User manual SAMSON SCOMPLUS

S Class Signal Processors GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 1 INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dB -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 -3 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +18 GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 1 INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dB -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 -3 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +18 POWER EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER 20 COMPRESSOR / LIMITER THRESHOLD -10 10 CH 1 RELEASE 1 STEREO LINK EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER 20 COMPRESSOR / LIMITER THRESHOLD -10 10 CH 2 RELEASE 1 RATIO 4:1 ATTACK 50 OUTPUT 0 ENHANCER 5 RATIO 4:1 ATTACK 50 OUTPUT 0 ENHANCER 5 STEREO COMPRESSOR GATE 50 0 FAST -30 +10 2 6 KEY LISTEN 15 IN/OUT 1 200 .15 3 -10 +10 3 7 IN/OUT 2 50 0 GATE -30 FAST +10 2 6 KEY LISTEN 15 200 .15 3 -10 +10 3 7 OFF +10 dB RELEASE SLOW -40 +20 dB SPECTRA 1 dB KEY .3 300 .05 Sec AUTO 5 mSec -20 +20 dB I/O METER OFF 10 OFF +10 dB RELEASE SLOW -40 +20 dB SPECTRA 1 dB KEY .3 300 .05 Sec AUTO 5 mSec -20 +20 dB I/O METER OFF 10 STEREO COMPRESSOR / LIMITER Safety Instructions Caution: To reduce the hazard of electrical shock, do not remove cover or back. No user serviceable parts inside. Please refer all servicing to qualified personnel. CAUTION FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION AGAINST RISK OF FIRE, REPLACE ONLY WITH SAME TYPE FUSE ATTENTION UTILISER UN FUSIBLE DE RECHANGE DE MÊME TYPE WARNING DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE AVIS RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRONIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture. The lightning flash with an arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the products enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product. Important Safety Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Please read all instructions before operating the unit. Keep these instructions for future reference. Please heed all safety warnings. Follow manufacturers instructions. Do not use this unit near water or moisture. Clean only with a damp cloth. Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or third prong is provided for your safety. When the provided plug does not fit your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet. Protect the power cord from being walked on and pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and at the point at which they exit from the unit. Unplug this unit during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Servicing is required when the unit has been damaged in any way, such as power supply cord or plug damage, or if liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the unit, the unit has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped. 10. 11. 12. 1 Table of Contents Table des matières ENGLISH Forward by Ray Kennedy Introduction S·com plus Features Controls and Functions Front Panel Layout Rear Panel Layout Operating the S·com plus Setting Up the S·com Plus Compressing A Signal Gating A Signal Using The Expander Using the Enhancer Using the De-esser Setting Up the Peak Limiter Dynamics Processing 101 Applications System Set-ups S·com plus Connections Specifications Block Diagram 3 4 5 6-7 6-7 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 11-12 13-14 15-16 17 60-61 62 Inhalt DEUTSCHE Vorwort von Ray Kennedy S·com plus Features Regler und Funktionen Vorderseite Rückseite Bedienung des S·com plus S·com plus einrichten Signal komprimieren Signal gaten Expander einsetzen Enhancer einsetzen De-esser einsetzen Peak Limiter einrichten Dynamikbearbeitung 101 Anwendungen System-Einrichtungsbeispiele S·com plus Anschlüsse Technische Daten 32 33 34-35 34-35 36 36 37 37 38 38 38 39-40 41-42 43-44 45 60-61 Contenido FRANÇAIS Note de Ray Kennedy Caractéristiques du S·com Plus Réglages et fonctions Face avant Face arrière Utilisation du S·com Plus Configuration du S·com Plus Compression d'un signal Utilisation du Noise Gate Utilisation de l'expanseur Utilisation de l'Enhancer Utilisation du dé-esseur Utilisation du limiteur de crêtes Notes élémentaires sur les processeurs de dynamique Applications Configurations du système Connexions du