DynaMaxx
17
Both channels of the D
YNA
M
AXX
are equipped with a 20-digit
LED ladder meter capable of displaying gain changes to a resolu-
tion of 1dB over the range -10dB to +9dB.
When applying compression to the audio signal, the LED meter
displays the amount of gain reduction taking place along with
any gain compensation due to the GAIN control.
When the DE-COMPRESSION mode is active, the LED display
shows the gain increase imparted to high-level signals.
Each channel incorporates a Noise Gate with ARC (Auto-
Release-Circuitry), and like the compressor section, this too is
adaptively automated. In a mastering situation, it may be used to
provide click-free gating at the beginning and the end of a song.
The NOISE GATE control sets the Threshold above which the
Noise Gate opens and below which the Noise Gate shuts, while
the CLOSE LED provides a visual indication of when the gate is
closed. The further the NOISE GATE control is turned clockwise,
the lower the Threshold is set.
One important aspect of the Auto Release Circuitry is that it
continually monitors the level difference between the audio
signal and the Threshold set by the user. If a large difference is
detected, a short Release time is applied, whereas with smaller
level differences, longer Release times are applied, thus making
the Gate action very musical. For example, if a song finishes with a
reverb tail or a fade out, because the level differences within the
fade are small, the Noise Gate will automatically set a long release
time. In practice, the Release will track the decay down to -70dB,
after which the Noise Gate finally closes, as indicated by the Close
LED. If, on the other hand, the song finishes abruptly, the large
level difference will cause the Noise Gate to apply a short Release
time.
If it is required to patch in external side-chain processing, both
left and right channels have SIDE CHAIN inputs, and if an accep-
table side chain signal level is being received, a LED on the front
illuminates.
Each D
YNA
M
AXX
channel is equipped with a TRS jack side-chain
insert point so that an equaliser may be patched in to provide
frequency dependent processing. Connection requires only a
conventional insert Y-lead, where the TRS ring connection
provides the insert send signal and the tip the return.
LED display
8
Noise Gate
9
Side Chain
10
