Pawn Shop Comp 2.0 - User Manual
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Across the Mix Bus
The Pawn Shop Comp wasn't speci
fi
cally designed for use across the mix bus, but,
predictably, it works great there as well.
For a more vintage sound to your overall compression, switch in the 5751 tubes and the
STEEL transformer. The CARBON COMP resistor setting will pull down the highs a bit and
the overall sound will be smoky and loose. If it is too dull, either switch resistors to
something in the METAL FILM family or use the WET/DRY control to ease o
ff
the e
ff
ect and
add back some of the unprocessed signal to restore the high end a bit.
For a modern bus compressor sound, use the NICKEL transformers and METAL FILM
resistors.
The Pawn Shop Comp across a mix adds a lot of punch, especially if you set the ATTACK a
bit slow and the RELEASE on the short side.
Remember that ATTACK e
ff
ects the wavefront—the start of signals, the transients. Too fast
an attack and you'll dull down your whole mix because the high end is usually in the
transients. Perhaps start with Attack fully to the left and ease it to the right until the mix
sort of peps up and pops.
Remember that RELEASE e
ff
ects how much the dynamics of the song vary from section to
section, and how much quiet detail can be heard. Release e
ff
ects the wave ends. That
might not be a real term, but think of it as the portion of the signal as it dies out. Start with
the RELEASE at 12 o'clock and experiment moving it to the left and to the right. There's a
spot where the mix will sound even and yet is exciting. That is where you want to set that
release.
People talk about bus compressors adding "Glue" and getting everything to work together
harmoniously. The Pawn Shop Comp is more like epoxy on a mix if you overdo it… ever get
epoxy everywhere? It makes a mess. However, feel free to overdo it, and then back it down
using WET/DRY.
CONCLUSIONS
Ok, there it is—the Pawn Shop Comp in a huge nutshell. Please visit our Facebook group
(https://www.facebook.com/Korne
ff
Audio/) and leave a message there if you have any
questions, or email us directly at info@korne
ff
audio.com.
Thanks again for supporting Korne
ff
Audio. We hope you love your Pawn Shop Comp.
Make great records! Make great music.
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