If OverEasy. is disabled, this led indicates that the signal is above the level set by the Compressor Threshold control and that compression is occuring. The O0O led illuminates when the signal is in the OverEasy. portion of the compression curve. In this region the ratio varies as a function of signal level between 1:1 and the ratio set by the Ratio control. This led will not light when the OverEasy. function is off. The O-O led illuminates when the signal is below the level set by the Compressor Threshold control. This indicates that the Compressor is not compressing and is operating in its linear region. THRESHOLD control: This control sets the level above which compression occurs, and has a 60 dB range. OverEasy. switch: OverEasy. is a feature that provides a softer compression sound than hard knee does. OverEasy. smooths the transition from un-compressed to compressed. This smooth transition greatly reduces compression artifacts and allows faster attack times and higher compression ratios while still maintaining the natural characteristics of the signal. The switch lights to indicate OverEasy. processing is enabled. When conventional hard knee processing is desired, disable the OverEasy. function. See Figure 3 for a comparison of OverEasy. and hard knee compression curves. 5 +20 1:1 2:1 4:1 :1 RED Below Threshold Above Threshold OverEasy Range GREEN AMBER -10 -15 -10 -5 0 +5 +15 +20+10 1:1 Unity 2:1 4:1 :1 20:1 RED Above Threshold GREEN Below Threshold Rotation Point Threshold -10 +20 +15 OUTPUT LEVEL (dB) +15 OUTPUT LEVEL (dB) +10 +10 +5 +5 0 0 -5 -5 -15 -15 -15 -10 -5 0 +5 +10 +15 +20 INPUT LEVEL (dB) INPUT LEVEL (dB) Figure 3: Hard Knee and OverEasy® Compression Curves RATIO control: This control selects the ratio between input and the output levels for signals above the level set by the Threshold control. It is adjustable between 1:1 (no compression) and infinity:1 (full compression). Note that when OverEasy. processing is selected, the ratio slopes gradually from the linear to the compressed region. As the signal exceeds the threshold, the ratio approaches the ratio set by the Ratio control. ATTACK control: This control sets the amount of time it takes the 566 to begin compressing a signal once the detector has sensed a signal above the threshold. The attack range is from 3 dB/msec for a tighter and more noticeable compression effect with very little overshoot to .04 dB/msec for a more gradual compression that preserves attack transients. A very fast attack setting will cause the 566 to act like a peak Limiter even though RMS (average level) detection circuitry is used. Slower attack settings cause the 566 to act like an RMS or averaging detecting Compressor/Limiter. AUTO switch: This switch overrides both the Attack and Release controls and enables preset program-dependent attack and release times. These times are derived from the characteristics of the input signal and continuously change to match its dynamics. The switch lights indicating the attack and release times are being automatically adjusted in a program-dependent fashion. Enabling the Auto function duplicates the Oclassic dbx soundO of the 566Os forerunners which have become standards in the industry. RELEASE control: The Release control sets how fast the compression circuit returns the input to its original level. The release rate is from 250 dB/sec where compression follows the envelope of the program material very tightly to 5 dB/sec for very smooth compression. INST Switch This switch selects the 1/4O Instrument input as the source for the compressor. DRIVE control This control sets the amount of gain that will be applied at the input of the vacuum tube stage present in the Compressor section. This control offers tube drive control (with its sonic stamp) to any signal routed through the Compressor. SC (SIDECHAIN) ENABLE switch This switch enables the Sidechain processing loop. The Sidechain in and out connectors on the 566 rear panel allow external processing of the CompressorOs detector signal. This switch has no effect if there is nothing plugged into the Sidechain loop even though the switch will light when pressed. For more discussion of the Sidechain see page 16. SC (SIDECHAIN) MON switch This switch allows you to monitor the sound of the Sidechain processing. The switch will light when pressed to indicate that you are listening to the Sidechain; not the main signal path. CONTOUR switch This switch adds a gentle low frequency de-emphasis into the detector path (this is identical to having an equalizer in the Sidechain loop, only weOve done it for you). This is extremely useful in keeping low frequency program material from OmufflingO or Opunching holes inO the compressed signal. This feature allows faster attack times and higher compression ratios with less artifacts. The switch will light indicating contouring is activated. BYPASS switch This switch bypasses the compression section completely. The input is OhardwiredO to the ...