dbx DriveRack 220i - Manual (Page 27)

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220i
DriveRack ® User Manual
Compressor On/Off
Turns the Compressor module on and off.
OverEasy (O) Off to 10
There are ten levels of OverEasy ® that can be used for the limiters. The point when the compressor
starts to compress is the “knee.” When the compressor starts to reduce the level of a signal abruptly
as it passes over the threshold, this is called “hard knee” compression. OverEasy
® (soft knee as it is
sometimes called) is when the volume of the sound is compressed gradually. OverEasy ® compression
starts to compress before the level of the signal reaches the
threshold and reaches full compression after the level has gone above the threshold. OverEasy
®
compression, by its very nature, sounds much smoother and more natural and will be used for most
applications. When it is gentle (natural sounding or light) compression that you are looking for, the
compressor offers VariKnee™. VariKnee™ gives you ten levels of OverEasy
® compression 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 dynamic effect you are looking for.
Threshold (T) -40 to +20dBu
Threshold is the signal level at which the unit starts to compress the signal. If the level is set to -10 dBu,
than any signal larger than -10 dBu is compressed while any signal that has a level that is lower than
-10dBu is left at the same signal level. Light compression is where only the loudest parts of the signal go
over the threshold. Very heavy compression 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 compression is
achieved when most of the signal content remains just below the threshold and only the peaks cross the
threshold.
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 as a limiter.
Detailed Parameters
Section 3