dbx Pro 260 Attack .01 to 200 m Sec per band or global, Hold 0 to 500 m Sec per band or global

Section 4 Detailed Parameters DriveRack ™

OverEasy (O) Off to 10

There are ten levels of OverEasy® that can be used for the limiters. The point when the com- pressor starts to compress is the "knee." When the compressor starts to reduce the level of a signal abruptly as it passes over the threshold this is called "hard knee" compression. OverEasy® (soft knee as it is sometimes called) is when the volume of the sound is compressed gradual- ly. OverEasy® compression starts to compress before the level of the signal reaches the thresh- old and reaches full compression after the level has gone above the threshold. This OverEasy® compression, by its very nature sounds much smoother and more natural and will be used for most applications. When it is gentle (natural sounding or light) compression that you are look- ing for, the compressor offers VariKnee™. VariKnee™ gives you ten levels of OverEasy® com- pression to choose from (1 being almost hard knee and 10 being the most OverEasy®). This lets you choose the exact knee that is needed for the dynamic effect you are looking for.

Threshold (T) -40 to +20dBu

Threshold is the signal level at which the unit starts to compress the signal. If the level is set to -10 dBu, any signal larger than -10 dBu is compressed while any signal that has a level that is lower than -10dBu is left at the same signal level. Light compression is where only the loudest parts of the signal go over the threshold. Very heavy compression can be achieved by setting the threshold low enough that almost the entire signal content is over the threshold. For most signals, the most natural compression is achieved when most of the signal content remains just below the threshold and only the peaks cross the threshold.

Auto On/Off/

When auto is turned on the 260 will continuously set the attack / hold / release controls itself.

Attack .01 to 200 m Sec (per band or global)

This is the speed at which the 260 limiter starts to compress the signal once it has crossed the threshold. Set the attack time longer for lower frequency bands, and shorter for higher fre- quency bands.

Hold 0 to 500 m Sec (per band or global)

Hold is the time the limiter stays in gain reduction after the signal level has dropped below threshold. Hold is useful when you want the limiter to function for a period of time after it has been triggered. Be careful not to set the hold time too long as it will not release in time.

Release 360 to 5 dB / Sec (per band or global)

Just like the release time on the compressor, the limiter's release time controls how fast the lim- iter releases from gain reduction after the signal drops below the threshold. Set the release times longer for lower frequency bands and shorter for higher frequency bands.

Peakstop+™ On/Off and 1-6

This parameter turns the peakstop limiting on and off.

PeakStop+ involves a two-stage process of dynamic limiting. The first stage of PeakStop+ is the Instantaneous Transient Clamp™ which clamps the signal with a soft logarithmic clamp func- tion. This logarithmic function ensures that the signal will not exceed the level set by the PeakStop+™ OVERSHOOT control by more than the overshoot amount, and that it will not introduce harsh artifacts. The second stage is a unique program limiter featuring Intelligent Predictive Limiting™. Its function is to monitor the input signal and intelligently predict the amount of gain

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36 DriveRack™ User Manual