Attack And Release - Focusrite Green Range Manual

Attack and Release

Attack and release determine how quickly the compressor switches on and off at the
threshold. With instant attack, full compression would be applied to the signal as
soon as it got louder than the threshold. Similarly, with instant release, the
compressor would switch off as soon as the signal got quieter than the threshold.
Varying the attack and release rates can help give more natural-sounding
compression, since the optimum rates vary with the instrument being recorded, and
with the performance. For example, when recording a snare drum, a fast attack and
release are needed – a slow release over-compresses the signal, with beats after the
first dulled slightly because the compressor is still on.
Setting the Attack Rate
Using the unit's normal attack rate, the compressor gradually comes to full
compression, instead of compressing immediately. Transient response is less affected,
so maintaining the presence of each note. Using the unit's fast attack rate, the
compressor quickly comes to full compression, so keeping transients under control.
Attack does not need to be fast when
recording onto analogue tape. The
fastest transients are lost by saturation
of the tape and become inaudible, and
longer duration peaks can be
controlled by the compressor, giving a
more natural sound. When recording
onto a digital medium such as DAT or
hard disk, you may need it to use the fast attack rate so that transients do not
overload the medium (since this can lead to undesirable digital distortion).
Setting the Release Rate
By slowing the release rate, the
compressor recovers more slowly from
compression, so it does not turn off
immediately when the signal returns
below the threshold.
Before Attack
Compression
During Release
Compression
f u n c t i o n s
During
Compression
After
Compression
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