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PRESONUS

 

are considered 

hard limiting.  

Limiting refers to the point at which 

the signal is restrained from going any louder at the output.   

The level of input signal at which the output is reduced is 
determined by the compression 

threshold. 

As the compression 

threshold is lowered, more and more of the input signal is 
compressed (assuming a nominal input signal level).  Care must 
be taken not to ‘over compress’ a signal.  Too much compression 
destroys the acoustical dynamic response of a performance.  
(‘Over compression’, however, is used by some engineers as an 
effect, and with killer results!) 

Compressor/limiters are commonly used for many audio 
applications. A kick drum can get lost in a wall of electric guitars.  
No matter how much level is increased, the kick drum stays ‘lost in 
the mud’.  Add a touch of  compression and tighten up that kick 
drum sound allowing it to ‘punch’ through without having to crank 
the level way up. 

A vocal performance usually has a wide dynamic range. Transients 
(the very loudest portion of the signal) can be far outside the 
average level of the vocal signal. It is extremely difficult to ride the 
level with a console fader. A compressor/limiter automatically 
controls gain without altering the subtleties of the performance.   

A solo guitar can seem to be masked by the rhythm guitars. 
Compression can make your ‘lead’ soar above the track without 
shoving the fader through the roof . 

Bass guitar can be difficult to record . A consistent level with good 
attack can be achieved with proper compression . Your bass 
doesn’t have to be washed out in the low end of the mix . Let the 
compressor/limiter give your bass the punch it needs to drive the 
bottom of the track .    

Summary of Contents for COMP 16 - V 2.0

Page 1: ...COMP16 S M A R T C O M P R E S S O R HP4 H E A D P H O N E D I S T R I B U T I O N A M P L I F I E R EQ3B 3 B A N D P A R A M E T R I C E Q A L I Z E R USERS MANUAL Version2 0 PreSonus Audio Electronics ...

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Page 3: ...O M P R E S S O R HP4 H E A D P H O N E D I S T R I B U T I O N A M P L I F I E R EQ3B 3 B A N D P A R A M E T R I C E Q A L I Z E R USERS MANUAL Version1 0 2003 PreSonus Audio Electronics Incorporated All rights reserved ...

Page 4: ...does not cover claims for damage due to abuse neglect alteration or attempted repair by unauthorized personnel and is limited to failures arising during normal use that are due to defects in material or workmanship in the product Any implied warranties including implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are limited in duration to the length of this limited warranty...

Page 5: ... Panel Basic Layout 7 2 3 Presets 9 2 4 Application Guide 14 3 EQ3B 3 1 Front Back Panel Basic Layout 17 3 2 Application Guide 19 4 HP4 4 1 Front Back Panel Basic Layout 21 4 2 Application Guide 23 5 TechnicalSpecifications 5 1 COMP16 Specifications 24 5 2 EQ3B Specifications 25 5 3 HP4 Specifications 26 ...

Page 6: ...xceptional sounding unit at an exceptional price We hope you agree Feel free to contact us at 1 800 750 0323 anytime for any reason We value your comments and suggestions Please pay close attention to how you connect your PreSonus Product to your system Improper grounding is the most common cause of noise problems in both live and studio applications We suggest you look at the application guides w...

Page 7: ... signal level or threshold Compression refers basically to the ability to reduce the output level of an audio signal by a fixed ratio relative to the input It is useful for lowering the dynamic range of an instrument or vocal making it easier to record without distorting the recorder It also assists in the mixing process by reducing the amount of level changes needed for a particular instrument Ta...

Page 8: ...ncreased the kick drum stays lost in the mud Add a touch of compression and tighten up that kick drum sound allowing it to punch through without having to crank the level way up A vocal performance usually has a wide dynamic range Transients the very loudest portion of the signal can be far outside the average level of the vocal signal It is extremely difficult to ride the level with a console fad...

