Type Select Switch, Classic, Opto, Transparent

3 Using the Smashup

Type Select Switch

The up/down [TYPE] rocker switch on the right side of the unit selects the type of compression used by the Smashup. The LEDs next to the switch light up to indicate the current Type.

The Smashup contains six different compression styles. Some are modeled after the operation of classic analog compressor/limiters, and others are totally unique. Each Type has its own unique sound and effect on the other controls, though the differences may be subtle at first.

Each Type has its own compression ratio (the amount of gain reduction applied when a signal rises above the threshold), hard knee/soft knee setting, detector characteristics, attack and release curves, and distortion characteristics. These have been carefully developed to give you the most useful compressor sounds, without having to set eight different controls.

There’s no way to adequately describe all the characteristics of the complex digital compression algorithms developed by Alesis engineers, so after you’ve read the following descriptions be sure to try each one with several different audio sources:

Classic

This is the standard VCA-style compressor sound, as found in classic units like the dbx™ 160. The compression ratio is 4:1, but it has a very soft knee setting and a slightly nonlinear release. Classic mode is great for taking the peaks out of vocals with a fast attack, or to get a clean sustain on guitar or bass while still preserving some dynamics.

Opto

The first compressors regulated the audio level by using an optical system. A light got brighter at higher input levels, and this light shone on a photoresistor that reduced the output level. The most famous of these devices, the Tektronix™ LA-2A, is still a prized possession of many studios. Optical compressors have a very particular sound to them. Because the lamp filament takes a moment to get to full brightness, they naturally have a slower attack than other compressors. In OPTO mode, the Smashup emulates the sound of these units. In particular, the attack time is not as quick as in other types, even at the minimum setting. The ratio is 6:1 with a soft knee setting; it is useful for classic vocals and drum sounds.

Transparent

When you want compression without any side effects, use TRANSPARENT mode. In this mode, the compression ratio is a more subtle 2:1 with a soft knee, and it emulates a clean, solid-state output driver circuit with no coloration. Even at extremely low settings of [THRESHOLD], gain isn’t reduced as much as it is in other types.