This new v.2 is a main upgrade.
A whole new model has been implemented, to satisfy all the users asking for a more faithful behaviour,mainly for light compression. It also adds a lot of colors to the palette.
Compatibility: if you replave v.1 with v.2 and open an old project, be sure to select the right mode (“Clean!”, “Original” or “Out of Order”) from the menu on the bottom bar. Old modes are 100% backward compatible.
New Clean! mode. New curves, new parameters, new models. The new best starting point.
New Dry-Mix control. One existing knobs was assigned to this parameter. Compressor n.2 output gain. A patch indicates the new function. Dry-Mix control is not available in Mid/Side stereo mode, where the knob get its original function.
Dry-Mix mixes signal pre-effect to final output (pre-output gain). Sample aligned.
Signal goes from 100 wet (CCW) to 100 dry (CW).
New Gain Reduction meters mapping. You’ll be happy to see how you can zoom in first 10 dB of gain reduction. Precise.
Auto-Gain option. Great for fast comparisons! Engage it, output gain controls will be automatically moved to match input to output level. To check how it is working: DON’T use compression bypass buttons. Use the external plugin bypass control. Auto-Gain feature is brand new, probably will ask for some improvement. It will be added to all the compressors.
Note: Auto-Gain uses some gating. When in Mid/Side stereo mode, Side level could be very low and it could be the reson why you are not seeing Side out colume knob moving.
Auto-Gain is triggered by any control (but out gain knobs, of course).
Auto-Gain doesn’t react if audio is not passing through. If triggered, it will act as soon as high enough sound level is passing through the plugin.
Basic instructions.
The rack includes three effects: two mono units (first two units) and a stereo unit (bottom unit).
Double units are useful only for Mid/Side processing. When Stereo or Dualmode is engaged you can just ignore the double units. First ones control both Left and Right channels. Second sets of controls have no effect.
Input gain knob: A simple cut/boost gain. Neutral position: 5.
Attack knob: attack time. The higher, the slower.
Release knob: release time. The higher, the slower.
Volume knob: A simple cut/boost gain. Neutral position: 5. It is at the output, after everything, including the bottom unit.
Sidechain button: engages one or two filters in the sidechain. HP1 and HP2 are High-Pass filters, they reduce the sensitivity of the compression to low frequencies. HP1 is about 100 Hz, HP2 is about 150 Hz. Band is a boost in the “presence” region. You can engage one filter or combinations of HP and Band.
Bypass button on first and second units: bypasses just the compression.
Ratio button and LEDs: select the compression ratio, sensitivity of the compressor to the incoming signal above the fixed threshold.
Drive button: affects the way the devices react to saturation, both in the internal saturation stage (bypassed by Bypass in the lower unit) and in the overall “analog” device (not affected by the lower Bypass button).
UK toggle: When active (switch close to the label), it engages an alternative behavior of the compressor, with faster release and generally stronger effect.
Stereo Mode button: selects the stereo mode on stereo signals. “Stereo”: first units control both Left and Right channels with a linked action. Signal level is computed on both channels and a single compressing action is applied to both channels. Useful when you want to keep the stereo image untouched. “Dual”: two compressors act on Left and Right channels independently. Could be “wider” but stereo image could be compromised (e.g. the center moving left and right depending on dynamics and settings). “M/S”: stands for Mid/Side. In this mode two units act with independent sets of controls on Mid and Side components of the signal. Useful on stereo tracks and for mastering.
Hottitude knob: An internal gain stage, before saturation, compensated by an opposite attenuation after the saturation stage. It affects the internal headroom. Increase it for more saturation. Use a bit to complete the action of the compression by taming the peaks that could pass through a slow attack. Always add a bit if you are trying to emulate vintage compression.
Lowest Bypass buttons: bypass the internal saturation stage but not the overall saturation of the “analog” device.
Trafo switch: when engaged, inserts a transformer in signal’s path. You may be unable to hear a difference. Try to send some very low frequencies to hear its action.
Warmth switch and knob: a dynamic control on the amount of high frequencies. If set right, it is very powerful to add warmth to drums and more, by taming the peaks in a transparent way.
MODE menu (bottom bar): Disto includes three sets of algorithms. “Clean!” is the most faithful to the hardware units. “Original” is more creative. “Out of Order” adds a lot of attitude and color.
Dry-Mix alternative use for one Side knob: when in Stereo or Dual mode, you can use the knob close to the “Dry” patch (second compressor’s Volume knob) to mix some dry signal to processed signal, with perfect sample alignment. Volume knob for the second compressor crossfades from full wet (counter-clockwise) to full dry (clockwise). Only output gain knob is after the mix.