Technical information

APPENDIX 12
Side-chain support and Side-chain pre- ltering (high pass, low pass and band
pass, and parametric) are provided in all CompressorBank con gurations. The
pre- lter can also be placed in-line and applied to the compressed signal.
In addition to the standard Threshold and Compression (Ratio) controls, the
actual shape and response of the compression curve can be adjusted using
the Knee and BITE (Bi-directional Intelligent Transient Enhancement) controls
to emulate the responses of popular vintage compressors.
The BITE control gives the compressor more ‘bite’. As this control is increased,
fast signal changes (transients) are allowed to pass through the compressor
while the overall compression amount is the same. The transients of a
compressed signal will become less compressed as more ‘bite’ is applied.
Using the Knee control, you can soften the compression curve to create
a smoother response, or to add pumping/breathing compression effects.
CompressorBank’s unique Knee design allows the user to ‘morph’ between
various compressor topologies such as the dbx 165, the Neve 2254E/33609,
and the Teletronix LA2A.
The Key button allows the user to choose whether to use the normal input
signal (‘internal key’) or the side-chain input signal (‘external key’) as the
compression key. When the Key button is pressed, a small green LED lights up
on the button to indicate that the external key is being used, otherwise the
internal key is used.
The Listen button allows the user to monitor the input signal into the
compressor, whether this is an internal or external key. This is useful in
comparing the processed signal to the original. Note that if an external key is
selected to drive the compressor, that signal will be heard at the compressor
output if the Listen button is enabled. When the Listen button is pressed,
a small green LED lights up on the button to indicate that key listening is
enabled.
Note that when key listening is enabled in CompressorBank con gurations
with a Pre-Filter section, the monitored signal is the output of the pre- lter.
CompressorBank plug-ins have three sets of meters, showing the input levels,
the amount of compression gain reduction, and the output levels. Peak LEDs
are also provided with the input and output meters to indicate when signal
clipping occurs.