Chapter 6: Compressor Control Functions
This chapter explains the control functions of the DN540 compressor.
Attack
Attack is the time it takes for the compressor to respond once the threshold has been exceeded. Attack may be set so that the initial transient of the instrument passes through unaltered, or set to a faster value so that the very start of the sound is compressed. Particularly with drum sounds, careful adjustment of attack time can make the sound more punchy and driving.
Make up gain
As compression reduces the gain (level) of the signal, the gain control lets you add a fixed amount of make up gain, so as to achieve an optimum output signal level.
Release
Release is the time the compressor takes to recover after the programme material falls back below threshold. Both attack and release also respond to changes in programme level that remains over threshold. For example, a signal that reduces in level but remains above threshold will still trigger a release. However, in this case it will only be a partial release because the compressor is still required to generate gain reduction, albeit for the new lower signal level.
Input signal
| Threshold |
Signal level | Output signal |
| Time |
Fast release
Input signal
Threshold |
Signallevel |
Output signal |
Time |
Slow release
Figure 2: Compression fast and slow release signal envelope graphs
DN540 |
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