Compressor Parameters
The Compressor offers the following parameters:
• Circuit Type pop-up menu: Choose the type of circuit emulated by the Compressor. The
choices are Platinum, Class(ic) A_R, Class(ic) A_U, VCA, FET, and Opto (optical).
• Side Chain Detection pop-up menu: Determines if the Compressor uses the maximum
level of each side-chained signal (Max) or the summed level of all side-chained signals
(Sum) to exceed or fall below the threshold.
• If either of the stereo channels exceeds or falls below the threshold, both channels
are compressed.
• If Sum is chosen, the combined level of both channels must exceed the threshold
before compression occurs.
• Gain Reduction meter: Shows the amount of compression in real time.
• Attack knob and field: Determines the amount of time it takes for the Compressor to
react when the signal exceeds the threshold.
• Compression curve display: Shows the compression curve created by the combination
of Ratio and Knee parameter values. Input (level) is shown on the x-axis and output
(level) on the y-axis.
• Release knob and field: Determines the amount of time it takes for the Compressor to
stop reducing the signal after the signal level falls below the threshold.
• Auto button: When the Auto button is active, the release time dynamically adjusts to
the audio material.
• Ratio slider and field: Sets the compression ratio—the ratio of signal reduction when
the threshold is exceeded.
• Knee slider and field: Determines the strength of compression at levels close to the
threshold. Lower values result in more severe/immediate compression (hard knee).
Higher values result in gentler compression (soft knee).
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Chapter 4
Levels Effects
• Compressor Threshold slider and field: Sets the threshold level—signals above this
threshold value are reduced in level.
• Peak/RMS buttons: Determines whether signal analysis is with the Peak or RMS method,
when using the Platinum circuit type.
• Gain slider and field: Sets the amount of gain applied to the output signal.
• Auto Gain pop-up menu: Choose a value to compensate for volume reductions caused
by compression. The choices are Off, 0 dB, and −12 dB.
• Limiter Threshold slider and field: Sets the threshold level for the limiter.
• Limiter button: Turns the integrated limiter on or off.
• Output Distortion pop-up menu (Extended Parameters area): Choose whether to apply
clipping above 0 dB, and the type of clipping. Choices are: Off, Soft, Hard, and Clip.
• Activity pop-up menu (Extended Parameters area): Enables or disables the side chain.
Choices are: Off, Listen, and On.
• Mode pop-up menu (Extended Parameters area): Choose the type of filter used for the
side chain. Choices are: LP (lowpass), BP (bandpass), HP (highpass), ParEQ (parametric),
and HS (high shelving).
• Frequency slider and field (Extended Parameters area): Sets the center frequency for the
side-chain filter.
• Q slider and field (Extended Parameters area): Sets the width of the frequency band
affected by the side-chain filter.
• Gain slider and field (Extended Parameters area): Sets the amount of gain applied to the
side-chain signal.
• Mix slider and field (Extended Parameters area): Determines the balance between dry
(source) and wet (effect) signals.