Auto mode off/on
: Activating Auto mode disables the Attack, Hold and Release controls, triggering a message to
that effect in the curve window. Attack and release settings become fully program-dependent, and manual
changes in the settings do not have any effect on the audio signal or the response of the compressor. Auto mode
is especially effective on signals such as vocals or other highly dynamic signals. Most factory setups use Auto
mode because of its ability to perform smooth compression under widely varying circumstances.
Threshold range from -60dB to +4dB
: Setting the threshold is the same on the compressor as it is on the gate
or limiter. There is a visual representation of the threshold on the curve window, and as you edit the parameter,
you will see motion up or down on the curve window, allowing much greater understanding of the effects of
each parameter on the entire compression algorithm.
Ratio from 1:1 through
∞
:1
: As the signal passes through the threshold region, it begins to be compressed at
the rate set with the ratio setting. It is expressed in a ratio for ease of use, for example, with a ratio setting of 4:1,
the signal would have to increase by 4dB in input to increase the output by 1dB. With the wide-ranging control
on the DDP, it is possible to achieve very smooth, transparent compression as well as heavy, in-your-face com-
pression effects.
Gain from -20dB to +20dB
: When a signal is compressed, by definition some of its gain is taken away. It there-
fore becomes necessary to boost the now-compressed signal back up to a useable level. As you make this adjust-
ment you can see the effect in the curve window. The compressed signal is now more dynamically controlled and
can be boosted to a level that was not possible before it was compressed.
Attack control from 0.1ms to 200ms
: As the signal exceeds the threshold, the speed at which the compressor
begins to react is set by the Attack control. Its range is from very fast to somewhat slow, allowing you to have all
the control you want. The Attack control is active when not in Auto mode (see Auto mode above).
Hold from 0ms to 500ms
: Hold sets the minimum gain reduction amount for a determined amount of time, after
the the signal passes below the threshold. If the signal goes back above the threshold, the hold time is “restarted”
and will hold the compressor at that amount of gain reduction for the set time, after the signal once again moves
below the threshold. The Hold control is active when not in Auto mode (see Auto mode above).
Release from 360dB/sec to 5dB/sec
: The release control sets the speed at which the signal is returned to the
normal signal after it has gone below the threshold, and the Hold time has been exceeded. The Release control is
active when not in Auto mode (see Auto mode above).
When Auto Mode is activated, the Attack, Hold and Release controls
are program-dependent and are not affected by your manual settings.
{{{{
||||
®
,,,,
yyyy
zzzz
16
Section 4: Editing / Saving / Recalling Programs