S·com Plus Caractéristiques techniques 18 19 20-21 20-21 22 22 23 23 24 24 24 25-26 27-28 29-30 31 60-61 ESPAÑOL Prólogo de Ray Kennedy Características y funciones de S·com plus Controles y funciones Distribución del panel frontal Distribución del panel posterior Utilizar el S·com plus Preparar el S·com Plus Comprimir una señal Aplicar una compuerta a una señal Utilizar el Expander Utilizar el Enhancer Utilizar el De-esser Utilizar el Limiter Procesamiento de dinámica 101 Aplicaciones Instalaciones del sistema Conexiones de S·com plus Especificaciones 46 47 48-49 48-49 50 50 51 51 51 52 52 53-54 55-56 57-58 59 60-61 Copyright 2001, Samson Technologies Corp. Printed April, 2001 Samson Technologies Corp. 575 Underhill Blvd. P.O. Box 9031 Syosset, NY 11791-9031 Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766) Fax: 516-364-3888 www.samsontech.com Forward By Ray Kennedy The use of compressors and limiters in recording and mixing are some of the most important tools available and much more useful than many realize. To me, compression is much more of a sound than a dynamics control device. Each model has its own sound and ideal application which is why I have about forty units to choose from. Learning which type of unit and what settings to use takes a lot of trial and experimentation but eventually you'll find the best applications. Peak limiting and soft compression are basically good for maximizing levels to tape or disk without a lot of coloration. Essentially knocking the peaks down and bringing the quieter portions of a sound up louder by narrowing the dynamic range. Slow attack and fast release times allow for more transparent sound. I personally like the sound of compression and use it at times to extremes. Depending on the type of unit and the settings, so many tonal characters can be achieved from thickening, adding ambience, toughening, softening, equalizing and much more. My favorite 'manic compression"' trick is to make vocals feel suspended in the mix, dry and intimate, as if the singer is right there in your face but not too loud. My partner Steve Earle says the amount of compression we use on the vocals on his records lets people know what he had for breakfast. In many ways, it becomes a replacement for reverb and used in extreme, it pulls in all the ambience around a vocal mic as well as digging out character from down in your vocal cords. On an overhead or room mic, you can actually change the perceived size of the room by making it suck in the decaying sound as it travels away. Again slow attack and fast release times will bring the best results because you can hit the threshold much harder. Stereo bus limiting and compression is also a very good method for actually gluing tracks together and making bands sound tighter than they really are. It also allows for more saturation to analog two track as well as fuller modulation to digital formats. For me, it is not unusual to hit three stereo limiters before getting to the hard disk in mastering, which the final parts will be cut from. Quite often running a signal through several compressors will allow some interesting results which cannot be achieved with one unit. There certainly are no rules but it is important to know that there are many different designs in squashing sound. Some are entirely tube, some tube and optical, just optical, FET transistors, VCA's (voltage control amplifiers) Pure Class A, Class A/B, Digital, as well as other combinations. Now, we have finally arrived in an age of very high quality VCA's which are not too expensive and are allowing for very sophisticated and versatile designs, as are the S-Class units from Samson. Ray Kennedy ENGLISH Ray Kennedy is a Nashville based Producer, Engineer and Songwriter whose production company Twang Trust, a partnership between Ray and singer songwriter Steve Earle, has been credited with well known artist recordings and performances including Steve Earle, Art Garfunkel, Willie and Waylon, Farm Aid, The Del McCoury Band, Nancy Griffith, Lucinda Williams, David Alan Coe, Shaver, V-Roys, and Rosie Flores. 