Sound Performance Lab 2383 manual Limiter, Control elements, GainStation

Control elements

LIMITER

Fet Off Peak

LIMITER

The GainStation 8 offers two types of output level limiting: Peak and FET. The limiter is pre-output level control, so that the limited signal can be optimally adapted to an external converter.

The peak limiter operates with special diodes that convert signal peaks into a type of saturation. Depending on the signal, this allows levels to be effectively and subtly limited. This type of limiting works very quickly, reliably limiting even microsecond- long transients, and is very effective for drums and percussion. The peak limiter also enables maximum loudness. Operation is displayed via the Limit LED.

The FET limiter is additionally available when the tube stage is activated. The FET circuit operates with a Field Effect Transistor (FET), which is connected to the tube and enables—always in conjunction with the peak limiter—a reduction of signal ampli- tude. Thus this limiter works in a similar fashion to a compressor, which makes it very effective for signals that undergo unfore- seeable level changes (i.e. vocals, speech, guitar, bass, piano etc.) and where minimum loss in signal quality is desired. The peak limiter is always active post-FET limiter to ensure reliable protection. The Limit LED also displays the operation of the FET limiter (always somewhat more calmly than with peak limiting).

IMPORTANT NOTE: If the tube stage is deactivated while FET limiting is active, the LED will continue to display in FET limiting mode.

For more information on using the limiters please see page 18, ”Limiter”.

14 GainStation 8