Alesis 03D User Manual download pdf (Page 161)

Processor Types 151

03D—Owner’s Manual

Processor Types

Dynamics processors are generally used to correct or control signal levels. They can,

however, be used creatively to shape a sound’s volume envelope. The dynamics proces-

sor types, parameters, and their general applications are explained in the following sec-

tions.

COMP

The COMP type dynamics processor is a com-

pressor, providing automatic level control. A

compressor attenuates signals above a speciﬁed

threshold. Vocalists that tend to move toward and

away from the microphone while singing produce

ﬂuctuating signal levels; sometimes loud, some-

times soft. Likewise, acoustic instruments with a

large dynamic range produce sound levels from

pianissimo (very soft) through to fortissimo (very

loud). In these situations, it is often difﬁcult to set

an average fader level that will allow a voice or

instrument to be heard clearly throughout a song

or piece of music. This is where the compressor comes in with automatic level control.

By automatically reducing high levels, thus effectively reducing the dynamic range, the

compressor makes it much easier to control signals and set appropriate fader levels.

Reducing the dynamic range also means that recording levels can be set higher, there-

fore improving signal-to-noise performance.

The COMP type can also be used as a limiter,

which is essentially a compressor with a high ratio

setting. Compression ratios above 10:1 are con-

sidered to limit signals rather than compress

them. When an input signal exceeds the speciﬁed

threshold level, its level is automatically reduced

to the threshold level. This means that the lim-

iter’s output level never actually exceeds the

threshold level. Limiters are often used to prevent

signals from overloading ampliﬁers and tape

recorders. A limiter with a relatively high thresh-

old, for example, could be patched into the stereo

outputs to prevent ampliﬁer and speaker overload.

THRESHOLD—This determines the level of input signal required to trigger the com-

pressor. Signals at a level below the threshold pass through the compressor unaffected.

Parameter Range

THRESHOLD

–54 dB to 0 dB (55 steps)

RATIO

1:1, 1.1:1, 1.3:1, 1.5:1, 1.7:1, 2:1, 2.5:1, 3:1, 3.5:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 8:1,

10:1, 20:1, ∞:1 (16 steps)

KNEE

hard, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

ATTACK

0–120 ms (1 ms steps)

RELEASE

5 ms–42.3 s (sampling rate @ 48 kHz)

6 ms–46 s (sampling rate @ 44.1 kHz)

8 ms–63.4 s (sampling rate @ 32 kHz)

OUT GAIN

0.0 dB to +18.0 dB (0.5 dB steps)

–70

–60

–50

–40

–30

–20

–10

+10

+20

–70 –60 –50 –40 –30 –20 –10 0 +10 +20

Input Level (dB)

Output Level (dB)

Knee = hard

Threshold = –20dB

Compression ratio = 2:1

–70

–60

–50

–40

–30

–20

–10

+10

+20

–70 –60 –50 –40 –30 –20 –10 0 +10 +20

Input Level (dB)

Output Level (dB)

Knee = hard

Threshold = –20dB

Compression ratio = 20:1

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Alesis 03D User Manual Page 161

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