Post
by Russian Recording » Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:44 am
I think I may have confused you.
OK, Let's say you are using a typical compressor with threshold adjustment and ratio adjustment. You can set the ratio to 2:1 and then set the threshold so that the compressor is compressing 1-3 dB. You can then set the ratio to 20:1, and with that same threshold level the compressor will be compressing significantly more, right? And as a result the output will be lower. However, if you turn up the threshold, you can set it so that the compressor is only compressing 1-3 dB with a ratio of 20:1. So as a result, you will have the same output level as when you were compressing at 2:1 with lower threshold, but obvioulsy it will react much differently.
Basically what the Orban does is makes sure that with a given input level, it will always compress the same amount of dB regardless of what ratio you set, so that the output level stays constant. This is very strange. For example, let's say you are sending a snare into your Orban. You set the ratio to 4:1 and increase your input level until it is compressing 4 dB. On a typical compressor, if you were to increase the compression ratio, you would experience more compression (reduction), and as the amount of compression increases, your output level decreases. With the Orban, as you increase your ratio, the amount of reduction will stay the same, as will your ouput level! However you will notice that the compressor will react much differently at different ratios because what the comp is doing is automatically adjusting the threshold as you adjust the ratio to maintain an equivalent amount of compression. I think that the point of this design is to maitain a constant output level, so that if you need to adjust your ratio while recording (Orban gear was designed mainly for broadcast applications), there would not be a noticeable level change at the output.
RE: logarythmic vs linear release times.
The logarythmic/linear thingI was talking about had nothing to do with ratios. It has to do with the release times of the compressor. With a linear release slop, the compressor will revert back from compression with a linear slope (dB/time). With a logarythmic release slope, the compressor will revert back from compression with a logarythmic slope (dB/time) which means it will intially revert back faster, but then slow down near the tail end. It makes more sense when you see it drawn out graphically and then listen to it. It's a pretty nifty feature.
I hope I didn't confuse you even more.
mike
