Finalizer

Analyzer

Compressor Modules

There are three types of Compressor Modules available:

  • Full Band RMS Compressor (FC)
  • Three Band, TC Legacy, Compressor (3C)
  • Five Band, Modern Style, Compressor (5C)
 

Compressors operate to reduce the signal level once the Threshold level has been reached, at a reduction rate set by the Ratio control. Attack time is the time it takes for the gain reduction to begin once the threshold has been reached. Release time is the time it takes for the compression to be lifted once the signals dip below the threshold level. Makeup gain can be added to make up for the overall loss of level caused by the compressor action.

 

Full band RMS compressor modules (abbreviation = FC)

The example below is one of the full band compressor modules. Note that all the factory supplied full band compressor presets have the same controls as shown, just at different adjustment settings.

Controls for the full band compressor are not overlaid on top of the SPECTRO LAB curves, because they affect the whole frequency range. Ratio (R), and Threshold (T) controls are shown next to the right edge of the SPECTRO LAB.

The full band RMS compressor modules has the following controls:

  • Threshold (T)
  • Ratio (R)
  • Attack
  • Release
  • Makeup gain on/off
 

These controls can be adjusted as follows:

  • Threshold level can be adjusted by dragging the (T), or using the threshold control in the Module EDIT View. The range is +10.0 dB to –60.0 dB.
  • Ratio can be adjusted by dragging the (R), or using the ratio control in the Module EDIT View. The range is from 1.00:1 to infinity:1.
  • Attack and Release times can only be adjusted using their respective controls in the Module EDIT View. The adjustment range is 0.1 to 100 ms (attack) and 10 to 1000 ms (release).
  • Makeup Active On/Off is selectable only in the Module EDIT View
 

3 Band, TC Legacy, compressor modules (abbreviation = 3C)

The example below is one of the 3 band compressor modules. Note that all the factory supplied 3 band compressor module presets have the same controls as shown, just at different adjustment settings.

The 3 band compressor module have the following controls:

  • Linking/unlinking of Threshold (T), Ratio (R), Gain (G), Attack, and Release controls between bands
  • Crossover Frequency (X) for low crossover and high crossover 
  • Threshold (T)
  • Ratio (R)
  • Gain (G)
  • Attack
  • Release
  • Makeup gain on/off
  • Band Solo on/off
 

Linking/unlinking of Threshold (T), Ratio (R), Gain (G), Attack, and Release

The 3 band compressor modules allow parameters to be linked as follows:

  • Adjusting the Threshold (T) in one band will adjust the Threshold in the other bands.
  • Adjusting the Ratio (R) in one band will adjust the Ratio of the other bands.
  • Adjusting the Gain (G) in one band will adjust the Gain of the other bands.
  • Adjusting the Attack or Release times in one band will adjust them in the other bands.
 

Linking/unlinking procedure:

  • In the top left corner of the SPECTRO LAB display is a link/unlink button. (It only works in the 3 band or 5 band compressor modules.)
  • Press this button to link these controls between bands. (The link button will be slightly highlighted when on).
  • If the controls are linked, then dragging one gain (G) control, for example, will move all 3 gain controls.
  • Press this button again to unlink these controls between bands, so the parameters can be adjusted independently in each band.
  • As a further clue to whether the controls are linked, if all three Control Sticks / bands are highlighted (that is 3C L, 3C M, and 3C H) and control balls are shown, then they are linked.
 

Note:

  • Shortcut: Ctrl (Win) / CMD (Mac) + l will link or unlink all bands.
 

As an alternative to the Link/Unlink button:

  • Click on a (3C L), (3C M), or (3C H) ball and the respective stick/band will be highlighted. Any current linking will be removed.
  • To link to another band, press Ctrl while clicking on the (3C L), (3C M), or (3C H) ball of the other stick. In this way, two bands can be linked, and this is something that you can’t do with the Link/Unlink button (which links all three).
  • You can also press Shift while clicking “start” and “end” band balls to select a range of bands. This may be extra useful with the 5 Band Compressor.
  • When linked in this way, the Link on/off button turns off.
  • Note that any current links will be unlinked if another (3C L), (3C M), or (3C H) ball is selected (unless Ctrl is still being held down). 

