PROBLEMS SC2
'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 program 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.
'ATTACK' sets the time that the compressor takes to act. At minimum (fastest)
it's possible to make it 'overshoot' on some percussive program 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 over compress
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 '4', and
attack and release to fastest. Used sparingly this can contribute to musical
drive.
Slower attacks 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.
PROBLEMS.
1) Got signal going through but no compression?
In/out switch? Is there enough volume level going in? Is your stereo signal in
phase? (If it's exactly out of phase, the compressor will not work).
2) Its noisy.
The compressor itself is extremely quiet, but by definition compressors raise
the level of quiet passages; this also means that if there is noise on the
original, there will be more noise on the compressed signal. It's a compromise.
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