5
CONTROLS & EXPLANATIONS
INPUT GAIN sets the audio gain of the stereo compressor. It's calibrated 1
to 11. With the control set at number 5 , the gain through the compressor is
about 0dB (no gain). With the control at maximum, the gain is about 20dB.
'DARK' SWITCH gives the option of using a 'conventional' sounding
compression effect, or the more dramatic and original 'JOEMEEK' sound
compression. The switch changes the characteristic of the release control
making the time curve for the release of the compression behave in a much
less linear or predictable way when in the special 'DARK MODE' (light is lit
in this mode).
SLOPE alters the amount that the optical system affects the audio signal. It
approximates to a ratio switch in a conventional compressor; but don't take
this too literally. At 1, the compression is light and the maximum possible
compression is about 6dB. At 5, the compression can be severe. The
compressor behaves in a similar way to a valve (tube) limiter. The
intermediate positions give a range of compression effect.
COMP/VU switch changes the mode of the meter. In 'COMP' mode, the
needle sits at '0' and indicates approximate amount of compression by
moving downwards. IN 'VU' mode, the meter shows audio level before the
output gain control.
COMPRESSION is the drive control to the optical system. It sets the point
at which the compression starts; it specifies where the 'knee' is (although
with a photo optical compressor, the knee is not well defined as the
compression ratio varies with audio level). The effect of this control is a
threshold control that increases the overall compression effect.
IN/OUT switch literally switches the whole compressor in and out of circuit.
When the switch is 'out' and the red LED is alight, the audio signal goes
directly from the input connectors to the output connectors... There is no
electronics in the way, and therefore the input and output gain controls will
JOEMEEK
SC2.2
Stereo Compressor - User's guide
