dbx PX User Manual page 31

DriveRack PX
Section 5
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Detailed Parameters
Ratio (R) 1.0 to Inf:1
Ratio is the amount the unit reduces the signal level of the sound that is above the threshold.
A 2:1 ratio means that if the incoming signal is 2dB over the threshold the unit will compress
the signal, and outputs a signal that only goes 1dB over the threshold. For light compression
choose a lower ratio, while a heavy compression requires a higher ratio. A setting of Inf:1
makes the compressor act more like a limiter.
Gain (G) -20 to +20 dB
This parameter is used to compensate for the gain lost during compression. By using heavy
compression on a signal and then boosting the signal with the output gain, the user can
create a signal that sounds much louder than it actually is.
LIMITER
Limiter On/Off
Turns the PeakPlus Limiter module on and off.
TM
OverEasy (O) Off to 10
There are ten levels of OverEasy® that can be used for the limiters. The point when the
limiter starts to limit is the "knee." When the limiter starts to reduce the level of a signal
abruptly as it passes over the threshold this is called "hard knee" limiting. OverEasy®
(soft knee as it is sometimes called) is when the volume of the sound is limited gradually.
OverEasy® limiting starts to limit before the level of the signal reaches the threshold and
reaches full limiting after the level has gone above the threshold. This OverEasy® limiting, by
its very nature sounds much smoother and more natural. When it is gentle (natural sounding
or light) limiting that you are looking for, the limiter offers VariKnee™. VariKnee™ gives you
ten levels of OverEasy® limiting to choose from (1 being almost hard knee and 10 being the
most OverEasy®). This lets you choose the exact knee that is needed for the type of limiting
you are looking for.
Threshold (T) -40 to +20dBu
Threshold is the signal level at which the unit starts to limit the signal. If the level is set to
-10 dBu, any signal larger than -10 dBu is limited while any signal that has a level that is
lower than -10dBu is left at the same signal level. Light limiting is where only the loudest
parts of the signal go over the threshold. Very heavy limiting can be achieved by setting the
threshold low enough that almost the entire signal content is over the threshold. For most
signals, the most natural limiting is achieved when most of the signal content remains just
below the threshold and only the peaks cross the threshold.

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