Rane MM 42 - Manual (Page 13)

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dB INPUT
Multi-Band Compressor
The Compressor may be used in either full-range (M-BAND
off) or multi-band (M-BAND on) modes. Repeatedly press the
COMPRESS button to move through each frequency band
when M-BAND is set to ON.
Pressing the COMPRESS button displays the following:
CMP ON |BND THRSH RTO ATCK REL M-BAND
OUT 1+2| 1 0dB 2.0 10ms 100ms ON
Compressor
Parameter Value Description
CMP status
ON
Turns Compressor ON for the
selected Output(s).
off
Turns Compressor OFF (bypass)
for the selected Output(s).
RST
(Reset) Select and press ENTER to restore
default settings.
Selected
Output(s)
OUT1+2
View and adjust parameters for
both Outputs simultaneously.
“Linked” mode.
OUT 1
View and adjust parameters for
Output 1 only.
OUT 2
View and adjust parameters for
Output 2 only.
BND
(Band)
1, 2, 3
Repeatedly pressing the
COMPRESS button cycles
through each of the 3 Compressor
bands when M-BAND is ON.
THRSH
(Threshold)
-60dB to
0dB The signal level above which
compression occurs.
RTO
(Ratio) 1.0 to
INF
Amount of output volume
reduction per input volume
increase above the Threshold.
1.0 = no reduction,
INF = hard compression.
ATCK
(Attack) 0.5ms to
100ms
Determines how quickly the
output volume is reduced once
the input volume exceeds the
Threshold.
REL
(Release) 1ms to
5sec
Determines how quickly the
output volume returns to normal
(unity) once the input volume
drops below the Threshold.
M-BAND
ON Turns Multi-Band mode ON.
SET
Select and press ENTER to view
or adjust the multi-band crossover
frequencies.
off
Turns Multi-Band mode OFF.
Compressor works over the entire
20 Hz to 20 kHz range.
* Important note: the front panel Gain Reduction meter auto-
matically switches to display the amount of gain reduction being
applied to the currently selected band.
Adjusting Crossover Points in Multi-Band Mode
To view or adjust crossover frequencies:
1. Navigate to the M-BAND parameter.
2. Rotate the DATA control to select SET and press ENTER.
3. Select a band crossover point and adjust with the DATA con-
trol. Press ENTER to return to the COMPRESSOR.
CMP |--------X---------X----------|
OUT 1+2 | BND1-2=200Hz BND2-3=2.0kHz
Multi-Band Frequency Page
Parameter Value Description
BND1-2
(Band 1-2)
20 Hz to
20 kHz
Low/Mid Crossover Frequency.
Can’t be set greater than the
BND2-3 Frequency.
BND2-3
(Band 2-3)
20 Hz to
20 kHz
Mid/High Crossover Frequency.
Can’t be set lower than the BND1-
2 Frequency.
Description
Custom tailoring of the program material dynamics is
possible using the multi-band compressor. The audio signal is
divided into distinct frequency ranges, which are then individu-
ally compressed as desired before being recombined to form the
processed signal.
A common application for multi-band compression is to
compress low frequencies more (or otherwise differently) than
the mid and high frequencies. How many times have you heard
this: “Why do the vocals disappear with every bass drum hit? It
gives my mix this weird pumping sound.” This phenomenon is
likely due to using a full-range (broadband) compressor across
the entire mix. In this scenario the low frequency energy from
the bass drum triggers the compressor, dragging all frequencies
down evenly with every hit.
Multi-band compressor to the rescue! Try adjusting the
compressor’s crossover frequency point to compress just the low
frequency range (say, 200 Hz and below) while keeping the
vocals and guitars strong and present.
The multi-band compressor used in the MM 42 is of the rms
(root mean square) variety with a soft-knee characteristic for a
pleasant, musical response.
Figure Compressor Characteristic (various Ratios)