Max Compression; Neg Compression - E-Mu 1212M Owner's Manual

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions

Max Compression

This parameter is used to limit the amount of gain reduction that the compressor can
apply. The limit is set as a maximum number of dB of gain reduction, from 3dB to
UNLIMITED.
0dB
-30dB
-80dB
This feature emulates the phenomenon of the compression "tail" found in the gain
curves of some classic analog compressor/limiters. The phenomenon results from the
inability of these devices to apply more than a certain amount of compression to the
input signal. When the device "runs out" of enough gain reduction to compress a very
high level signal, it resumes a 1:1 gain curve again. This "deficiency" has the unexpected
sonic benefit of restoring some dynamics to the compressed signal - but only on the
highest input peaks - thus adding some "life" back into otherwise over-compressed
signals.
Unlike analog compressors, the Max Compression parameter allows you to adjust the
amount of gain reduction before the compressor returns to a 1:1 gain curve. The
diagram shows three settings of the Max Compression parameter; the compressor "gives
up" and returns to 1:1 after 6, 15 and 24dB of compression have been exhausted,
respectively.
The parameter is most useful at higher compression ratios, allowing the gain curve to be
carefully tailored to the dynamics of the signal as well as the Threshold and Ratio
parameters. The limit set by the Max Compression parameter does not apply to gain
reduction performed in the Soft Knee region of the gain curve.

Neg Compression

When the Neg Compression
parameter is Enabled, the range of
compression values available to
the Ratio parameter extends
beyond INFINITE to encompass
negative compression ratios from
1:-100 down to 1:-1. Using
negative compression ratios
results in an output signal that
actually gets quieter as the input
signal rises above the threshold.
This action can be useful for appli-
cations like ducking and for other
special effects.
96
Max. Compression
Threshold: -30dB
Ratio = 4:1
0dB
Threshold: -30dB
Neg. Comp: Enabled
-30dB
-80dB
Max. Comp. = 6dB
Max. Comp. = 15dB
Max. Comp. = 24dB
Ratio
-10:1
-5:1
-3:1
-2:1
-1.5:1
-1:1
E Note: You may need
to use the Gain
parameter to keep these
restored peaks from
clipping the compressor
output since Auto
Makeup gain doesn't
automatically take the
compressor tail into
account.
Creative Professional