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556 EFFECTS MENU
VINTAGE mode
This mode appears as a preset on start-up of the am-track. It has
less parameters than the "VCA" mode and has audibly less of a
"surgical" quality, but more of a trimmed "sound character".
"Vintage" mode simulates a circuit design from the time where 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 a constant resistance at the circuit's gate, builds a
so-called voltage splitter, that is, it builds a resistance change at the FET (caused by a
change in voltage at its gate), resulting 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 (that is, 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, like, for example,
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. With some applications it's actually advantageous with vocals, bass or even
drums (for example, subgroup, ambience, mics). Here, you should rely completely on your
ear.
Because of the feedback topology the maximum gain reduction is usually lower than, for
example, VCA devices with forwards detection, usually 20dB. 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 will
get 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 state according to the situation, bringing