User Manual

Page 28 Duende Native User Guide
CONTROL PARAMETERS
Plug-in Bypass
The In/Out switch located above the Input section provides an internal plug-in bypass. This allows for smoother
In/Out comparisons by avoiding the latency issues associated with the host application’s Bypass function.
The button must be ‘lit’ for the compressor to be in circuit (as shown right).
Presets
The Load and Save buttons at the base of the screen provide quick access to the host application’s Import
and Save Settings functions. For specific instructions on using presets within the host, consult the host
application documentation. Presets use a standard file format which allows them to be moved between a variety of platforms
and host applications.
A file of ready-made X-Comp presets are included in the plug-in installation. These provide starting points for a variety of
instruments and effects. To load SSL presets, click on the Load button and navigate as follows:
Macintosh:
/Applications/Solid State Logic/Presets/X-Comp
Windows: c:\program files\solid state logic\presets\X-Comp
A-B comparisons
The A B button at the base of the screen allows you to load two completely independent set ups and compare
them quickly. When the plug-in is opened, setting A is selected by default, as shown right. Pressing the A B button
will switch between setting A and setting B.
You may wish to use this function to compare two very similar settings or to keep a ‘maybe’ setting in reserve if your current
one does not work out.
Common Compressor Parameters
The diagrams down the right-hand side of the page give a simplified
overview what each control represents, as shown in the Compression
Law display in the centre of the plug-in window. If you are unclear
about how the Thresh (threshold), Ratio, Attack, Release and Make up
work, please refer to SSL’s on-line tutorials (See Page 5 for details).
Knee
The Knee controls how focussed the threshold level is:
- With a hard knee (knob at minimum) the compressor’s parameters all come into
force at precisely the point at which the threshold is crossed. In the Compression
Law diagram, this is shown by a sharp change in gradient at the threshold.
- With a soft knee, the ratio is introduced gradually, starting below the threshold
and reaching its full value above the threshold. In the Compression Law graph,
this is shown by a curve in the gradient around the threshold.
The Knee control affects both the main threshold point and the Max GR point (see
below) in equal measure.
Operational tip. A hard knee allows for greater precision, but can sound more
obvious. A soft knee generally provides a more transparent result.
Max GR
The Max GR (Maximum Gain Reduction) allows you to set a limit on how much gain reduction can be introduced, replicating
the performance of older optical compressors (as shown in the upper diagram to the right). With a Max GR of 20dB, for
example, any signals that would normally be reduced by more than 20dB will be attenuated by 20dB. By only compressing
the middle of the dynamic range, you can exert some general dynamic control whilst still preserving the affect of a signal’s
peaks.
full scale
change in 0utput level
time
Release
Attack
output level
input level
Ratio
Hard knee: sharp
Soft knee: curved
Make-up
Thresh
Max GR
?
click here for
on-line
tutorials