Page 9: ... the encoder is rotated parameters are digitally switched simultaneously controlling attack release ratio and threshold 2 Controls The Input control adjusts the gain on the input amplifier Note The input control is always active 3 Output Pushbuttons The Output control is used to set the desired output of the COMP16 It is sometimes referred to as gain makeup control This term is derived from the fa...

Page 10: ... meter Pushed out the meter gives you the level of the gain reduction Pushed in the meter gives you the level of the signal after compression the output level Bypass If the BYPASS button is not pushed in the COMP16 is processing the signal compressing When pushed in the COMP16 is no longer compressing the signal however the input gain setting remains active 2 2 C O M P 1 6 B A C K P A N E L L A Y ...

Page 11: ...r XLR connectors The output will deliver up to 22dBu in signal level unbalanced 2 3 P R E S E T S Vocal SOFT Easy compression A low ratio setting for ballads allowing a wider dynamic range Good for live use This setting lets the vocal sit in the track Threshold Ratio Attack Release 8 2dB 1 8 1 0 002mS 38mS MEDIUM More limiting than preset 1 for a narrower dynamic range It moves the vocal more up f...

Page 12: ...gnal giving a hard snap up front with a longer release Threshold Ratio Attack Release 2 1dB 3 5 1 78mS 300mS L R Mono OVERHEAD A low ratio and threshold gives a fat contour to even out the sound from overhead drum mics Low end is increased and the overall sound is more present and less ambient More boom less room Threshold Ratio Attack Release 13 7dB 1 3 1 27mS 128mS Fretted ELECTRIC BASS A fast a...

Page 13: ...guitar A slow attack helps get the electric rhythm guitar up close and personal and gives punch to your crunch Threshold Ratio Attack Release 0 1dB 2 4 1 26mS 194mS Keyboards PIANO A special setting for an even level Designed to help even up the top and bottom of an acoustic piano Helps the left hand be heard with the right hand Threshold Ratio Attack Release 10 8dB 1 9 1 108mS 112mS SYNTH Fast at...

Page 14: ...imiter setting brick wall ideal for controlling level to the 2 track mixdown deck or Mono output Threshold Ratio Attack Release 5 5dB 7 1 1 0 001mS 98mS CONTOUR A contoured setting for use on the Mono output to fatten up the mix Threshold Ratio Attack Release 13 4dB 1 2 1 0 002mS 182mS Effects SQUEEZE Dynamic compression for solo work especially electric guitar It gives you that glassy tele strat ...

Page 15: ... drum to increase the length of the transient by bringing the signal up after the initial spike Very contemporary Threshold Ratio Attack Release 0dB 1 9 1 1mS 0 001mS 3 Tamer Tame that funky low end Designed to help control low end transients This setting is especially useful for Bass Guitar Threshold Ratio Attack Release 8dB 2 1 1mS 50mS 2 ...

Page 16: ...ive in Manual mode 3 Do not push the bypass button in 4 Turn the Input knob all the way to 20 counter clockwise 5 Set the Output knob on 0 6 Slowly turn the Input knob up clockwise until the Gain Reduction meters begin to move Continue to rotate the Input knob until the Gain Reduction meters read between 5 and 7 7 Adjust the Output knob to the desired output level You should now have a very natura...

Page 17: ...eferred because it generally has a greater level of noise rejection In other words it is less susceptible to outside interference Use with a Console Mixer Insert The COMP16 can be connected to an insert point on a console mixer by using a TRS Y cable This cable is Y shaped has a single TRS jack on one end and two TS Tips Sleeve jacks on the other end The single end will look like a stereo connecto...

Page 18: ...se 20dB and slowly increase the input until the Gain Reduction meters begin to register the compression activity The more you crank up the Input the more compression your signal will experience Always pay close attention to the best judge of your sound your ear You should also frequently remove the compression from the signal using the Bypass button to listen to the changes in your sound In modern...

