Specifications

Chapter 4: TL Aggro 13
Implementing a Threshold control into the op-
eration of TL Aggro has two specific side-effects.
At the extreme setting of a high threshold, high
ratio, fast attack, and a slow release, TL Aggro
can overshoot in compression and become
“sticky” with a high gain reduction. Sonically,
this sounds like “pops” in the output signal. In
more technical terms, TL Aggro is becoming
marginally unstable. In this scenario you can al-
leviate the problem by doing one or more of the
following:
• Lower the Threshold
• Reduce the Ratio
• Reduce the Attack
• Increase the Release
The second side effect is that for a given set of
Ratio and Attack settings, the compressor has a
finite range of available gain reduction. At some
cutoff point on the Threshold knob, you might
find that compressor ceases to apply anymore
compression to the signal. To acquire more
compression range, increase the Ratio slider, or
alternatively increase the Attack speed.
The reverse-feedBack model combined with the
Threshold control and additional features like
Bass Compensation and Tube Drive gives
TL Aggro a wide range of compression styles
once you understand how it operates. The abil-
ity to adjust threshold gives TL Aggro a distinc-
tive advantage over traditional reverse feedBack
designs, both in terms of functionality and
sonic character.
TL Aggro Controls
Compression
TL Aggro provides the standard compression
controls Threshold, Ration, Attack, Release, and
Post Gain.
Threshold
The Threshold control sets the amplitude level
at which the compressor begins to affect the in-
put signal. The values indicated on the Thresh-
old knob are in negative dB. At the default 0 dB
setting, TL Aggro will pass the audio signal
through at unity gain and will have no effect on
the audio. As the Threshold knob is turned
clockwise (click and drag up), the threshold will
be lowered deeper into the input signal and re-
sult in more gain reduction as the compressor
becomes sensitive to more of the incoming au-
dio signal.
Ratio
The Ratio control indicates the degree at which
TL Aggro is reducing dynamic range. The Ratio
slider increases the amount of compression as
the slider is pushed upwards, by increasing the
amount of gain reduction in the output signal
relative to the input signal. Additionally, as the
ratio is increased, the “knee” of compression
curve is made tighter. At lower ratio settings,
TL Aggro has a gentle knee in the compression
curve.
Compressions controls