3 Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Samson S·com plus dynamics processor. The Samson S·com plus is a one-space dual channel dynamics processor optimized for recording, live sound reinforcement systems, DJ set-ups and commercial installations. The S·com plus is a complete dynamics processing solution offering two channels of full function Compressor, Expander/Gate, Limiter and De-Esser. S·com plus' convenient meters provide instant status of important gain management settings. In these pages, you'll find a detailed description of the features of the S·com plus dynamics processor, as well a description of its front and rear panels, step-by-step instructions for its setup and use, and full specifications. You'll also find a warranty card enclosed--please don't forget to fill it out and mail it in so that you can receive online technical support and so we can send you updated information about these and other Samson products in the future. With proper care and adequate air circulation, your S·com plus will operate trouble free for many years. We recommend you record your serial number in the space provided below for future reference. Serial number: Date of purchase: ENGLISH Should your unit ever require servicing, a Return Authorization number (RA) must be obtained before shipping your unit to Samson. Without this number, the unit will not be accepted. Please call Samson at 1-800-3SAMSON (1-800-372-6766) for a Return Authorization number prior to shipping your unit. Please retain the original packing materials and if possible, return the unit in the original carton and packing materials. 4 S·com plus Features GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 1 INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dB -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 -3 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +18 DE-ESSER LEVEL dB 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 LIMIT GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 1 INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dB -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 -3 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +18 DE-ESSER LEVEL dB 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 LIMIT POWER EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER 20 COMPRESSOR / LIMITER THRESHOLD -10 10 DE-ESSER OUTPUT 0 CH 1 LIMITER +12 STEREO LINK EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER 20 COMPRESSOR / LIMITER THRESHOLD -10 10 DE-ESSER RELEASE 1 CH 2 LIMITER +12 RATIO 4:1 ATTACK 50 RELEASE 1 LEVEL 5 RATIO 4:1 ATTACK 50 OUTPUT 0 LEVEL 5 STEREO COMPRESSOR LIMITER GATE 50 0 -30 +10 2 6 15 200 .15 3 -10 +10 3 7 +5 16 IN/OUT 1 50 IN/OUT 2 0 GATE -30 +10 2 6 15 200 .15 3 -10 +10 3 7 +5 16 OFF +10 dB RELEASE -40 +20 dB ENHANCER 1 dB KEY .3 300 .05 Sec AUTO 5 mSec -20 +20 dB I/O METER 0 dB 10 0 OFF dB OFF +10 dB RELEASE -40 +20 dB ENHANCER 1 dB KEY .3 300 .05 Sec AUTO 5 mSec -20 +20 dB I/O METER 0 dB 10 0 OFF dB ENGLISH IN/OUT IN/OUT The Samson S com Plus dynamics processor utilizes the latest technology in gain management design. Here are some of its main features: · Full featured, dual channel dynamics processor including Compressor/Limiter, Expander/Gate, De-Esser and Peak Limiter. SKD (Smart Knee Detector) switches from soft to hard knee based on the level of input signal. AEG (Automatic Envelope Generator) mode constantly adjusts the Compressor's Attack and Release times based on input signal. Manual adjustment of Attack and Release time is also facilitated. 12 Segment LED Input/Output Meter, plus 12 Segment LED Gain Reduction Meter. External Keying with Key Switch available on front panel. Adjustable De-Esser with independent LED meter for reducing annoying sibilance from recorded tracks. Expander/Gate with variable Trigger control and switchable Fast and Slow Release time. Gate function can be switched from hard Off to Light Downward Expander. Gate Open and Closed LED's. Peak Limiter with independent Threshold control and Peak LED. Advanced circuit design, utilizing low noise operational amplifiers and high quality VCAs. Stereo Link Switch. Servo balanced inputs and outputs on XLR and 1/4" connectors. Switchable +4 and ­10 operating levels. High quality 41 position detent pots and backlit switches. The stylish bead blasted electric blue anodized front-panel is as easy to read as it is to look at. Three-year extended warranty. