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ATM BETTERMAKER Operation Manual

Mastering compressor
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BETTERMAKER
Mastering Compressor
Operations Manual
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  • Page 1 BETTERMAKER Mastering Compressor Operations Manual...
  • Page 2 The Bettermaker crew would like to thank all the people that were deeply involved in development first products, from EQ230P till this day. Thanks to all the Beta-testers that gave us hands-on tips and all people involved in the conceptual stage. We hope we have listened to you carefully so as to produce an ideal tool in the hands of every engineer.

  • Page 3: Important Safety Information

    Liquid entering the product enclosure presents the risk of electric shock injury. Practical Safety Precautions Do not operate the Bettermaker Mastering Compressor underwater, uncovered in the rain, in a sauna or anyplace near water. Always be sure to protect the unit from the...
  • Page 4 Since we’re a company that cares about better sound over processing speed, our engineers would take the extra time to use a full analog chain because it simply sounds better. We developed the Bettermaker Mastering Compressor to give us the speed of plug-ins, but the fidelity of analog domain.
  • Page 5 In the following pages, we’ll share this knowledge, show how the controls work and interact to provide a complete sound - sculpting system. The Bettermaker Mastering Compressor is a new approach to a well known VCA compressor design. Choosing modern components and design practices over older traditional methods helped maintain the transient response and low noise-floor necessary for today’s recording practices.

  • Page 6: Safety Warnings

    Do not operate this unit in the presence of rain, liquids or condensing moisture. Liquid entering the product enclosure presents the risk of electric shock injury. Do not operate the Bettermaker Mastering Compressor in any place near water. Always be sure to protect the unit from dust, particles, water, beer, groupies, and stage divers.
  • Page 7 III. Construction of the Mastering Compressor The sound of the Compressor is of course based on the quality of its analog audio path. But all the control and user interactions are performed in the digital domain. This allows us to incorporate options and possibilities not found in any standard analog compressors: ...

  • Page 8: Analog Section

    Analog section Great care and thought went into the development and implementation of the analog section of the Bettermaker Mastering Compressor. High quality capacitors and low noise op-amps are used in the analog path. Relays were used, whenever creating the shortest path for the audio signal was necessary.
  • Page 9 Internal signal path...
  • Page 10 Incoming signal first runs thru High Pass Filter (HPF) that allows you to cut off unnecessary frequencies prior to further processing. It’s all analog HPF with 24dB/octave slope. You can choose the cut-off frequency from 15/20/25/30 Hz or disable HPF completely. Then the signal enters the M/S matrix circuit. From that point you either work with stereo (dual mono) or M/S signal that runs thru VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier).

  • Page 11: General Operation

    USB cable that is no longer than 1.5m or additional USB hubs might be required. The USB LINK will allow you to control the unit from your favorite DAW via VST/AAX/AU Bettermaker control plug-in and perform the firmware update in the future.
  • Page 12 After powering the unit on, you will be transferred to the main screen called BASIC (tap BASIC again to toggle PLUGIN VIEW mode). At the bottom you will see the parameters linked to particular knobs on the front of the unit. This parameters will change depending on the tab you select (EXTENDED or SIDECHAIN).
  • Page 13 Pressing STEREO icon allows you to change the compressor mode to stereo (default), M/S or dual mono. In stereo mode all parameters for both channels are linked. This also applies to the VCA detector circuit – it prioritizes the higher level channel (left or right), so the stereo image is more consistent and predictable.
  • Page 14 Compression Modes The Bettermaker Mastering Compressor can work in three different Compression Modes. Each of them has different functions, ranges and application. BM mode: This is our unique approach to compression. This mode is the most versatile one with long attack time available and variable compression knee. The attack time in this mode ranges form 5 to 250 milliseconds and the release ranges form 10 to 800 milliseconds.
  • Page 15 Below the compression mode selector you’ll find icons representing predefined compression ratios - 1.5:1, 2:1, 4:1 and MANUAL. BM mode opens the way to very flexible compression settings as the manual ratio is available only in this mode (you can adjust it in the EXTENDED tab). TAP TO SAVE icon gives you quick access to save menu.
  • Page 16 2dB of gain reduction. Thanks to this feature you can increase overall RMS level of the song without squashing it down to death. Bettermaker Mastering Compressor allows you to use two independent coloring circuits that add harmonics to your mixes. P4 knob allows you to change the VCA’s THD.
  • Page 17 Moving to the SIDECHAIN screen. The sidechain circuit is equipped with three independent filters: HPF controlled by P1, parametric filter controlled by P2, P3, P4 and LPF controlled by P5 knob. All these filters can work independently or all together (use ENABLE icons to engage each of them).
  • Page 18 Next to the LISTEN icon you’ll find FORWARD and BACKWARD feed modes. This selects the source for sidechain signal – before or after VCA – and allows you to completely change the compression’s character. As Forward is known for being punchy and dynamic, Backward compression can produce very interesting type of sound which can be found in Indy Rock like genres.
  • Page 19 Main Menu To enter the MAIN MENU please tap MENU on any of the compressor screens. Here you can change the input and output level meter TYPE (PEAK or RMS) and the PEAK HOLD time constant. In RMS mode, the value in decibels is shown below the input/output level meters.
  • Page 20 You can lock all the compressor controls by pressing LOCK icon in the main menu. This allows you to avoid accidental changes made by your coworkers, kids, cats, dogs or wife :) To unlock the unit, hold P3/P4 and P5/RESET knobs together. Settings Press SETUP icon in the Main Menu to enter settings window.
  • Page 21 If you wish to clear the presets memory, simply tap on CLEAR MEMORY and confirm your choice. You will see the progress on the screen. When the procedure is over the unit will restart itself. IMPORTANT! If you decide to erase the presets memory, you need to remember that you cannot undo this action.

  • Page 22: Product Specification

    V. Product Specification  advanced analog VCA compressor with PEAK or RMS detection and switchable forward/backward feed  all parameters are digitally controlled via front panel and/or DAW (with dedicated plugin)  stereo, dual-mono and mid/side operation modes with focus and sidechain preview function ...
  • Page 23 Functions:  Threshold: -35dB to +5dB (40dB range)  Attack: 0.1 – 250 ms  Release: 10 – 2000 ms  Ratio: Variable 0.7:1 – 10:1  Knee: Variable 0 – 20dB  Output gain: -5dB to +15dB  Width (in M/S mode): -8dB to +8dB ...
  • Page 24  Input impedance (differential): 48kΩ (for balanced signal)  Output Impedance: 50Ω + 50Ω (electronically balanced)  2U enclosure, 230mm deep (Mastering Compressor)  universal 100 - 240V power supply designed by Bettermaker  Maximum power consumption: 25W  Shipping weight: 5.5 kg...

  • Page 25: Warranty

    VI. RMA Warranty / Contact info Warranty: Addicted to Music warrants to the purchaser of a new Bettermaker Mastering Compressor that the unit is free from manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the original date of purchase.

  • Page 26: Contact Information

    Web: www.bettermaker.eu Final Words We hope you enjoy your new Bettermaker Mastering Compressor! If you have any thoughts, ideas, concerns, notions, or brilliant revelations you would like to share about our products, please bring them to our attention at info@bettermaker.eu.
  • Page 27 Bettermaker Mastering Compressor Operations Manual revision 1.1 (06/10/2019)

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