GAIN MANAGER SCREEN
The Gain Manager screen is used to adjust Leveler, Compressor, Limiter & Soft Gate settings for each of the processing channels (Output 1 & Output 2). Threshold adjusts the signal level at which the Leveler, Compressor, & Limiter functions are triggered. Therefore, these controls determine the amount and type of gain processing to be applied to the signals. The Leveler controls the long-term average signal level. If the average signal level increases, the Leveler will reduce gain to compensate. If the average signal level decreases, the Leveler will increase gain to compensate. The Compressor controls short-term peaks in signal level by providing ‘soft-knee’ compression, which automatically varies in ratio from 1.1:1 on signals just slightly above Threshold, to more than 10:1 at full compression. The Compressor responds to average & peak levels, working with the Leveler to maintain a constant output level. The Limiter controls short-term peaks in signal level by providing ‘hard’ limiting, which establishes an absolute ceiling level. The Limiter provides protection against clipping distortion, and the chance of amplifier overload or speaker damage, due to sudden transients. From the factory, the default Threshold settings will provide approximately 6dB of gain reduction on input signals of nominal level. Bypass defeats the individual Leveler, Compressor, or Limiter functions for that Channel, without changing the actual settings. Soft Gate Bypass defeats a downward expander circuit for that Channel, which reduces gain 2dB for each 1dB that signal falls below threshold (-30dBu). The Soft Gate gracefully attenuates background/ambient noise during periods of silence. Bypass GM defeats all Leveler, Compressor, Limiter, & Soft Gate functions for that Channel, without changing the actual settings. ‘Meters’ are provided on each channel to display input/output levels, as well as the amount of gain reduction, at the Gain Manager section. NOTE: The Gain Manager provides gain reduction even on input signals of nominal level. Therefore, all subsequent meters will indicate the resultant lower levels. CAUTION: The Gain Manager can increase gain for lower level signals. Therefore, after all system settings have been adjusted, temporarily bypass the Gain Manager as a test of system feedback stability. If acoustic feedback occurs, reduce the system amplifier levels or use the MG2500 parametric equalizer to eliminate feedback nodes, before re-enabling the Gain Manager.
