Alesis NanoCompressor - Stereo Compressor/Limiter Quick Reference Guide

Front Panel Controls

Threshold - sets the level above which the NanoCompressor starts to compress the input

Ratio - sets the compression slope, or the amount of gain reduction above the Threshold

Attack - adjusts the amount of time before compression begins (Peak mode only)

Release - adjusts the amount of time until compression will cease (Peak mode only)

Output - Sets the output signal level

Power - lit when the unit is plugged in

Reduction - displays the amount of gain reduction

Hard/Soft - switches between Hard or Soft knee compression styles

Peak/RMS - switches between Peak and RMS signal detection modes

Signal - shows the Input or Output signal level

Input/Output - selects whether the Signal meter is monitoring the Input or Output level

Bypass/Comp - bypasses the compressor for A/B comparisons of the original signal

NanoCompressor Quick Facts

Welcome to the NanoCompressor Quick Reference Guide. This is a supplement to the manual designed to quickly get you up and running with this signal proc e s s o r. Some of the key features of the NanoCompressor include:

• Affordable, high quality compression for a wide variety of sources
• Sidechain input for ducking and de-essing
• 1/3 rackspace package
• Compression Bypass switch
• Low noise, low distortion components for high quality sonic performance
• Stereo Inputs and Outputs
• Selectable RMS or Peak signal detection
• Bypass footswitch input
• Selectable Hard and Soft Knee compression curves

Getting Started With the NanoCompressor

The Alesis NanoCompressor was designed to easily integrate into any studio or instrument setup. To use the NanoCompressor with a mixer insert:

• Connect the balanced 1/4" plug of an Insert cable into the insert jack of your mixer's channel ormain insert. Plug the "send" into the NanoCompres s o r 's Left Input and the "ret u r n" into the Left Output
• Set the controls like this: R ATIO set for 4:1 (about 12 o'clock), PEAK/RMS set for RMS and HARD/SOFT set for SOFT. Make sure that the BYPASS/COMP switch is set for COMP.
• Tur n the THRESHOLD co n t r ol all of the way to the right, then slowly turn it down (counter-c l o c k wise). As the Threshold gets lower, you will notice the REDUCTION meter will show more and more co m p r ession.

For more information please refer to the NanoCompressor Reference Manual that comes with your processor.

Example Settings

Vocal Limiting

• Threshold set so that the loudest sections get about -6dB of gain reduction
• Ratio set for 6:1
• Knee set for Soft
• Peak/RMS set for RMS

Vocal Compression/Spoken Word

• Threshold set so that one reduction LED (-1 dB) lights during the softest passages
• Ratio set for 2:1
• Knee set for Soft
• Peak/RMS set for Peak
• Attack set to 0.1 ms (7 o'clock)
• Release set between 10 and 12 o'clock

Drums

• Threshold set so that all drum hits are compressed (about 3dB)
• Ratio set for 4:1
• Knee set for Soft
• Peak/RMS set for Peak
• Attack set around 8 o'clock
• Release set around 9 o'clock

Rock Bass

• Threshold set so that only the peaks are compressed
• Ratio set for 4:1
• Knee set for Hard
• Peak/RMS set for Peak
• Attack set around 9 o'clock
• Release set around 10 o'clock

Funk/R&B Electric Guitar

• Threshold set for constant compression (around -3dB)
• Ratio set for 6:1
• Knee set for Soft
• Peak/RMS set for RMS

SWITCH IN
SWITCH OUT

© 1996 Alesis Corporation
Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice

Documents / Resources

Download manual

Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.

Download Alesis NanoCompressor - Stereo Compressor/Limiter Quick Reference Guide