User Manual

1. WELCOME
1.1. What is a compressor?
A compressor is an audio processing device that has been used by recording, mixing and
broadcast engineers for many decades to reduce the dynamic range of signals. This device
evens out ("compresses") the level differences between the loudest and quietest sections of
a recording to avoid excessive peaks. By bringing down the loudest parts of a recording,
compressors allow engineers to boost the entire processed signal without worrying about
the loudest parts overloading a recording. The net result is a higher average loudness level
in a recording.
There are many reasons to use a compressor. For example, it can be used to protect a
recording (and our ears) from excessive peaks that can sound distorted and can potentially
damage our speakers (or our hearing). Also, reducing the loudest parts of a recording can
make for a far more pleasing listening experience. This is because listeners can turn up the
music and hear the softer parts without fear of earache when the louder parts come. This
is especially true in music with dynamic instruments that can produce sudden loud peaks
like a drum kit or the human voice. Compressors can even be used creatively, to shape and
contour sounds in pleasing ways. This flexibility is what makes compressors one of the most
popular tools in a recording engineer's toolkit.
1.2. What are the different types of compressors?
Historically, there have been several major categories of compressors, among them Tube,
FET and VCA. Each of these has a different sonic signature due to the electronics used to
create the compression effect. Arturia has chosen to emulate a top model from each of the
above categories to make sure that users have all the sonic options at their fingertips.
VCA compressors are the most modern of the analog compressors. These compressors
were also the first to introduce most of the controls we are now used to see on a compressor
unit, like Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release. Yet, one of the most important characteristics
of the compressor emulated here is that its circuit included a true RMS level detection,
instead of the peak detection that was usually seen until then. RMS detection works closer
to the way the human hearing works.
The fact that VCA compressors rely on solid state or integrated circuits allows them to
sound much more precise, transparent and faithful (although preserving an inherent slight
coloration given by their circuits). Parameters usually perform exactly the way they are
supposed to, which gives the user a higher degree of control.
Main Compressor controls
2 Arturia - User Manual Comp VCA-65 - WELCOME