9
10
The compressor should now be working and ears can take over the
adjustments. The amount of compression in use can be seen from the VU
meter; but your ears are always the best judge!
THE MONO/STEREO COMPRESSORS
.
The compressors on the 'TwinQ' are an advanced version of the
compressor on the VC1Q. The 5-way slope switch has been improved so
that the effective compression ratios are from approximately 2 to 1 on
position 1 up to a ratio of 15 to 1 on position 5. This high ratio makes the
unit into a limiter.
The attack characteristics have also been improved so that at minimum
attack time, the compression will be fully effective after less than 0.5
milliseconds.
The release system is the same as on the original Joemeek SC2 which has
a compound release curve: After a single sudden transient signal, the
compression releases extremely quickly. On a normal music signal the
compression releases at a speed according to the release control.
NOTE. When both attack and release are set to maximum speed (both fully
anti-clockwise), the speed of the circuit action is very much quicker than is
possible to show on conventional meter movements, so the meters cannot
register the amount of transient compression accurately.
STEREO OPERATION
When the 'link' switch is depressed (yellow light on) and the compressors
are both selected 'on', the left-hand compressor becomes the master in all
respects: The compression control, the slope, the attack and the release
act on both channels. The left-hand meter gives an indication of the
amount of compression on both channels.
NOTE. When operating in 'stereo' mode, if the right-hand meter is switched
to read compression, it will only indicate correctly if the right-hand slope
switch is selected to the same slope as the master left-hand switch.
It is recommended that when working in stereo mode, the right-hand meter
is left switched to reading the audio level at all times.
COMPRESSOR CONTROL EXPLANATIONS
'COMPRESSION' simply adds gain to the compression sidechain and so
increases compression. 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 radically with programme content and amplitude.
For practical purposes, winding up the compression control increases the
amount of compression. In use, all controls are interrelated.
'SLOPE' This 5 way switch sets the ratio of compression. Setting '1' is
gentle compression while '5' is a hard limiter and can give 'pumping' effects,
especially with a shorter release time.
'ATTACK' sets the time that the compressor takes to act. At minimum
(fastest) it is 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 when recording drums. With
Slope set to maximum, 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.
AMOUNTS OF COMPRESSION
.
There can be no rule as to the correct amount of compression for any
particular programme material. Compression (particularly the
JOEMEEK
compressor) is a creative effect for the producer.
In rock music, it is possible to use considerable amounts of compression
(10dB or more) and still for the effect to be slight. in classical recording,
conventional compression is frowned upon but the
JOEMEEK
compressor can
be used to great effect if handled gently.
twinQ
CS
Dual Recording Channel
- User's guide
