PreSonus RC 500 - Manual (Page 6)

2.2 Compressor Controls
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2.2 Compressor Controls
Threshold. Sets the threshold of the compressor. When the signal’s amplitude (level)
exceeds the threshold setting, the compressor engages. Turning the knob counter-
clockwise lowers the threshold so that compression begins at a lower amplitude, and
more of the input signal is compressed. The threshold can be set from -25 to +20 dBu.
Power User Tip: Your RC 500 compressor has a fixed ratio of 3:1. This ratio
will work well for a wide variety of instruments. If you would like more
compression, lower the threshold while raising the input level. Lighter
compression can be easily achieved by raising the threshold.
Attack. Attack sets the speed at which the compressor acts on the input signal. A
slow attack time (fully clockwise) allows the beginning component of the signal
(commonly referred to as the initial transient) to pass through, uncompressed,
whereas a fast attack time (fully counter-clockwise) triggers compression
immediately when a signal exceeds the threshold. The compressor attack time
ranges from 0.5 ms (Fast) to 10 ms (Slow).
Release. Sets the release of the compressor, which is the time the compressor takes
to return the gain reduction back to zero (no gain reduction) after the signal level
crosses below the compression threshold. The compressor release time ranges from
40 ms (Fast) to 500 ms (Slow).
Power User Tip: Very short release times can produce a choppy or “jittery” sound,
especially when compressing instruments that have a lot of low-frequency
components, such as a bass guitar. Very long release times can result in an
overcompressed, or “squashed,” sound. All ranges of release can be useful, however,
and you should experiment to become familiar with different possibilities.
Compressor In/Out. Bypasses the compressor circuit in the signal chain.