Page 19: ...vided by bandwidth An example of how the width looks can be seen below in Figure 1 An example of use of high Q would be a Notch Filter A Notch Filter is used to remove a small frequency range that may be annoying or unwanted An example of wide width or low Q would be a bell An example of using a bell would be a low end roll off Let s say that a person is performing live and the low end is too over...

Page 20: ... equalizing the signal 80Hz The 80Hz button is a low end roll off filter When pushed in the 80Hz button causes all frequencies below 80Hz to be attenuated dropped by 12dB This filter can be handy in several live and studio applications One instance would be for use on a vocal The 80Hz filter would help reduce the boominess of a deep vocal ...

Page 21: ...he output will deliver up to 24dBu in signal level unbalanced 3 2 A P P L I C A T I O N G U I D E The EQ3B can be hooked to another processor such as the COMP16 or TubePre in a live or studio environment We do recommend that whenever possible balanced cables be used Examples of balanced cables would be XLR or TRS Tip Ring Sleeve A balanced cable is preferred because it generally has a greater leve...

Page 22: ...S Tips Sleeve jacks on the other end The single end will look like a stereo connector jack This end of the cable plugs into the insert jack on the mixer channel The other ends of the cable plug into the input and output of the EQ3B If the EQ3B does not work immediately you may want to try changing the jacks that are plugged into the input and output of the unit ...

Page 23: ...lume set at 1 and then bring the volume up Monitor Level The monitor level knob corresponds to the output volume of the output on the back of the HP4 The level can be muted by pressing the Monitor Mute button Mono When the Mono button is pushed in each input will be summed together on each output For example if you plug a CD player into the left input and press the mono button the signal from the ...

Page 24: ... feedback When the recording performance is over the mic could be muted and then the Monitor Mute button would be disengaged 4 1 B A C K P A N E L B A S I C L A Y O U T Input The input jack accepts balanced unbalanced tip sleeve or tip ring sleeve connectors The input can handle up to 24dBu unbalanced levels Output The output jack accepts balanced unbalanced tip sleeve or tip ring sleeve The outpu...

Page 25: ... greater level of noise rejection In other words it is less susceptible to outside interference Use with a Console The HP4 can be connected to the headphone output of a console mixer to multiply the headphone outputs Care should be taken that the headphone output level of the console mixer is not set to high Setting the output level to the HP4 too loud could cause the unit to distort The monitor o...

Page 26: ... Time 10mS to 500mS XLR Input Impedance 10kOhms TRS Input Impedance 10kOhms XLR Output Impedance 51Ohms TRS Output Impedance 51Ohms THD Noise 0 05 Input Gain 20dB to 20dB Output Gain 20dB to 20dB Compressor Metering Output Level Gain Reduction Internal Operating Level 0dBu 0dB Input Connectors Tip Ring Sleeve XLR Output Connectors Tip Ring Sleeve XLR Power Supply External Linear Supply Power Requi...

Page 27: ... 50kHz XLR Input Impedance 10kOhms TRS Input Impedance 10kOhms XLR Output Impedance 51 Ohms TRS Output Impedance 51 Ohms THD Noise 0 002 Internal Operating Level 0dBu 0dB Input Connectors 1 4 Tip Ring Sleeve XLR Output Connectors 1 4 Tip Ring Sleeve XLR Power Supply External Linear Supply Power Requirements 16VAC 1000mA 20 Watts Weight 4 lbs Size 5 5 X5 5 X1 75 ...

Page 28: ... Response 10Hz to 50kHz Input Impedance 10kOhms Master Output Impedance 51 Ohms THD Noise 0 002 Internal Operating Level 0dBu 0dB Headphone Output Power 150mW Input Connectors 1 4 Tip Ring Sleeve Master Output Connectors 1 4 Tip Ring Sleeve Power Supply External Linear Supply Power Requirements 16VAC 1000mA 20 Watts Weight 4 lbs Size 5 5 X5 5 X1 75 ...

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