Manley СORE REFERENCE CHANNEL STRIP - MCORE026 and up 7/2014 - Manual (Page 7)

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7. Limiter
Diagram 5
The FET output limiter is a powerful, high-ratio, peak limiter. It can be
used for many creative effects, as well as for setting a maximum
output ceiling to avoid overloading the next piece of gear in the chain.
The LIMITING knob controls the amount of limiting. The LIMIT LED lights
when the signal crosses the threshold, and goes off when the signal is
both below the threshold and the release time is completed.
The RELEASE controls how FAST or SLOW the limiter returns to full
volume. The
The RELEASE time control has purposely been made with a very wide
control range. Very fast release times can create a distortion effect,
this area of the RELEASE control is highlighted with a zig-zag on the
dial.
The Final OUTPUT GAIN control has a range of 10dB. This is an active
gain stage following the FET limiter that can both attenuate and
amplify the Main Output. This output is available from XLR O/P 2.
(Refer to Diagram 7, pg.7) The UNITY gain position will be within the
hash marks around the 12 o’clock area. Due to component tolerances
there may be slight variations from unit to unit.
When Limiting is set to “Minimum” the LIMIT light acts as a general
overload indicator at +20 dBu.
8. VU Meter
Diagram 6
Three positions are selectable on the analog VU meter selector switch.
O/P 1- shows the audio level of the DIRECT OUTPUT of the preamplifier
and compressor section.
O/P 2 - shows the MAIN OUTPUT audio level of the CORE.
GR - indicates the amount of COMPRESSOR gain reduction in decibels.
This position stays at “0 VU” when there is no gain reduction and
moves to the left to show the amount of compression.
Because the VU meter is mechanical and really just shows the average
level, it can't follow every signal exactly. In fact, things like snare
drums are not displayed very accurately at all. The VU meter might
only be ticking over at -10, but the actual peak level may be 20dB
higher. This is OK, as every workstation has a digital peak meter. And
it's a good idea to keep all of your peak levels in the DAW to around -
6dBFS anyway. There is no reason to go to 0dBFS on the individual
tracks, and the final result will sound better and actually combine
better if the tracks are recorded with some headroom below zero.
Also, it's a good general practice to look at the VU meter occasionally
when recording and try to keep the majority of the track on the scale
of the meter – not a hard and fast rule – but if you are pinning it all the
time (unless for an intentional effect) or the needle isn't moving at all,
you might need to adjust the input gain of the CORE.
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O/P 1 GR
O/P 2
REFERENCE CHANNEL STRIP
6
LIMIT
MAX MIN
LIMITING
RELEASE
SLOW FAST
OUTPUT
GAIN
-6 +4
dB
LIMITER
UNITY