Equalization - Avalon VT-737SP Operation Manual

Release: Once the signal falls below the
threshold, the Release control determines how
quickly the compressor "lets go" of the volume
control and lets the level rise back to unity gain.
Just as the Attack control sets the volume of
the start of a sound, the Release control sets
volume of the end of a sound. The release can
be used creatively to make sounds cut-off
sharply or sustain longer.
Compressors usually have built-in metering to
allow monitoring of the amount of gain reduc-
tion taking place. The meter usually sits at 0 VU
when the input signal is below the threshold
and falls to the left to indicate the number of
decibels of gain reduction. Also the actual
speed of the moving needle indicates the
attack and release speeds.
Graphic Description of Compression
dB
+5dB
Page 38
Compression Ratio = 5:1
Threshold = +5 dB
Time

6.7 Equalization

An equalizer is a group of tone controls that
allow adjustment to the full frequency range
of an incoming signal using a number of sep-
arate frequency bands. A parametric equaliz-
er consists of frequency selection, gain/cut
control, and a bandwidth or "Q" control for
each frequency band. A four-band paramet-
ric as found in the Vt-737sp consists of four
frequency selection controls: BASS, LOW
MID, HIGH MID AND TREBLE.
The amplitude or level control adds or sub-
tracts volume level within the specified
frequency band. The frequency selection
control selects the frequency range being
adjusted.
The bandwidth or "Q" parameter refers to the
narrowness of the effected bandwidth around
the specified center frequency. A higher "Q"
covers a narrower frequency range.
Equalization Tips
Here is a list of instruments and their corre-
sponding frequency ranges of interest used
for applying equalization during recording.
Vocals - Fullness at 120Hz;
boominess at 200Hz to 240Hz;
presence at 5kHz;
sibilance "ss" at 8kHz to 12kHz;
Use High Pass Filter at 30Hz to 100Hz to
remove boomy muddiness and room noise.
Acoustic piano - Bottom at 80-120Hz; pres-
ence at 2k5Hz to 5kHz;
crisp attack at 10kHz
Avalon Vt-737sp Operation Manual
Basics