User Guide

The importance of this control to the operation of the unit cannot be overstressed: it
provides for two entirely different modes of operation. Soft Knee mode performs as
described in the preceding sections with a preset non-user definable variable ratio,
while Hard Knee mode allows the user to determine the desirable ratio from 1.5:1 to
actual limiting (infinity to one) for a great deal of flexibility.
0 +10 +20-10-20
INPUT - dB
0
-10
-20
OUTPUT - dB
2:1
4:1
:1
RATIO (Hard Knee)
OUTPUT RATIO
In addition to the aforementioned controls that affect the control signal, one other front
panel control remains—the Output potentiometer. This control allows for user-
determined make-up gain as necessary, with the possibility of available gain and
attenuation for maximum flexibility. It should be understood that this control does not
affect the dynamic processing functions in any way since it follows the knee generation
circuits.
In stark contrast to the intricate complexity of the control path circuitry, the topology of
the Model 2020 Dynamics section audio path is quite simple and elegant. The gain
element for the feed-forward gain control is a proprietary discrete VCA, which provides
excellent low-level resolution, low distortion, extended bandwidth, and extremely low
noise. A DC-servo coupled GML 9202 discrete opamp provides output buffering for the
Dynamics section.