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702 EFFECTS MENU
"Vintage" mode simulates a circuit design from the time when VCAs were not yet or could
not be fully implemented. Instead, a FET (field effect transistor) was often used as a
controllable resistor. This, together with constant resistance at the circuit's gate, builds a
so-called voltage splitter, i.e. this forms a resistance change at the FET (caused by a
change in voltage at its gate), which results in a damping of the input signal. A very simple
detector circuit is used to activate the FET, which obtains its signal from the output of the
compressor (behind the whole control circuit).For older designs, this feedback loop
provides a stabilization of the work parameters and is one of the decisive factors for the
often-quoted soft and musical compression of exponents of this design, e.g. the Urei 1176
or 1178. The control circuit sees the layout of its previous work and oscillates to the signal.
The disadvantage: The set time parameters for attack and release depend slightly on the
program. In some cases, it's actually advantageous with vocals, bass, or even drums (e.g.
subgroup, ambience, mics). You should rely completely on your ear for this.
Because of the feedback topology, the maximum gain reduction is usually lower than VCA
devices with forwards detection, usually 20 dB. This way, there is almost always a level-
matching amplifier in the feedback loop. The "drive" fader of the AM-Track regulates the
so-called feedback amplification. This can be so high that the detector be saturated by a
loud input signal, resulting in signal peaks being swallowed up. Simultaneously, the setting
becomes more intense as quieter signals also start reaching the threshold. You can
creatively implement this according to the situation to create complex signal compression,
which doesn't much sound like dynamic compression due to the transients that slip
through and release at high "drive" levels.
The stated release of the signal, technically known as a ratio reduction, is also caused by
the centerpiece of the circuitry: the FET. Level reduction works entirely as a function of its
characteristic curve, resulting from the non-linear behavior of this element. The FET virtually
comprises part of the input resistance of the compressor circuit. As a result, the
input/output response curve does not create a plateau when "drive" is high, which would
be the case for a reference line featuring a high ratio or even limiting. A saturated FET may
no longer complete the job it was marked out to do, i.e. to keep its output at low Ohm
values. Once again, signal peaks pass through the entire circuit unaffected, but the