Specifications

Setting Up The Processing

The average attack time is perhaps the most important control in the dual time constant detector as it sets the

balance between peak and average energy in the detector. With smaller numbers more energy is transferred

into the average circuit and a higher platform level is created so more time will be spent releasing at the slower

average rate. Higher numbers offer slower attack times for the averaging part of the detector and this has the

effect of lowering the average platform level and allowing the peak part of the circuit to dominate with its faster

release times. The Average decay time can usually be viewed as the nominal release time of the detector, simi-

lar to a standard single time constant limiters release time.

To recap, the peak attack time and average decay time play the same sort of role as that of a standard con-

ventional single time constant based limiter. The peak decay time sets the decay time for fast usually inaudible

transients and the average attack time sets the ratio of peak to average control and defines the position of the

platform that the peak circuit releases to.

Hold

The multi-band limiters have an extra mechanism called HOLD which works in the same way as the GATE con-

trol in the AGC stages. Unlike the GATE control the HOLD control has no extra associated controls like return

to rest levels and speeds. The hold feature when triggered will HOLD the average platform level at its last value

before the hold was triggered. This feature can help reduce IM distortion, reduce pumping effects and avoid

suck up of noise. The HOLD feature can be adjusted over a level of -20 dB to -40dB with an option for 'OFF'.

Peak time constants dominating control due to

a very high setting of average attack

Peak time constants dominating to a lesser

degree due to a high setting of average attack

Peak time constants dominating to a much

lesser degree due to a lower setting of average

attack

Limiter control signals response to tone bursts