Universal Audio UAD Plug-Ins ver.7.5 - Manual (Page 491)

UAD Powered Plug-Ins Manual - 491 - Chapter 50: UA 1176 Classic Limiter Collection
About Program-Dependent Release
Program-dependent release is a feature of many compressors. The motivation
for having program-dependent release is as follows: After a transient, it is de-
sirable to have a fast release to avoid prolonged dropouts. However, while in
a continued state of heavy compression, it is better to have a longer release
time to reduce the pumping and harmonic distortion caused by repetitive at-
tack- release cycles.
The 1176 compressor employs a release mechanism that is heavily program-
dependent. There are three features to a program-dependent release: A fast
release-time, a slow release-time, and a transition-time.
The fast release time is the effective release time after transients; the slow re-
lease time is the release time after sustained high-RMS signals. The transition
time expresses how long the signal must be “in compression” before the slow
release time comes into effect.
The original “Bluestripe” and 1176AE has a different slow release-time and
transition-time when compared to the “Blackface” revisions.
Ratio The four Ratio pushbutton switches (to the left of the VU Meter) determine the
compression ratio of the plug-in. Ratios of 20:1, 12:1, 8:1, and 4:1 are avail-
able for all 1176 models except the UA 1176AE, which has 20:1, 8:1, 4:1,
and 2:1 modes.
The 20:1 ratio is typically used when peak-limiting is desired, while the lower
ratios are typically used for general dynamic range compression.
Multiple Ratio
Buttons
One of the most unique features of the 1176 hardware is the ability to press
multiple Ratio buttons in simultaneously to create unusual compression or lim-
iting behavior and increased compression distortion. See
Figure 158 on
page 492 for available modes.
All Button Mode Engineers typically use “All Button” mode on drums or on ambience or room
mics. It can also be used to make a bass or guitar sound “dirty” or for putting
vocals “in your face.” In All-Button mode (sometimes also known as “British
Mode”), distortion increases radically due to a lag time on the attack of initial
transients.