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Auto Envelope GENERATOR Smart Knee DETECTOR Enhanced Frequency RECOVERY 5 Controls and Functions FRONT PANEL LAYOUT 1 11 2 GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 1 3 INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dB -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 -3 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +18 4 5 DE-ESSER LEVEL dB 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 6 LIMIT ENGLISH EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER 20 COMPRESSOR / LIMITER THRESHOLD 10 -10 DE-ESSER OUTPUT 0 CH 1 LIMITER +12 STEREO LINK EXP TR RATIO 4:1 ATTACK 50 RELEASE 1 LEVEL 5 STEREO COMPRESSOR LIMITER GATE 50 0 -30 +10 2 6 15 200 .15 3 -10 +10 3 7 +5 16 IN/OUT 1 50 IN/OUT 2 OFF +10 dB RELEASE -40 +20 dB ENHANCER 1 dB KEY .3 300 .05 Sec AUTO 5 mSec -20 +20 dB I/O METER 0 dB 10 0 OFF dB O IN/OUT 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 GATE OPEN & CLOSED LED - Indicates when the gate is open or closed. GAIN REDUCTION METER - Displays the amount of Gain Reduction when Compressor circuit is activated. INPUT/OUTPUT METER - Displays the Input or Output signal level based on the settings of the I/O meter switch. DE-ESSER METER - Displays the amount of De-Esser effect. LIMITER METER - Display light indicates when LIMITER circuit is engaged. STEREO LINK SWITCH- When engaged Channel 2 functions are controlled by the settings on Channel 1. CHANNEL 2 CONTROLS - The same knob and switch complement as Channel 1 . REAR PANEL LAYOUT A B C 8 MAINS POWER SWITCH - When turned on, activates the S·com plus. 9 RACK EARS - Used for mounting into a 19-inch standard rack. 10 TRIGGER- Controls the threshold level that the Expander/Gate becomes active. 11 GATE SWITCH - Selects either Gate or Expander mode. 12 RELEASE SWITCH - Selects FAST or SLOW Release Time for EXPANDER/GATE. 13 THRESHOLD - Used to set the minimum signal level at which the Compressor circuit begins to function. 14 ENHANCE - Activates S· com plus' Enhanced Spectrum Recovery circuit restoring the high end loss resulting from extreme Gain Reduction. 15 RATIO - Controls the amount Gain Reduction in proportion to the amount of signal over the selected threshold level. D E F G H CHANNEL 2 -10 KEY INPUT OUTPUT BALANCED OUTPUT BALANCED INPUT +4 LEVEL A AC INLET - IEC standard AC Power cable Connector. B CHANNEL 2 XLR INPUT - XLR Balanced line input. C CHANNEL 2 1/4" TRS INPUT - 1/4" TRS Balanced line input. D OPERATING LEVEL SWITCH - Switches the operating level from -10dB to +4dB. E CHANNEL 2 KEY INPUT - Input connection allowing external control of the S·com plus' Compressor detection circuit. F CHANNEL 1 KEY OUTPUT - S· com plus' detector circuit is sent here. Use the Key Output to process the compressor's detector through an external effect like an equalizer. 6 Controls and Functions 7 GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 1 INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dB -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 -3 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +18 DE-ESSER LEVEL dB 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 LIMIT 8 9 ENGLISH POWER LINK EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER 20 COMPRESSOR / LIMITER THRESHOLD 10 -10 DE-ESSER RELEASE 1 CH 2 LIMITER +12 RATIO 4:1 ATTACK 50 OUTPUT 0 LEVEL 5 1 50 2 OFF +10 dB 0 GATE -30 +10 2 6 15 200 .15 3 -10 +10 3 7 +5 16 -40 +20 dB RELEASE ENHANCER 1 dB KEY .3 300 .05 Sec AUTO 5 mSec -20 +20 dB I/O METER 0 dB 10 0 OFF dB IN/OUT 16 KEY SWITCH - Selects the key input so that an external signal may trigger the compressor. 17 ATTACK - Adjusts the amount of time the compressor takes to reach full gain reduction. 18 AUTO - Activates S ·com plus' AEG (Auto Envelope Generator) which dynamically adjusts the attack and release time based on signal content. 19 RELEASE - Adjusts the length of time the compressor takes to return the signal to it's original level. 20 INPUT/ OUTPUT METER SELECT SWITCH Selects either Input or Output level to be displayed on the Input/Output Meter. 21 LEVEL - Controls the amount of Output level. 22 DE-ESSER LEVEL - Displays light indicating when Limiter circuit is engaged. 23 DE-ESSER IN/OUT Switch - Activates DEESSER circuit. 24 Limiter - Sets the level at which LIMITING begins. 25 CHANNEL 1 IN/OUT - Activates S·com plus Channel 1. 