Drawmer S3 Multi-Band Stereo Tube Compressor - Manual (Page 9)

9 DRAWMER S3 O
PERATOR’S M ANUAL
QUICK SETUP PROCEDURE
Please note that the following procedure is only a guide. All audio is different, requiring numerous settings, however,
this should give a good staring point:
1) Set the compressor settings to be the same on all bands - Threshold at “infinite”, Gain at 0dB, the
Attack in a mid position (2 or 3) and Release set to F(ast). The overall Gain control should be set to 0dB,
and the Balance at 0.
2) Set the Meter Select switch to Input and adjust the incoming signal so that the meters read 0dB. Set the
switch to output.
3) With the Low Frequency Split set fully counter-clockwise, and the High Frequency Split set fully
clockwise, listen to the audio and bring in the two knobs to the positions that you think the cross-over points
should be set - generally to separate the main bass and treble sounds from the mid-range. Using a combination
of Mute and Bypass switches for the various bands allows the operator to monitor only the frequencies that are
required and so tune the low, mid and high frequencies.
4) Keeping an eye on the Gain Reduction Meters alter the Threshold level control for each band until the
desired compression level is achieved - a G.R. level up to -10dB is acceptable.
5) Adjust the Gain control of each band until 0dB is reached on the Output VU meter. To see only the band that
is being adjusted on the VU meter Mute the other two bands.
6) Set the Attack and Release settings of each band to suit the audio being compressed.
7) The Threshold and Gain of each band can be modified to achieve the desired compression, levels and tonal
balance to the overall signal.
8) At this point the Bypass switches can be toggled to listen to the affect that the S3 is having on the audio.
Adjust to suit.
9) Once each band is setup correctly modify the overall Output Gain and Balance until the VU meters read 0dB
(more if in +10dB VU or +20dB modes).
Above is an example setup that could be used for a General Pop Mix, though, of course, as all music is diverse and
varied, will not be ideal elsewhere.