Chart.6: The effect of a compressor can be expressed as the amount of gain reduction that is taking place for any given input
4.3Peak Limiter Section
How fast is the compressor to react to a signal which is above the threshold point? This is determined by the attack time. A longer attack time is advisable to process low frequencies while shorter attack time is preferable for high frequencies. In this way you will avoid undesired dynamic distortion. But what about if you are mixing a program with a wide range of frequencies? In this case you should choose a setting that would benefit the low frequency better.
Well, life is not that easy for conventional compressor/limiters. Ok you handle an audio signal made by a wide range of frequencies and you have chosen a longer attack time. But, if are using your CLE 8.0 as a limiter the fast high frequencies will pass through untouched because the attack time is too slow and such transients could cause distortion when the unit is connected to broadcast devices or taper recorders. The solution in CLE 8.0 is represe- nted by our Smart Gain Control (SGC) limiter circuit. The curve in bold is the output signal and the dashed curve above it is the input signal. The area in between the two is the amount of gain reduction.
The unit will activate the limiter when the signal exceeds the threshold for more than 15 microseconds. Then 1 second after that the signal is below threshold again, reduction goes back to 0dB and in this case input and output signals are again identical.
Level |
| Peak Limiting | Program Limiting |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Release | Threshold |
|
|
| Input |
|
|
|
| Output |
|
| 6ms | 15ms | approx. 1 s |
|
10 | 20 | 30 |
| t/ms |
|
|
Chart.7: SGC characteristic of the limiter section
5. INSTALLATION AND CONNECTION
5.1 Mains Connection
You must check the power supply Voltage available in your Country before connecting the unit to the Mains.
5.2Audio connection
The CLE 8.0 Compressor/Limiter/Gate is equipped with balanced XLR connectors as well as 1/4" phone jack and can be connected with other units in different ways to support a vast range of applications without experiencing a signal loss.
12