TL Audio 5052 - Manual (Page 19)

Unlike the Output Level control, the Gain Make Up control is active only when the
‘compressor on’ switch is engaged. Once the Gain Make Up has been adjusted, use
the Output Level control to set the overall output level of the 5052.
4.19 Compressor On.
This switch enables or disables the compressor stage, thus allowing an A/B
comparison to be made between the original untreated signal and the compressed
signal. Any gain make up applied to the signal only becomes active when the
“Compressor On” is enabled. An associated status LED indicates when the
compressor is active. The Gain Reduction on the VU meter will monitor the level of
compression regardless of the compressor stage being active or non active.
4.20 ‘EQ S/C’ & Frequency Conscious Compression.
The ‘EQ S/C’ switch places the entire 5052 EQ section into the compressor
sidechain circuit, allowing frequency conscious compression to be performed. Once
the EQ S/C switch is activated, any frequency boosted on the equaliser section will
effectively lower the compression threshold at that frequency. To de-ess, for
instance, activate the EQ S/C switch and try boosting the sibilant frequency
(normally 3-5kHz) using a narrow bandwidth setting on the 5052 EQ section. This
should make the 5052 more sensitive to the boosted frequency, thus compressing it
to a greater degree and reducing the sibilance effect.
Please note that the EQ S/C switch overrides the setting of the EQ Pre switch in the
compressor section.
If you wish to use an external EQ unit to assist with frequency conscious
compression, then the provision of rear panel sidechain insert points on the 5052
allows this. Proceed by patching an equaliser (normally a parametric or graphic type)
into the sidechain (the insert point works on a send-and-return principle whereby
the insert ‘send’ connects to the equaliser input, and the equaliser output connects
to the insert ‘return’, thus completing the circuit). Once connected, any frequency
boosted on the equaliser will effectively lower the compression threshold at that
frequency. Working this way frees up the EQ section within the 5052, allowing it to be
used for normal EQ duties.
4.21 Meter.