Operation Manual
Bus Compressor
Control 2802 Operating Manual 27
Bus Compressor
The master section of Control 2802 features an integrated
stereo mix bus compressor.
The compressor uses a soft-knee VCA design that is optimised
for mix bus use.
By default, the compressor sits within the main mix output
path, after the mix bus insert and before the master fader.
However, this can be rearranged, or the compressor can be
removed from the main mix and patched elsewhere using its
own external IO.
You may nd it useful to print this page so that you can refer to the control numbering while reading this section.
Control 2802
I
Tips and Suggestions
The bus compressor is a VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplier)
gain cell design. It is a exible tool suitable for a variety of
sources - for example, to gently “glue” together your main mix,
or add impact and energy to drums.
Perhaps you dislike mix bus compression or have your own
favourite outboard mix compressor...
... then use the EXT switch (2) and COMPRESSOR IN/OUT
connections (on the rear panel) to patch the compressor to
another path - for example, to the insert send and return of a
pair of Control 2802 channels. You may then apply the bus
compressor to any signal feeding the channels - individual
instruments, subgroups, or nal mixes.
Use the DRY-WET control (9) to “crossfade” between the
uncompressed and compressed signal - a technique known as
parallel compression. Try this on your drum bus. It is fantastic
at preserving transient information, while adding body and
punch.
When using the DRY-WET control (9), there is a slight amount
of gain in the sweep of the pot. Therefore, you may not need as
much GAIN make-up (8). This is a great way to increase level
post compression, and achieve a nice sense of punch!
Try starting the DRY-WET control (9) somewhere between 1
and 4 o’clock, and adjust the GAIN make-up (8) to taste.
Please see “Bus Compressor Settings” on page 31 for some
example settings.