API Audio 205L Discrete Direct Input - Manual (Page 2)

225L COMPRESSOR
“Start with all the knobs at 12:00 NOON”
METER: Shows Amount of Compression
in an expanded scale.
ATTACK TIME: Fast/Slow/Medium
(Slow is normal)
HARD: Sharp Knee at the Threshold
SOFT: Gradual Knee at the Threshold
NEW: “VCA” type Compression
“Feed-Forward”
OLD: Classic type Compression
“Feed-Back”
ON: Hard Wire Bypass
REL: Release Time
THRESHOLD: +10 to -20 dBu
Ratio: 0 to Infinity
NOTE: Adjusting either or both controls will
not effect the output level. Much like the 525
Ceiling control, the 225L Auto-Compensates
the output level. Listen and check with the
ON button. It is very subtle!
235L NOISE GATE/EXPANDER
“Start with all the knobs at 12:00 NOON”
METER: Shows Amount of Noise Reduction
ATTACK TIME: Fast/Normal
EXP: 2:1 Expander, up to the Threshold
GTE: Gate Mode, ON at Threshold
HLD: Release knob is HOLD on time
REL: Release knob is GATE decay time
ON: Hard Wire Bypass
REL: Release Time
THRESHOLD: +25 to -15 dBu
Depth: 0 to -80 dB
NOTE: The DEPTH control is expanded
from 0 to -9dB in the first half of rotation and
-10 to -80 in the second half of rotation for
better control of vocals, etc.
EXPANDING: With the 235 in the GTE (gate) mode, adjust the DEPTH control for the desired amount of gain reduction. Set
the THRESHOLD so the gate comes on at the point that you want the gate to be fully open, but NOT at the quietest level that
will trigger the signal (like you would in the gate mode). Switch to EXP, and the signal will “sneak” up to the preset threshold
level and will then will be fully on, reducing the noise below the threshold without losing any subtle portions of the signal.
COMPRESSION: The 225 can compress in a very undetectable way when the RATIO is set at 2:1 and you are in the SOFT
and OLD mode. Likewise, when the RATIO is set at INF, and the HARD and NEW positions are selected, the compressor can
smash what ever is put into it. Sometimes it can be deceiving as to how much is being compressed because of the Auto-
Compensation of the output level, as you never get to hear how much you “turned it down” and how much you had to make
back up. Fatness in only skin deep...