material from excessively controlling the compressor. With mixes or wide spectrum
sounds, there is often significant amounts of low frequency energy that can cause
occasional deep compression, yet it is often the mid frequency sounds that are
associated with apparent loudness and the zone that needs compression. The S/C
HPF is designed for those situations and 250 Hz is well suited for both vocals and
mixes and most other dynamic wide spectrum sounds.
ATTACK
Sets the attack time of the compressor with a range from 5ms to 75 ms. This adjusts
the rate that the compressor will reduce gain given the onset of a loud sound.
Faster settings will let the compressor respond to quick transients such as the initial
hit of a drum and reduce those hits. Slower settings may let the initial transient be
relatively untouched but may reduce the part of the drum’s decay, which tends
to exaggerate the balance of initial transient to decay. Moderate settings are most
useful for preserving the tonal balance of the source, while still effectively taming
louder sections of the music.
RELEASE
Sets the release time of the compressor with a range of 100 ms to 2.5 s. When the
source signal drops below the threshold after being engaged, the release determines
how fast the gain returns to normal. Faster settings tend to be most useful for
maximizing loudness, however, there is a greater chance if audible compression,
including “pumping” and a slight modulation distortion in the presence of loud low
notes. Medium settings are sometimes nice for having the compression act in time
with the music. Slow release settings tend to be the least audible and most safe,
which may also be said about using lower Ratios, and less compression.
LINK
Allows multiple 5051 modules to be linked together such that at any given time,
the 5051 with the highest control voltage will control the compression of all the
linked units. To create a stereo pair, first adjust the two modules so that they have
identical compression and EQ setting. Then engage the link switch on the front of
the left-most 5051.
FF / FB
Selects either feed-forward or feed-back modes of compression. Feed-forward
uses the input signal to trigger compression, and feed-back uses a signal from after
the gain change element to trigger compression. Feed-forward is often associated
with modern compressors and feed-back was generally the method of vintage
compressors. Feed-forward typically allows for high ratios, tends to be faster and
may offer more dramatic compression effects. Feed-back is often considered to be
more traditional, softer, gentler and smoother.
RATIO
Adjusts the ratio of compression above the threshold. The range is from 1.1 to 1 up
to 40:1 (in FF mode). Ratio is related to the input signal over the threshold versus
the output signal. Lower ratios mean that loud sounds will only cause slight gain
reduction and high ratios can cause deep amounts of gain reduction. For example,
consider a voice that gets louder than the a threshold by 10 dB, 10:1 will only let
