Front Panel Compressor / Limiter Switches - Alesis 3630 Reference Manual

1.5 FRONT PANEL
COMPRESSOR/LIMITER SWITCHES
Each switch has an in and out position. The legend above each switch
shows which status is associated with which switch position.
Peak - RMS
With peak response, the 3630 responds to signal peaks to insure that these
peaks do not exceed a particular threshold. This mode is ideal when using
the 3630 to avoid clipping, a phenomenon when signal peaks exceed a
particular device's headroom. In RMS mode, the 3630 responds to a
signal's average level. This preserves more of the relationship between a
signal's peaks and valleys, and is useful when you want to compress or
limit but still retain a fair amount of dynamic feel.
Note: in RMS mode, the attack and release times will be program de-
pendent. The front panel attack and release controls will have no effect on
the signal.
Hard knee - Soft knee
With hard knee response, signals are clamped to the limiting threshold as
soon as they exceed it. With soft knee response, signals are clamped more
gently, giving a more natural sound.
Input - Output
Selects whether the input/output meter displays the input signal or
output signal. See section 1.7, Front Panel Metering, for more information.
Bypass - Comp
In the bypass position (the gain reduction LEDs will turn off), the limiter
circuitry is switched out of the signal path so you can hear the un-
processed sound. In the Comp position, the 3630 processes the input
signal.
Note: The 3630 must be powered up to pass a signal with either switch
setting.
Stereo Link Switch
In stereo operation, both channels need to operate in a complementary
fashion to avoid shifting the stereo image as one channel or the other
goes into limiting. With the Link switch out, Channels A and B operate
independently as two monophonic compressor/limiters.
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