Crossover Frequency

  • The low and high crossovers (marked X) determine the frequency range of the compressor’s 3 bands. Adjust the crossovers by dragging the low and/or high (X) balls, or using the low and high crossover frequency controls in the Module EDIT View. As the 2 crossovers are adjusted, the position of the 3 Control Sticks (3C L) low band, (3C M) medium band, (3C H) high band, will adjust automatically to remain centered within each band.
  • Dragging the (3C L) ball has the same effect as adjusting the low crossover.
  • Dragging the (3C H) ball has the same effect as adjusting the high crossover.
  • Dragging the (3C M) ball adjusts both the low and high crossovers at the same time, while keeping the same separation in octaves.
  • Holding Ctrl and dragging the (3C L), (3C M), or (3C H) balls, or a (G) ball, allows the Gain (G) and crossover frequency to be adjusted at the same time. If the 3 (G) balls are linked, then the adjustment affects all 3 gain controls.
  • The low crossover frequency adjustment range is between 40.00 Hz and 5.000 kHz.
  • The high crossover frequency adjustment range is between 80.00 Hz and 10.00 kHz.
  • The minimum band width is 1 octave

Threshold

  • Threshold level can be adjusted by dragging the (T) control, or using the threshold control in the Module EDIT View. The adjustment range is +10.0 dB to –60.0 dB.
  • Note that when the threshold (T) is adjusted, the physical position of the ratio (R) control in the graph will also move, but its actual value will not change; it will remain the same for all threshold levels, unless adjusted by the ratio controls.
  • During threshold adjustment using the (T) control, the vertical scale that appears will show the dB levels, and the current ratio of that band.
  • As mentioned before, when Control Sticks / bands are linked, all threshold controls can be adjusted at the same time.

Ratio

  • Ratio can be adjusted by dragging the R ball, or using the ratio control in the Module EDIT View. The range is from 1.00:1 to infinity:1.
  • The vertical scale that appears when adjusting Ratio equals 1 dB/div. if ratio is 1:1. If Ratio is 1:2 the scale will show 0.5 dB/div. indicating the output signal compression.
  • When Control Sticks / bands are linked, all ratio controls can be adjusted at the same time.

Band Gain

  • Band Gain can be adjusted by dragging the (G) control, or using the gain control in the Module EDIT View. The range is from +21.0 dB to –21.0 dB.
  • The gain control adjusts the overall level of the band, independent of the compressor threshold and ratio settings.
  • Gain and crossover frequency can both be adjusted at the same time by pressing Ctrl while adjusting the (G) control. 
  • When Control Sticks / bands are linked, all gain controls can be adjusted at the same time

Attack and Release

  • Attack and Release times can only be adjusted using their respective controls in the Module EDIT View. The adjustment range is 0.1 to 100 ms (attack) and 10 to 1000 ms (release).
  • When Control Sticks / bands are linked, all attack controls can be adjusted at the same time, and so can all release controls.

Makeup Gain On/Off

  • Makeup Active On/Off is selectable only in the Module EDIT View Global setting.

Band Solo On/Off

  • Band Solo On/Off allows the selected compressor bands to be auditioned/soloed. It can be selected either by the Solo button in the top left corner, or in the Module EDIT View Global setting. 
  • The Band Solo can also be turned on/off from the Solo/Audition button from the Compressor Module. This may be convenient if Solo has been activated on a Module that is currently not selected like shown here:

5 Band, Modern Style, compressor modules (abbreviation = 5C)

The example below is one of the 5 band compressor modules. Note that all the factory supplied 5 band compressor module presets have the same controls as shown, just at different adjustment settings.
Please see the details described above for the 3 band compressor, as the operation of the 5 band compressor modules is much the same.

5 band compressor modules have the following controls:

  • Linking/unlinking of Threshold (T), Ratio (R), Gain (G), Attack, and Release controls between bands
  • Crossover Frequency (X) for low, low mid, high mid, and high crossovers 
  • Threshold (T)
  • Ratio (R)
  • Gain (G)
  • Attack
  • Release
  • Makeup gain on/off
  • Band Solo on/off

The frequency of the four crossovers that define the five bands, can be adjusted through the following frequency ranges:

  • Low: 40.00 Hz to 1.250 kHz
  • Low Mid: 80.00 Hz to 2.500 kHz
  • High Mid: 160.0 Hz to 5.000 kHz
  • High: 320.0 Hz to 10.00 kHz
  • The minimum band width is 1 octave

The abbreviations of the 5 bands are:

  • 5C L (low)
  • 5C LM (low mid)
  • 5C M (mid)
  • 5C HM (high mid)
  • 5C H (high)

Linking/unlinking of Threshold (T), Ratio (R), Gain (G), Attack, and Release controls between bands can be done just like the 3 band compressor modules, by:

  • Pressing the Link button to link all five Control Sticks / bands.
  • Again, if five Control Sticks / bands with their control balls are highlighted, all bands are linked.
  • Selecting any of the top controls (5C L, 5C LM, 5C M, 5C HM or 5C H) while holding down Ctrl, will allow selection of just those Control Sticks / bands, and their controls are linked.
  • You can also press Shift while clicking “start” and “end” band balls to select a range of bands. 
 
  • In the example below, the (5C M, 5C HM and 5C H) top controls were clicked while holding down Ctrl, and so these are linked.