Peavey CEL-2, User Manual

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CEL ™ 2 DUAL COMPRESSOR/EXPANDER/LIMITER
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Thank you for purchasing the CEL ™ 2 dual compressor/expander limiter. The following manual
contains a detailed description, function and specification of your CEL ™ 2.
The CEL
™
2 compressor is a single rack space dual compressor. It can be operated either as two
independent compressors, or as a synced stereo compressor with true RMS summing. High quality
voltage controlled amplifier (VCA) and RMS-rectifier integrated circuits are used to maintain low
distortion and excellent noise performance.
A soft knee topology is used for each function to provide smooth transition curves. (When the
circuits become active, the gain change is phased in rather than instantaneously applied.) This
causes compression and limiting to be less obvious and more pleasing to the ear, as well as being
easier to adjust for the desired result.
The downward expander section has threshold and ratio adjustments to allow it to be used for
noise reduction (slight ratio) or a gate (high ratio). The compressor has attack and release controls
in addition to threshold and ratio controls for complete versatility. Any level lost due to compression
can be made up by the output level control.
The limiter is an infinite ratio compressor that keeps the output from exceeding a level set
by its threshold control and has only one adjustment. It is totally independent of the compressor’s
settings and can be used to stop peaks from getting through when only mild compression (low ratio)
is desired. It has its own LED (with a half-second peak hold time) to indicate when it has been
activated.
Each section (expander, compressor or limiter) can be set so that it is disabled either by a
threshold or ratio adjustment.
A side-chain insert in the detector path allows manipulation of the detector signal. The control
signal can be frequency shaped or replaced for de-essing, or ducking purposes. It is engaged by a
front panel switch. If this switch is pressed with nothing connected to the rear panel side-chain TRS
jack, the signal from the opposite channel is fed to the detector, and the compressor ducks when
there is signal on the other channel without the need for cross patching (the compressor controls will
set how it functions). If an external equalizer is inserted into the path, normal side-chain functions
(de-essing, rumble filtering, etc.) can be accomplished.
A dual-mono/stereo link switch sums the RMS detected levels of each channel together to
accurately represent the stereo signal’s amplitude. This amplitude voltage is used to control both
VCAs. In this mode, only the controls associated with channel A function. The gain reduction LED
array of channel B is turned off to give a visual clue as to which knobs are operational.
There are two twelve segment LED arrays that show the output level and the amount of gain
reduction. By watching the gain reduction meter, the action of an adjustment is readily apparent and
easy to set. The output level can be set to achieve the best signal to noise ratio.
A hard-wired bypass switch disengages all functions and operates even when the unit is not
powered.
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