PreSonus ACP88 - Manual (Page 9)

CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS
6
• Attack
Attack sets the speed at which the compressor ‘acts’ on the input signal. A slow attack
time (fully clockwise) allows the beginning envelope of a signal (commonly referred to as
the initial transient) to pass through the compressor uncompressed, whereas a fast
attack time (fully counterclockwise) immediately subjects the signal to the Ratio and
Threshold settings of the compressor.
*The Attack control is only active when the Auto button is not pushed in. When
the Auto button is pushed in, the compressor automatically determines the
appropriate Attack time for compression.
• Release
Release sets the length of time the compressor takes to return the Gain reduction back
to zero (no gain reduction). Very short Release times can produce a very choppy or
‘jittery’ sound, especially in low frequency instruments such as bass guitar. Very long
Release times can result in an overly compressed signal, sometimes referred to as
‘squashing’ the sound. All ranges of Release can be useful at different times however
and you should experiment to become familiar with the different sound possibilities.
(Refer to the applications section of this manual for some ideas.)
*The Release control is only active when the Auto button is not pushed in. When
the Auto button is pushed in, the compressor automatically determines the
appropriate Release time for compression.