Understanding and enjoying the Kultube | Operating |
Processed in this way, drums get more self assertion and sound ‚faster’. The best setting is not always easy to find, since you usually need to find a compromise. Very fast settings run the risk of producing audible distortions
–especially in the case of low frequencies, since the compressor now tries to control each waveform rise. The corresponding control signal assumes a
To suppress this effect, you would have to again increase the attack time until the distortions no longer occur. In normal operation the Kultube attack control works exactly as just described. There is a unique feature of the Kultube however that greatly expands the compression possibilities by provi- ding special technologies to achieve optimum results in all situations: the Progressive Time Control (PTC), which is described in the following.
Progressive Time Control (Attack)
Simply put, the Progressive Time Control (PTC) is an adjustable automatic process that works as follows.
The usual (rigid) attack control of a compressor functions, as described above, such that a resistance value can be varied within the controller circuit to determine the control response time. The main drawback to this, parti- cularly when it comes to complex musical material, is that the setting only applies to a moment, but is not ideal for every moment.
Automatic setting of the attack time (in response to the input signal) has the advantage of making the optimum setting for each moment. For this the changing of the resistance value that determines the attack times needs to be automated. A special circuit determines the momentary ideal attack time and sets the VCF appropriately. These times can vary between 20 µs and 980 ms and are set in fractions of a second.
This automatic process is thus a guarantee for perfect compression results, but the PTC in the Kultube goes even a step further: The attack control can be used to determine the intensity with which fast signal jumps are compressed in automatic mode. When you change the attack time using PTC, as for example when processing drum sounds, you can specify the handling of rapid signal jumps while at the same time ensuring that the attack behavior is not affected. A drum loop thus retains its original sonic character while still appea- ring denser.
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