPRESSION' simply adds gain to the compression sidechain. In simple 
terms this changes the 'threshold' of the compression although with this 
compressor the 'threshold' is not clearly defined; the compression starts 
very gradually and the compression ratio changes with programme content 
and amplitude.

For practical purposes, winding up the compression control increases the 
amount of compression. In use you will find that musically, all controls are 
interrelated. The optimum position for the compression control is usually 
around '7' or '8'.

'ATTACK' sets the time that the compressor takes to act. At minimum 
(fastest) it's possible to make it 'overshoot' on some percussive programme 
material: This means that the compression electronics are driven hard 
before the gain has been controlled by the light cells. The cells catch up 
and overcompress momentarily giving a tiny dip immediately following the 
start of the 'note'. This is best demonstrated by using a drum track and 
setting the slope to '5', and attack and release to fastest. Used sparingly this 
can contribute to musical drive.
Slower attacks and releases are used where the compression needs to be 
less obvious.

'RELEASE' sets the time during which the path gain returns to normal after 
compression. Generally, the longer the time, the less obvious is the 
compression.

'DARK' SWITCH
The original SC2 JOEMEEK compressor had a unique sound. This gave a 
stereo mix an excitment and urgency that had not been heard since the late 
1950's and early 60's.  One of the reasons for this sound was an unusual 
time curve when the compression was being released; very obvious on 
cymbal crashes. This unique sound has been recreated in the SC2.2, and it 
can be heard by pressing the 'DARK' switch. This switched was named by a 
famous American record producer who first described this JOEMEEK effect 
as a 'dark' sound.

JOEMEEK

 SC2.2

 

Stereo Compressor - User's guide

Summary of Contents for SC2.2

Page 1: ...Stereo Compressor SC2 2 The classic JOEMEEK stereo compressor The classic JOEMEEK compression sound JOEMEEK C O M P R E S S I O N C O M P R E S S I O N JOEMEEK SC2 2 Stereo Compressor User s guide ...

Page 2: ...1 JOEMEEK SC2 2 Stereo Compressor User s guide ...

Page 3: ...pressor What it does 10 Regulations and safety 11 Tips on use 12 Warranty statement 13 Declaration of conformity 14 Ted Fletcher This instruction book was written by Ted Fletcher the designer of the original JOEMEEK compressor and the whole JOEMEEK range of professional audio equipment Ted worked in the studio with Joe Meek the legendary record producer in the mid 1960s 2 JOEMEEK SC2 2 Stereo Comp...

Page 4: ...utput ratio is constant So using a 2 1 compressor increasing the input by 2dB gives a corresponding 1dB increase in the output Early compressors which used variable mu thermionic tubes or photoelectric devices only approximated true compression over a limited range They had a soft threshold where compression started and held to a predictable ratio up to a certain level then they returned to a more...

Page 5: ...se the apparent deficiencies of the older technology providing a powerful artistic tool for the creative engineer Joe Meek used to say If it sounds right it is right To a lot of his contemporaries he went way over the top with overloading the record electronics on his Lyrec 2 track recorder and swathing his less than perfect singers in bathroom echo and reverb but his artistic use of non linear co...

Page 6: ...e compression can be severe The compressor behaves in a similar way to a valve tube limiter The intermediate positions give a range of compression effect COMP VU switch changes the mode of the meter In COMP mode the needle sits at 0 and indicates approximate amount of compression by moving downwards IN VU mode the meter shows audio level before the output gain control COMPRESSION is the drive cont...

Page 7: ...gent sounding This control reacts differently depending on the status of the dark switch In normal mode the compression release is smooth and linear in dark mode the release starts gently but releases quickly as the gain approaches normal this gives an even more urgent type of sound and often adds an apparent depth to the sound OUTPUT GAIN controls the gain of the final output driver amplifiers No...

Page 8: ...ent is normally 4 or 0dB less expensive equipment is often 10dB Switch the meter to compression turn up the COMPRESSION control slowly and if there is sufficient audio signal the meter will start to indicate compression by the needle moving downwards The compressor should now be working and your ears can take over OPERATIONAL CONTROL EXPLANATIONS There are two main gain controls on the compressor ...

Page 9: ... electronics are driven hard before the gain has been controlled by the light cells The cells catch up and overcompress momentarily giving a tiny dip immediately following the start of the note This is best demonstrated by using a drum track and setting the slope to 5 and attack and release to fastest Used sparingly this can contribute to musical drive Slower attacks and releases are used where th...

Page 10: ...sion a bit more 4 I can t make the compression gentle enough It takes practice The setting of the Attack control close to fastest is quite critical as is the compression control 5 It won t pump hard enough Again it takes practice getting the gain control in the right range Set the slope on 4 and the attack and release at minimum then don t drive it too hard Work the input gain and the compression ...

Page 11: ...with a way of enhancing the tape bend effect with compression The compressor he used was primitive in the extreme but coupled with the compression distortion provided by the valve tape machines he had the result was voice and music sounds that were unique and sold records by the million I had to make some significant improvements in the way the early compressors worked to make the JOEMEEK acceptab...

Page 12: ...ce In the United States of America the compressor complies with UL requirements and uses UL approved components in all power supply functions POWER SELECTION JOEMEEK Compressors are fitted with a mains voltage selector for easy change of input voltage The fuse carriage can be pulled out and rotated to select to the local power voltage In the 115 position the unit will operate between 95 and 125V A...

Page 13: ... the cymbals to really swish try leaving the kick drum out of the mix that goes through the compressor Limit the kick separately ideally with a Joemeek C2 then mix it back into the final mix The SC2 2 is absolutely ideal for drums the image stability gives the sound a control and perfect rigidity the dark switch adds a subtle depth GUITARS Wind it on The depth and sustain make it a must ORCHESTRAL...

Page 14: ... warmth then use it again on sub groups in the mix so it pays to have more than one Thanks for buying the compressor I m now enjoying hearing its characteristic sound on records and productions from all over the world Ted Fletcher WARRANTY In the unlikely case of a breakdown please return the unit in its original packing through the supplier The unit will be attended to immediately and returned to...

Page 15: ...que impedance matching facility Manufactured by FLETCHER Electroacoustics Ltd St Mary s Barton Road Torquay Devon TQ1 4DP ENGLAND Tel 44 0 1803 321921 Fax 44 0 1803 321922 e mail sales joemeek uk com DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY This analogue audio processing equipment conforms to the standards and requirements of the European Economic Community The EC Harmonised standards that have been applied are ...

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