26 CHANNEL 2 IN/OUT - Activates S·com plus Channel 2. I CHANNEL 1 -10 KEY INPUT OUTPUT BALANCED OUTPUT NCED TPUT BALANCED INPUT +4 STEREO COMPRESSOR LIMITER LEVEL G CHANNEL 2 XLR OUTPUT - XLR Balanced line output. H CHANNEL 2 1/4" TRS OUTPUT - 1/4" TRS Balanced line output. I CHANNEL 1 - Same inputs and outputs as Channel 1. 7 Operating The S·com plus Whether you are an experienced audio engineer, just starting out, or you just want to experiment, follow the steps below to get going. Further sections in this manual will cover basic dynamics and the associated parameters, system set-ups and applications for using dynamics processing in recording and live sound applications. ENGLISH SETTING UP THE S·com plus · Connect one or both sets of inputs and outputs to the designated connectors on the rear panel. · Set the controls to the following positions: GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 1 INPUT / OUTPUT LEVEL dB -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 -3 0 +3 +6 +9 +12 +18 DE-ESSER LEVEL dB 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 LIMIT EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER 20 COMPRESSOR / LIMITER THRESHOLD 10 -10 DE-ESSER OUTPUT 0 CH 1 LIMITER +12 STEREO LINK RATIO 4:1 ATTACK 50 RELEASE 1 LEVEL 5 STEREO COMPRESSOR LIMITER GATE 50 0 -30 +10 2 6 15 200 .15 3 -10 +10 3 7 +5 16 IN/OUT 1 IN/OUT 2 OFF +10 dB RELEASE -40 +20 dB ENHANCER 1 dB KEY .3 300 .05 Sec AUTO I/O METER 5 -20 +20 dB 0 dB IN/OUT 10 0 OFF dB mSec EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER ­ OFF GATE SWITCH ­ OUT FAST RELEASE ­ OUT COMPRESSOR THRESHOLD ­ +20dBu (fully clockwise) ENHANCER - OUT RATIO ­ 1:1 KEY SWITCH - OUT ATTACK ­ 0.3 (fully counter-clockwise) AUTO SWITCH- OUT RELEASE - 5 (fully clockwise) METER SWITCH ­ IN OUTPUT LEVEL ­ O dBu DE-ESSER ­ 0 (fully counter-clockwise) DE-ESSER SWITCH ­ OUT LIMITER ­ OFF (fully clockwise) STEREO LINK SWITCH ­ OUT CHANNEL 1 ENGAGE ­ OUT In this configuration, the S·com plus is simply passing audio at unity gain with no dynamics processing. It is a good idea to check your gain structure at this point. Use the Input/Output meter to match the level. · · Send a signal to either or both of the S·com plus' inputs and outputs. Press the METER switch to see that the input and output levels are matched. COMPRESSING A SIGNAL S·com plus' Compressor section can be used for a variety of gain management tasks including printing signals to a multi-track recorder, as a mix-down effect, mastering, and for increasing the loudness of a live PA system. To begin compressing your signal, follow the steps below: · · · · Follow the section above, "SETTING UP THE S·com plus" for normalizing the controls. Press the CHANNEL IN switch (located in the middle of the unit) to the IN position. Press in the AUTO switch (located in-between ATTACK and RELEASE). Adjust the Ratio to 2:1. 8 Operating The S·com plus · Now gradually turn down the THRESHOLD level and listen for the compression. For a visual representation, the amount of compression is indicated on the GAIN REDUCTION meter. Press out the AUTO button to experiment with manually controlled ATTACK and RELEASE times. 0 GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 1 -3 ER/GATE R THRESHOLD -10 10 COMP RATIO 4:1 ATTAC 50 ENGLISH · GATE 0 -30 +10 2 6 15 -40 +20 dB RELEASE ENHANCER 1 dB KEY .3 30 mSec GATING A SIGNAL Unwanted noises, buzzes and hisses can be easily removed by using S·com plus' GATE. The idea is to have the Gate open only when your desired signal is playing and to mute off (Gate closed) the unwanted noise, buzz and hiss. To Gate your signal, do the following: · · · Follow the section above," SETTING UP THE S·com plus" for normalizing the controls. To engage the Gate, make sure that the EXPANDER/GATE switch is pressed in. Press the RELEASE switch to the IN position to select FAST release time. Now increase the THRESHOLD level and listen as the signal begins to gate. For a visual representation of the gate opening and closing, look at the GATE OPEN/CLOSED LED's located above the EXPANDER/GATE TRIGGER control. TRIGGER 20 G 30 27 24 2 · EXPANDER/GATE THRESH 10 -10 STEREO COMPRESSOR LIMITER GATE 50 0 -30 OFF +10 dB RELEASE -40 +2 dB USING THE DOWNWARD EXPANDER You can set the S·com plus' Gate section to work as a DOWNWARD EXPANDER to lower the volume of a signal. Try the simple steps below: · · Follow the section above, "SETTING UP THE S·com plus" for normalizing