Manual-
C4
QUAD COMPRESSOR / LIMITER
Quick Start
Rejected Rane advertising slogan #1743: “C4. It’ll blow your mind!”
We’re not entirely sure why the marketing department didn’t like the idea, but be assured: unlike its explosive material namesake,
the C4 Quad Compressor will not blow up. Heck, it won’t even spark or sizzle under normal circumstances. The only thing smokin’
will be your mix, thanks to the C4’s smooth compression, precise dynamic EQ and ultra-fast limiting.
Each of the C4’s four channels offers a full-featured compressor with selectable
Comp
ressor and
Dynamic EQ
modes. In ad-
dition, an oversampled, brick wall
LIMITER
is included for catching signal peaks.
COMP
,
THRESHOLD
,
RATIO
,
ATTACK
,
RELEASE
and
KNEE
give full control over the audio envelope. The compressor is toggled on and off using the
ACTIVE/BYPASS
switch; the Limiter is engaged at all times and is not affected by this switch. Limiter operation is completely independent of the com-
pressor with its own
LIMIT THRESHOLD
control and
Headroom
meter. Channels 1 & 2, and 3 & 4 can be
LINK
ed to maintain
a proper left/right stereo image, with channels 1 and 3 acting as the
MASTER
s, respectively.
For the ultimate in dynamics processing flexibility, the C4 includes both internal and external side-chain functions, with a full
PEQ (parametric EQ) section included for good measure. External side-chain mode is automatically selected whenever a connector is
plugged into the rear panel
SIDE-CHAIN
jack. Selecting
LISTEN
mode routes the side-chain audio to the channel output, allow-
ing you to hear the effect of PEQ adjustments when doing frequency-sensitive compression or de-essing. If you'd prefer to not use the
side-chain PEQ, simply set the PEQ GAIN to 0 dB.
Setting up the C4 is a breeze thanks to the fast, accurate side-chain and Gain Reduction combination meter. For users unfamiliar
with de-essing, the
t
pointer on each control indicates a recommended setting for this specialized application. The Auto attack and
release mode speeds up sound check, and the
Tips and Tricks
on page Manual-8 serve as a handy reference guide for getting started
with compression. Thank you for taking the time to read this Quick Start. We now return you to your regularly scheduled sound
check or recording session.
OPERATORS MANUAL
0
0
6
3
12
24
dB
-20
-10
0
-40
-30
+20
+10
-20
-10
0
-40
-30
+22
+10
ms
ms
dBu
dBu
dB
Hz
oct
Headroom
dB
8
-3 -1
12
4
2
-6
-12
1
n:1
MASTER
SLAVE
10
2
1.5
5
-6
+6
-6
+6
-6
+6
-6
+6
1
500
100
50
250
25
10
2
1
5
0.5
20k
640
125
3.15k
20
500
125
1 s
2 s
50
25
+12
-12
+12
-12
0
0
6
3
12
24
dB
-20
-10
0
-40
-30
+20
+10
-20
-10
0
-40
-30
+22
+10
ms
ms
dBu
dBu
dB
Hz
oct
Headroom
dB
8
-3 -1
12
4
2
-6
-12
1
n:1
10
2
1.5
5
1
500
100
50
250
25
10
2
1
5
0.5
20k
640
125
3.15k
20
500
125
1 s
2 s
50
25
+12
-12
+12
-12
0
0
6
3
12
24
dB
-20
-10
0
-40
-30
+20
+10
-20
-10
0
-40
-30
+22
+10
ms
ms
dBu
dBu
dB
Hz
oct
Headroom
dB
8
-3 -1
12
4
2
-6
-12
1
n:1
MASTER
SLAVE
10
2
1.5
5
1
500
100
50
250
25
10
2
1
5
0.5
20k
640
125
3.15k
20
500
125
1 s
2 s
50
25
+12
-12
+12
-12
0
0
6
3
12
24
dB
-20
-10
0
-40
-30
+20
+10
-20
-10
0
-40
-30
+22
+10
ms
ms
dBu
dBu
dB
Hz
oct
Headroom
dB
8
-3 -1
12
4
2
-6
-12
1
n:1
10
2
1.5
5
1
500
100
50
250
25
10
2
1
5
0.5
20k
640
125
3.15k
20
500
125
1 s
2 s
50
25
+12
-12
+12
-12
18
18
18
18
C4
SIDE-CHAIN
RELEASE
ATTACK
KNEE
GAIN
FREQUENCY
BANDWIDTH
LIMIT THRESHOLD
RATIO
GAIN
COMP THRESHOLD
1
2
LINK
Auto
Auto
Soft
Hard
dBr
Reduction dB
Listen
Comp
LIMIT
BYPASS
ACTIVE
PEQ
SIDE-CHAIN
RELEASE
ATTACK
KNEE
GAIN
FREQUENCY
BANDWIDTH
LIMIT THRESHOLD
RATIO
GAIN
COMP THRESHOLD
Auto
Auto
Soft
Hard
dBr
Reduction dB
Listen Dynamic
EQ
Comp
LIMIT
BYPASS
ACTIVE
SIDE-CHAIN
RELEASE
ATTACK
KNEE
GAIN
FREQUENCY
BANDWIDTH
LIMIT THRESHOLD
RATIO
GAIN
COMP THRESHOLD
3
4
LINK
Auto
Auto
Soft
Hard
dBr
Reduction dB
Listen Dynamic
EQ
Comp
LIMIT
BYPASS
ACTIVE
SIDE-CHAIN
RELEASE
ATTACK
KNEE
GAIN
FREQUENCY
BANDWIDTH
LIMIT THRESHOLD
RATIO
GAIN
COMP THRESHOLD
Auto
Auto
Soft
Hard
dBr
Reduction dB
Listen Dynamic
EQ
Comp
LIMIT
BYPASS
ACTIVE
PEQ
PEQ
PEQ
POWER
TH
TH
TH
TH
QUAD
COMPRESSOR
WEAR PARTS: This product contains no wear parts.
Contents
Quick Start ....................................................................1
Dynamics 101 Revisited ............................................2
Compression .....................................................................2
Dynamic EQ ......................................................................3
De-essing ......................................................................3
Dynamic EQ Applications .........................................4
Peak Limiting .....................................................................5
Making Connections ..................................................6
Front Panel Controls .................................................6
Side-chain and Gain Reduction Meters .....................6
MASTER / SLAVE Stereo Link .....................................7
ACTIVE / BYPASS ..........................................................7
COMPressor THRESHOLD, RATIO and GAIN ......8
ATTACK, RELEASE and KNEE ....................................8
SIDE-CHAIN Mode and Listen ....................................9
SIDE-CHAIN Parametric EQ ........................................9
Limit Threshold and Headroom Meter ......................10
Tips and Tricks ...........................................................10
