Operation Manual

6.17 Compressor 84
6.17 Compressor
The Compressor module is used to automati-
cally compress or expand the dynamics of a signal.
This module has two inputs and one output. The
first input is the signal to be compressed and the
second input is a control signal which triggers the
compression process when it rises above a given
threshold. This control signal is usually the same
as the input signal.
The gain in slider is used to adjust the level of both the input and control signal. The gain
out slider is used to adjust the output signal of the unit. The attenuation level meter indicates the
amount of reduction due to the gain reduction unit. It displays the difference between the level of
the input signal multiplied by the input gain and the signal level after the compression. The level
meter shows the level of the signal after the input gain or after the output gain depending on the
position of the source button. The threshold and ratio knobs are used to control the behavior of the
compression unit. The threshold button sets the level above which the gain reduction occurs while
the ratio knob is used to adjust the ratio of compression to values ranging between 1:1 and 1:30.
The attack and decay knobs set the amount of time it takes for the unit to respond to the variation
of the control signal. The attack time is used when the control signal is above the threshold while
the decay time is used when the control signal is below the threshold. Finally the bypass control is
used to bring the compressor in or out of the audio chain. Note that this control has no effect on
the output gain control which is always active.
6.18 Constant
The Constant module has 1 output, a constant value (DC) which is set during construction. This
module has no input and no front panel control. To change the value of the constant in the Tassman
Player, use the Constant module in combination with a Volume module. Its value can be positive
or negative.
Typical Use
In the following example, the pitch of a Plate module is fixed to a constant value. The value of the
constant is adjusted with the Volume slider.
The default value of the following parameters is set during construction
• Output value: value of the constant.