User manual HUGHES & KETTNER T-COMP

[. . . ] Bedienungsanleitung ENG LISH MANUAL MindPrint T-Comp Dear Recording Specialist, We are pleased that you selected the MindPrint ® T-COMP as your tool of choice in your quest for high-quality sound. The T-COMP is a high-quality compressor featuring stereo and dual mono modes. Among the hallmarks of this device are certainly its ease of use and excellent tone. With the benefit of authentic tube circuitry, it will make your tracks come with a lavish helping of analog warmth. [. . . ] In order to achieve a consistent overtone structure when the signal is on the verge of clipping, you should experiment with higher MindPrint T-Comp 2. 2 Compressor Section The tube compressor gives you the best of both worlds--the precision of a high-quality semiconductor circuit with the silky sound that only vacuum tubes can deliver. Its circuitry, an entirely unique and innovative design, lets you control compression and tube saturation separately. 22 16 12 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 dB ON Tube: Not only does the warm red glow of the tube add a certain visual value to the T-COMP, it is also the "secret ingredient" of its great sound. Depending on how hard you drive it, the tube (type 12AX7A) can add anything from a touch of silky analog warmth to unmistakable tube saturation to your tracks. Mains Switch: In addition to switching the AC power supply on and off, the mains switch also activates the hard-wired bypass of the T-COMP. When the device is switched off, the Line In and Line Out circuits are linked directly; the signal bypasses the device completely. The hard-wired bypass is also activated automatically in case of power failure or a power supply defect. This feature definitely enhances the safety of the device, particularly in broadcasting and live applications where you can't afford to have a circuit drop out even for a moment. In the studio, the T-COMP can be removed completely from the signal path by simply switching the unit off. On LED: Illuminates to indicate the T-COMP is switched on. FILTER 8 4 12 16 :1. 7 :2. 5 :3. 5 :5 :8 5 10 15 30 50 200 300 500 800 1000 AB 1 2 28 25 :1. 2 :1 :25 0. 2 0. 1 150 100 100 5 2000 1500 THRESHOLD dB RATIO ATTACK ms RELEASE ms ADAPTIVE LINK Threshold: This knob adjusts the threshold of the compressor within a range of +2 dB to 28 dB. Signals which exceed the threshold value are processed by the compressor. Depending on the threshold value that you have dialed in, the signal is also boosted before it is routed to the tube. Rotate the knob hard left to its far left position or switch the Comp On button off to deactivate the compressor. Ratio: This control determines the relationship between, or "ratio" of, the input and output levels of all signals which exceed the threshold value. A setting of 2:1 means that when the level of an input signal increases by 2 dB, the output signal level increases by just 1 dB. The control range starts at a ratio of 1:1 (no compression) and can be increased infinitely. The latter is basically a limiter setting--no further increase of the output level is possible. To deactivate the compressor, rotate the knob to the far left-hand position or switch the Comp On button off. LED Ladder: Indicates the amount of attenuation, or gain reduction, that the signal is being subjected to. On LED: Illuminates to indicate that the device's processing circuitry is enabled. The Comp On button located in the input/output section activates the circuitry. Attack: Determines the amount of time it takes for the compressor to fully attenuate the signal level once the level exceeds the defined threshold. Release: Determines the amount of time that it takes for the amplification ratio to return to 1:1 once the signal level has fallen below the threshold. [. . . ] If you are the proud owner of a guitar rack system, you can patch it in post-preamp and pre-power amp to compress your instrument's signal. For processing vocals, you can patch the T-COMP into a mixer insert just as you would an effects device, so that the amplified sound of your voice enjoys the benefits of those desirable tube characteristics. Feel free to experiment with other instruments such as electric bass guitars. 5 Tips and Tricks 5. 1 Switching noise The T-COMP's On button is a real hardware switch. This means that, rather than just being deactivated, the processing stages are actually removed from the signal path. [. . . ]