the controls. To engage the EXPANDER, make sure that the EXPANDER/GATE button is switched to the OUT position. Press the RELEASE switch out to select a SLOW RELEASE. Now increase the TRIGGER level and listen as the signal begins to get softer. · · 9 Operating The S·com plus USING THE ENHANCER The S·com plus' ENHANCER switch can be engaged to activate the EFR (Enhanced Frequency Recovery) circuit. By engaging the ENHANCER, the S·com plus EFR restores the high frequency content that can be lost when high gain reduction is applied. The S·com plus EFR achieves this by adding back the high-end of the original signal in an amount that is equal to the amount of gain reduction. · Follow the section above, "SETTING UP THE S·com plus" for normalizing the controls and run a signal such as a CD through the S·com plus. Press the CHANNEL IN switch (located in the middle of the unit) to the IN position. GATE GAIN REDUCTION dB 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 4 2 ENGLISH /GATE · · · · THRESHOLD -10 10 RATIO 4:1 Press in the AUTO switch (located in-between ATTACK and RELEASE). Adjust the Ratio to 6 - 8:1. Switch on the ENHANCER and listen to how the high end is restored when the ENHANCER is on. 0 -30 +10 2 6 -40 +20 dB RELEASE ENHANCER 1 dB KEY USING THE DE-ESSER The S·com plus' De-Esser is a powerful tool for removing annoying problems like heavily sibilant vocal tracks or bright cymbals. To listen to the De-Esser try the following: · · · · Follow the section above, "SETTING UP THE S·com plus" for normalizing the controls. To engage the De-ESSER, make sure that the DEESSER switch is pressed in. Now increase the De-ESSER level and listen as the high frequency component of the signal begins get softer. You will see the amount of high frequency gain reduction displayed in the De-ESSER level meter. -20 +20 dB B +9 +12 +18 DE-ESSER LEVEL dB 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 LIMIT DE-ESSER OUTPUT 0 CH 1 LIMITER +12 S LEVEL 5 +10 3 7 +5 16 0 dB 10 0 OFF dB IN/OUT Note: For Detailed De-Essing - Since the Compressor and DE-ESSER share the same ATTACK and RELEASE settings you may consider using one of the S·com plus' channels exclusively for DE-ESSING. Experiment with fast ATTACK and RELEASE times when using the channel for DE-ESSING only. USING THE PEAK LIMITER The Peak Limiter on S·com plus can be used in recording to insure that the output levels do not exceed a certain level and in PA applications, for speaker protection. To audition S·com plus' PEAK LIMITER try the following. · · · Follow the section above, "SETTING UP THE S·com plus" for normalizing the controls. To engage the PEAK LIMITER, adjust the LIMITER threshold control knob to the maximum output level desired. The LIMIT LED above the LIMITER threshold control knob indicates when the limiter circuit is kicking in. If the LED does not light, you have not reached the maximum level. 0 dB IN/OUT 10 E-ESSER LEVEL dB 0 -3 -6 -9 -12 LIMIT DE-ESSER LEVEL 5 CH 1 LIMITER +12 STEREO LINK IN/OUT 1 7 +5 16 IN/OUT 2 0 OFF dB 5 10 Dynamics Processing 101 To begin to understand dynamics processing, we must first understand what dynamics are. Dynamics, or the dynamic range of a signal or audio device, is the amount of level between the softest and loudest possible output. Dynamics processing is applied to a signal to manage the changes in level. Various types of processing units are available to control dynamics including Noise Gates, Expanders, Compressors, Limiters and De-Essers. All of these processes have a unique effect on a signal, but one common element they share is that in one way or another they control gain. Some dynamics processors control gain in a subtle way by slightly reducing how soft and loud a signal is, while others make drastic changes in gain like reducing the signal until it's off. Applications for dynamics processing can be categorized by two distinct groups; first, to treat a signal that has an unpredictable dynamic range and make it predictable, and second, to create a "sound" by squeezing out the dynamic range. Whether used for a live sound application, recording, mixing or mastering, dynamic processors like the S·com plus are valuable tools for controlling gain. The following is a basic overview of dynamics processing and how it is used to improve the quality of recorded and live sound.