User manual PRESONUS CL44

[. . . ] CL44 Four Channel Compressor/Limiter User's Manual VERSION 1. 1 PreSonus Limited Warranty PreSonus Audio Electronics Inc. warrants this product to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original retail purchase. To be protected by this warranty, the purchaser must complete and return the enclosed warranty card within 14 days of purchase. During the warranty period PreSonus shall, at its sole and absolute option, either repair or replace, free of charge, any product that proves to be defective on inspection by PreSonus or its authorized service representative. [. . . ] The XLR inputs/outputs can handle up to +24dBu unbalanced or balanced. +4/-10 Switch This switch adjusts the insert operating level of the sidechain of your CL44 when it is connected to line level (0dB = -10dBV) gear. With the switch in the '-10' position, the sidechain signal is raised internally. When the switch is in the '+4' position, the signal is not changed since this matches the internal sidechain operating level of your CL44. This function may also be useful in creating special effects with the compressor by 'overcompressing'. It is important to remember that Pro Gear has a hotter +4 level, whereas consumer gear runs at the lower level of -10. Flip Button The Flip Button ` flips' the tip and ring (between SEND/IN and RETURN/OUT) on the ¼" jack to match the wiring preference of your console. Sidechain Insert The sidechain jack on each channel interrupts the signal that the compressor is using to detect the audio signal for processing. When no connector is inserted into this jack, the input signal goes directly to the compressors control circuitry (normaled). When a connector is inserted into this jack, the signal path is broken. If you have inserted a tip-ring-sleeve connector, the input signal is sent back out of the CL44 via the ring of the connector. This signal can then be processed by an equalizer for example to reduce sibilance (de-essing) in a vocal track. The signal sent to the tip could also be that of a narrator or vocalist. In this application, the audio that you are passing through the compressor will automatically 'duck' when the narrator speaks or vocalist sings. 2. 5 POWER Power Connection The power jack on your CL44 accepts a standard IEC cord like those found on most computers and professional recording equipment. This way you can be assured of clean power combined with rugged construction that has been designed to last!Power Switch I = ON, 0 = OFF. 3. 1 BASIC APPLICATIONS Example Setup Compressing a Voice or Vocal Track Probably the most common use of a compressor is to limit the dynamic range of a vocalist during a live performance or a recording. It is almost always necessary to compress a vocal take during a recording session. Most vocalists have a very wide dynamic range, and if the vocalist does not have 'studio' experience, the dynamic range of the vocal performance can be enhanced by the microphone techniques demonstrated during a session. This wide variation in level makes it difficult to properly record a vocal take, especially in digital multi-track recorders which have definite limitations in headroom. Compressing a vocal also makes it easier to place the vocal track in a mix so that it remains 'in your face' throughout the track. To set up for a vocal take, insert a channel of your CL44 into the same channel as the microphone on your mixer. If you don't have an insert point you will have to place the compressor after your mixer's bus-output or whichever output you're using by coming out of your mixer to the input of the CL44; then out of the CL44 to the input of your recorder. [. . . ] A compressor can be applied to the signal to help correct this recording problem by reducing the 'louder' passages enough to be compatible with the overall performance. How severely the compressor reduces the signal is determined by the compression ratio and compression threshold. A ratio of 2:1 or less is considered mild compression, reducing the output by two for signals greater than the compression threshold. Limiting refers to the point at which the signal is restrained from going any louder at the output. [. . . ]