Dangerous Music Compressor

Dangerous Music COMPRESSOR Overview Mastering engineers, take note: the Dangerous COMPRESSOR is meant to provide transparent dynamics control, allowing you to reign in dynamic material, make it louder, and reduce dynamic components. With a slew of handy features, this VCA compressor can help you generate a master that’s as loud and forceful as the competition while maintaining a feeling of dynamics. The COMPRESSOR’s adaptability is a major selling point: the BOX can easily handle everything from hip hop to acoustic folk. Separate detection circuits for the right and left channels (to maintain impeccable stereo separation), switchable dual-slope detection circuits (to handle peaks and average levels differently), and comprehensive sidechain filtering (to keep low end from triggering compression or to help tame sibilant material) all contribute to this versatility. Add audiophile-grade components throughout, as well as stepped controls for flawless recall, and you’ll have a compressor capable of seamlessly performing the most demanding tasks, all without the intermodulation distortion common to comparable approaches used in the digital domain. Dual detectors for each channel. When coupled in stereo, most compressors combine the left and right inputs, convert them to mono, and send the resulting signal to a detector circuit. This leads the loudest pieces in the center to dominate the information on the sides. Worse, any out-of-phase data will be disregarded or amplified. The COMPRESSOR has two completely separate RMS detectors for each channel, with a subtle and complex circuit determining how they interact in stereo. This enables the machine to produce crystal-clear and rock-solid stereo imagery while processing a full mix, drum buss, final master, or any other stereo material. Furthermore, each channel may be used alone as a mono compressor, or the two channels can be cascaded together for ultra-transparent compression with peak limiting. Try this for riding a voice, a spiky lead instrument, or any other track that requires robust yet transparent control. Separate Peak and Average Control The COMPRESSOR contains a dual-slope detector that you may activate using the SmartDyn button. With SmartDyn enabled, the COMPRESSOR can regulate quick transient peaks without lowering average volume levels. This allows you to maintain greater average volume levels while avoiding the pumping artifacts that are frequent when attempting to meet current loudness demands. Smart Dynamics is equally useful when monitoring a dynamic singer or mixing a quick drum set, and most users keep the “SmartDyn” button pressed at all times. Automatically attacks and releases when needed. The COMPRESSOR incorporates a sophisticated automated attack/release setting, allowing you to focus solely on the threshold and make-up gain knobs. If you require more accurate attack and release settings, just press the Manual Att/Rel button and begin adjusting. Comprehensive Sidechaining Possibilities The COMPRESSOR has two bypassable, audiophile-grade sidechain EQs. These feed the detector circuit, which alters the compression behavior. Bass Cut reduces the low end below 60 Hz, ensuring that the COMPRESSOR does not overreact to low-frequency material or cause pumping. The Sibilance Boost employs the BAX EQ’s ultra-linear high-end shelf to push more treble material into the detector, causing the COMPRESSOR to dynamically attenuate sibilance and other undesired high-end spikes like loud cymbals, screaming loops, or irregular acoustic guitar strums. VU and LED Metering The twin VU meters may display gain reduction, input, and output levels. There is a -6 dB offset button, which ensures that loud material is always within a reasonable range, making it ideal for visually monitoring average levels. VUs cannot show you lightning-fast transients. This is where LED metering comes in. The VU and LED meters work together to offer essential information about the COMPRESSOR’s complicated inner workings. audiophile-grade components The COMPRESSOR was created by Chris Muth, who is known for his meticulous design work in high-end mastering facilities across the world. He made certain that only high-quality components were utilized, even in portions of the circuit that do not transmit audio. Detector and control voltage circuits (which are at the core of any compressor but are not in the audio channel) are frequently designed using low-quality components to save money. However, these detector components determine how well any compressor performs, and if you value delicacy and intelligence, you’ll love the COMPRESSOR. Dangerous Music Compressor Features:  Extremely strong and simple to use.  Auto Attack/Release removes the guesswork.  Audiophile-clean: functions as an automatic fader.  Active sidechain send/return circuitry provides extensive control and eliminates loading and impedance concerns.  Use Sidechain Monitor to monitor your sidechain signal, including Sibilance Boost and Bass Cut.  Sibilance Boost reduces sibilance and shrillness without a post-compression hangover.  The Bass Cut (60Hz) tightens the recording without compromising the bottom end.  Maculate VCA with little distortion even after 20dB gain reduction.  The True Stereo Dual Detector retains the stereo picture better than standard linking.  For faster results, substitute “guess” with “yes” in the Auto Attack/Release command.  Smart Dynamics Dual-slope Detection minimizes peaks while compressing the average.