8. TIME CONSTANT PRESETS
PRESET #
ATTACK
RELEASE
1
.2 ms
.3 Sec.
2
.2 ms
.8 Sec.
3
.4 ms
2 Sec.
4
.8 ms
5 Sec.
5
.4 ms
2 sec. for individual peaks, 10 seconds for multiple
peaks
6
.2 ms
.3 sec for individual peaks, 10 sec. for multiple peaks
and 25 sec. for consistently high program level
VAR1
.1ms - 4.5ms
30ms - 1.2sec
VAR2
.2ms - 9ms
50ms - 2.4sec
VAR3
.4ms - 18ms
110ms - 4.8sec
VAR4
.8ms - 36ms
200ms - 9.6sec
14
Presets 1 - 6 are identical to the original Fairchild. VAR1 - VAR4 allow you to access the variable
attack and realease controls on the lower panel. Here’s how it works: The timing of the attack and
release on a Fairchild circuit are derived two ways; capacitively and resistively. The capacitor affects
both the attack and release times. A resistor can be used to affect each the attack and release inde-
pendently. VAR1 is the smallest capacitor and consequently the fastest attack/release setting when
the attack/release controls on the lower panel are set to 1. You can then make either the attack or
release longer resistively with the attack/release controls on the lower panel. If you select VAR2,
then BOTH the attack and release will get slower. You can then make either of them even slower
with the attack/release controls on the lower panel. Both VAR3 and VAR4 will continue to increase
both the attack and release time.
We did it this way because it was the only way to get all of the flexibility of the combinations of
capacitive and resistive timing controls with the UnFairchild. This is important because the charac-
ter of the attack and release is slightly different when it is increased either capacitively or resitively.
You will find that slower attack/release settings derived capacitively sound more aggressive or
‘grabbier’ than the ones derived resistively. Ultimately, it is best to play with the various compina-
tions and just listen for the sound you want.
