3. IN/BYPASS SWITCH
This hard-wired bypass switch allows you to quickly listen to the differ-
ences between the original signal and the 14B processed signal.
4. ATTACK
The attack knob sets the time that it takes for the 14B to react and start
to compress a signal that has gone over the threshold. The 14B has
great flexibility in its range of attack timing circuitry allowing for a large
palette of tone shaping possibilities. Set near “0” or “Fast”, the engineer
can use the 14B for aggressive peak control nearly as fast as a FET stlyle
limiter, but can also be adjusted to allow transients through unaffected
much like slower optical compressors when set near “100” or “Slow”.
Having the flexible range of attack timing will allow for the engineer to use
the 14B on a wide range of material. The attack knob my also be turned
to its maximum counterclockwise position to switch compression off,
making the 14B a line level amplifier.
5. LINK/MONO SWITCH
Two 14B compressors may be linked by a 1/4” cable on the back of
each unit, allowing them to work together in tandem. If both units are set
to “Link” mode, they will share sidechain control voltages with each other,
preserving the center image on a stereo track.
For example, if using the units on your master mixbus, dynamic elements
from left and right channels will likely be different. You may have a guitar
panned fully to the left channel, unpanned vocals in the center and and
a banjo panned fully to the right channel. If using the two 14Bs in dual
mono (unlinked), the banjo’s dynamics will cause compression on only
the right channel and therefore the vocal coming out of the right channel
will also be compressed, leaving the vocal coming out of the left channel
unaffected. This will cause the centered vocal to move in the stereo
image. Not good... unless that is what you are going for! Having both
units switched to “Link” mode will tell both compressors to react the
same when either is forced to compress. So, if the right compressor
reacts to the banjo and is forced to compress, the left channel will
compress as well. This will allow for elements such as the vocal to
stay centered in the mix.
6. VU SELECT SWITCH
This switch allows the engineer to meter how much gain reduction is
taking place
or
how much signal is leaving the output of the 14B. When
set to “Output” and the needle is deflected to 0dB on the meter, a +4dBu
signal (1.228v) is leaving the 14B and into the next device.
7. RELEASE
The release knob sets how long the 14B takes to return to unity gain
after the input signal has fallen below threshold of compression. Set near
“0” or “Fast” will allow for the compression to release quickly and allow
for sounds to be more in up front and in your face. Slower release times
will sound more gentle and will allow for more of the original dynamics in
the source material.
8. COMPRESS/LIMIT SWITCH
This switch does two things: first, it sets the fixed threshold that the “In-
put” knob works hand-in-hand with it and also sets the ratio of gain reduc-
tio. On a tube compressor like the 14B, the compression ratio continues
to increase as the input signal level passes over the fixed threshold.
When switched to “Compress” the initial compression is 1.2:1 increasing
to 6:1 at 15dB compression. In “Limit” the compression ratio also starts
low and increases up to approximately 14:1 at 15dB of gain reduction.
9.OUTPUT
The output level knob allows the engineer to match the output level with
the input level.
10. SIDECHAIN LOW CUT
Sets the frequencies that activate gain reduction. Turned and switched to
its maximum counterclockwise position, this knob allows all frequencies
to enter the sidechain and begin the gain reduction process. Switched on,
the 14B will start to roll off reaction to frequencies under the selected 70-
350Hz. For example, when using 14B for drum overheads, try sweeping
through frequencies over 110Hz and listen to the less compressed kick
drum come forward as the snare and cymbals continue to activate com-
pression and move further back in the mix. This is an extremely effective
tool for mixbus work as well. It will help to eliminate pumping caused by
low frequency material.
11. POWER SWITCH
Switches unit on. Illumination of the power lamp and VU meter will result.
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