EAW DX810 Instruction Manual page 25

Ratio: This determines the change in output level. It is a function
•
of the change in input level (at full compression), once the
threshold has been fully exceeded. It is calibrated in decibels,
with a range from 1.0:1 (off) to 20:1. Thus, if it is set to 10:1, an
increase in input level of 10 dB results in a 1 dB increase in
output level. This assumes the input is above the threshold
level.
Generally, use ratio settings from 1.5:1 to 5.0:1 for compressor
use. Settings from 10:1 to 20:1 are more useful for limiting
purposes. This is because in that range the output level changes
very little as the input increases.
• Output: This determines the overall gain of the compressor from
input to output (as measured with the signal below the
threshold level). You can use this control to compensate for the
loss of gain caused by the action of the compressor. It is
calibrated in decibels, with a range from 0 dB (unity) to +20.0 dB.
Gate
Click this button to view the Gate for a selected input.
Click an input SELECT button to select an input.
Click the On button to activate the Gate for the
selected input. The Reset button returns all the
knobs to their default settings.
The Gate has four knobs: Hold, Release,
Threshold, and Range. Click and drag on the
individual knobs to adjust each parameter. An
analog-style meter indicates the input signal level
for the selected channel.
Click the right mouse button over the processor
display to bring up a menu that allows you to cut, copy,
or paste the processor settings to another channel.
About Gating:
A gate is used to duck or mute a channel when
the signal level drops below a certain point. This can
reduce the overall noise level in your mix by muting
unused or noisy channels.
Note: When we say the gate opens, it means
the gate is not acting on the signal and the signal is
allowed to pass. When the gate closes, the gate
acts on the signal by attenuating it.
• Threshold: This determines the level below which the gate
closes (and above which it opens). It is calibrated in decibels,
ranging from –60 dBFS to –1 dBFS.
• Hold: This determines how long the gate remains open after the
input signal has fallen below, and remains below, the threshold
before closing. It is calibrated in milliseconds, ranging from 0 ms
to 2550 ms (2.55 sec).
• Release: This determines how fast the gate closes after the hold
time has expired. It is calibrated in milliseconds, ranging from
10 ms to 2500 ms (2.5 sec) per 20 dB of gain change.
• Range: This determines the amount of attenuation of the input
signal when the gate is closed. It is calibrated in decibels,
ranging from –100 dB to –1 dB.
Delay
Click this button to view the Delay settings for a
selected output. Click the output letter buttons (A-J)
to select an output.
Click the On button to activate the Delay Line.
The Delay Line has two knobs: Coarse, and
Fine. Click and drag on the individual knobs to
adjust each parameter.
Coarse: This control adjusts the delay in 1
millisecond increments, with a range from 0 ms to
200 ms. The equivalent distance the sound travels
in the selected amount of time is displayed. Use
this control when setting up a delay between two
speakers, as in a delay tower.
Fine: This control adjusts the delay in small
increments (22.7 µs), with a range from 0 µs to 997 µs.
The equivalent distance the sound travels in the
selected amount of time is displayed. Use this
control to adjust for offsets between drivers in a
stack. For example, use this control to time-align a
horn's compression driver and a woofer's voice coil.
In addition, it is necessary to enter the ambient
air temperature in the Delay/Distance Parameters
window (click Advanced in the top menu bar and
select Set Temperature). The speed of sound
varies with air temperature, and this value is
needed to accurately calculate the time delay
required as a function of distance traveled (see "Set
Temperature" on page 16). You can also choose
between US units (Fahrenheit/Feet/Inches) and
Metric units (Celsius/Meters/Millimeters) in the
Delay/Distance Parameters window.
Click the right mouse button over the processor
display. This brings up a menu allowing you to cut, copy,
or paste the processor settings to another channel.
X-Over
Click this button to view the 1 to 5-Band Crossover.
The crossover window has a graphic display to
indicate the number of bands and crossover points
selected. Up to five outputs can be selected, which
become linked to a single row of inputs. In other
words, each of the eight inputs has just one mix level
to the combined outputs in the crossover. This is
25
DX810 –