Displaying Gate Activity; Compressor; Knee; Threshold - SoundCraft RM1ds User Manual

Displaying Gate Activity

Compressor

A Compressor is a device that acts almost like an 'automatic hand' placed on a channel fader.
It can reduce the level of signals that are too loud thus preventing signal overload. This is
achieved by setting a Threshold level whereby signals that exceed the Threshold are reduced
(compressed) by a pre-determined amount (the Ratio setting). Signals falling below the Threshold
level will pass through unaffected.
A typical example of this would be compressing the DJ microphone to avoid sudden jumps in
output level if the DJ moves too close to the microphone.
The following parameters are available for adjustment.

Knee

The Knee setting determines what the transition between the uncompressed signal and the
compressed signal is going to be. If Hard Knee is chosen then at the point where the signal
passes through the Threshold point, compression will begin immediately. If Soft Knee is chosen
then compression will begin slightly before the point at which the signal passes through the
threshold point. The Soft Knee setting will usually make the transition between uncompressed
and compressed states sound more subtle and natural.

Threshold

The Threshold level determines the point at which compression begins to occur. Signals that
are above the Threshold setting will be compressed according to the setting chosen in the Ratio
menu. Signals below the Threshold level will pass through unaffected.

Ratio

Once the signal has exceeded the Threshold level it will be reduced (compressed) by the
amount set using the Ratio setting. If for example a Ratio setting of 5:1 is chosen a change, in
signal level of 10dB above the Threshold will result in a 2dB change in Output level.

Attack

The Attack time determines how fast the Compressor will start to act once the signal has
passed the Threshold point.

Release

The Release time determines how fast the Compressor returns to its normal state once the
signal has dropped back below the Threshold point.
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RM1d/RM1ds User Guide