User Manual

RackPack: DynaMaxx

Technology And Applications

Release Time Automation

Again, it is beneficial to look at what happens when the Release time is

too short: In this case the compressor will restore normal gain condi-

tions as soon as the peak has passed, and this rapid increase in gain is

what we call breathing. Breathing is especially annoying during a part

with soft strings or low level layered sounds – whenever a peak comes

along, the strings duck down with it, only to pump up again when the

peak is over. Sonically the sound image swims and pumps while the

subjectively perceived loudness remains at a low level.

The DynaMaxx uses a special technique to overcome these problems.

First it monitors the average music level. If a loud transient sound

occurs (bass drum, snare and so on) that also has a big gain step, a

very short Release time is set and the signal level is reduced to the

calculated average music level, not to the threshold! If the compressor

reduces the level to the Threshold (which is what standard compres-

sors do), you would again hear pumping effects, because of the way

low-level signals are lifted in gain.

The Release time is controlled depending on the difference between

the actual peak and calculated average signal levels. If a large differ-

ence is detected, DynaMaxx will set a faster Release time, whereas if

only a small level difference is detected, DynaMaxx will release more

slowly.

Threshold And Ratio

Threshold and Ratio are both set by the COMPRESSION control; using a

low setting for the COMPRESSION control causes only the peak levels

to be compressed because the threshold is relatively high. For more

compression, turning the control clockwise has the effect of lowering

the threshold to include more low-level signals in the processing.

As the threshold is lowered, the ratio is simultaneously increased,

and the fully clockwise position is equivalent to a ratio of around 3:1.

However, the threshold and ratio values are not static, but rather vary

depending on the attack and level characteristics of the source signal.

Peak levels are automatically compressed with a higher ratio to main-

tain control over maximum signal levels, but still using an unobtrusive

soft-knee compression characteristic.