Reference Guide

980 ProChannel (Producer only)
• Attack. Adjusts the time it takes the compressor to respond to the input signal after the
threshold level has been reached. A fast attack setting means that compression will be more or
less instant. Using a slower attack setting results in the compression being gradually increased,
allowing for more variations in the signal than the fast setting. Attack should be adjusted
according to the nature of the audio material. The valid range is 0.1 to 30 milliseconds, and the
default value is 0.8 milliseconds.
• Release. Adjusts the time the compressor takes to go back to an inactive state after the input
level has fallen below the threshold value. Short release times will make the compression more
flexible and able to adapt to the input signal, but can cause fast changes in gain that may sound
displeasing to the ears. Longer release times produce a signal with a more even level and less
distortion, but make it harder to maximize the overall compression because changes in the input
level cannot be compensated for quickly enough to make the output volume totally consistent.
The valid range is 0.1 to 1.2 seconds and Auto. and the default value is 0.5 seconds. If Auto is
selected, the release time is dependent on the duration of the signal peak.
• Make Up. Compensates, or “makes up” for automatic gain reduction. Make-up gain refers to the
process of re-balancing the subjective level of the compressed audio against the uncompressed
audio. In other words, make-up gain reduces the difference in level between the loudest and
quietest sounds of the processed audio. As the compressor turns down the peak levels of the
audio that exceeds the threshold level, you may want to turn up the level of the entire compressor
to balance the mix. For example, if you increase the gain so that the peak levels are the same as
before compression, the quieter sections of the audio will also be increased by the same amount,
effectively keeping the peaks levels as they were before compression while increasing the level of
the quieter audio. The valid range is -10 dB to +30 dB and Auto, and the default value is 0 dB. If
Auto is selected, the Make Up gain is automatically calculated based on the Ratio and Threshold
settings.
• Ratio. Controls the amount of compression (gain reduction) that will be applied to the signal
after the input audio level exceeds the threshold level. Ratio denotes the difference in dB between
input level and output level, i.e. how much the signal above the threshold level will be
compressed. For example, a ratio of 4:1 means that when the input level increases by 4dB, the
output level of the signal above threshold will only increase by 1dB. The following ratios are
available:
• 2. Use when general dynamic range compression is desired.
• 4. Use when general dynamic range compression is desired.
• 10. Use when peak-limiting is desired.
• Sidechain. Sidechaining is typically used with compressors to limit one signal depending on the
signal level of another. Common applications are to reduce the level of a bass guitar when there
is a kick drum, or to reduce the level of music whenever a speaker talks (often used for
background music in radio- and television programs). Audio track, Bus and Send outputs can be
routed to sidechain inputs. The Sidechain sections contains the following controls:
• On/Off. Enables/disables the compressor’s sidechain input as an audio output destination in
all Track/Bus/Send Output controls.
• High Pass. Applies a High Pass filter to the sidechain input. The valid range is OFF to 2
kHz.