Owner's manual

COMPRESSOR COLOR – (VCA COLOR)
The control provides a mix between a very clean PWM gain control device and a vintage gain control
element. The vintage gain control element is a diode type compressor circuit designed for a high
level of color. There are 16 steps in the cross fade-mix control for a wide range in choices.
DYNAMIC COLOR
The DYNAMIC COLOR control is a control that generates harmonic content that is of opposite phase
as compared to the harmonic content that the vintage gain control element generates. The effect of
the Dynamic Color control can be described as making the sound “bigger”. It can also be thought as
expanding the transits at the same time one is compressing. (Waveform expansion while compressing
the envelope) The dynamic color control will not function with out gain reduction taking place. The
compressor attack and release times will also affect the sound of this control. The DYNAMIC COLOR
control has 16 steps in order to provide a wide range of sonic choices. It is useful in giving
instruments more punch. Try it on kick or snare. Enhance the attack of the individual strings in a
guitar strum or notes in a piano chord. In program material it can put some life back into the source
and make it sparkle a bit. Being it is mostly third harmonic in nature it will also make some material a
bit brighter. When using it, the gain reduction meter will show more leds being lit up this is an
indicator of it working.
FAT – AIR
The FAT – AIR switch will add fatness or air to the compressed audio. This is by causing the
frequency response of the compressor to change with gain reduction. Air has a high frequency rise
and Fat has a low frequency rise. The compressor attack and release times will also affect the sound
of these settings.
FAT – AIR FREQUENCY RESPONCE REFERENCE GRAPH
This graph showes how the frequency responce changes with the FAT or AIR function on. The
measurement is done is a test mode at 12 db of gain reduction. In operation it is very complex and
beyond what a simple graph can show.