dbx DriveRack 260 User Manual page 44

Section 4 Section 4
36 DriveRack® User Manual
Detailed Parameters
LIMITER
Limiter On/Off
Turns the Limiter module on and off.
OverEasy (O) Off to 10
There are ten levels of OverEasy® that can be used for the limiters. The point when the limiter
starts to limit is the "knee." "Hard knee" limiting is when the limiter starts to reduce the level
of a signal abruptly as it passes over the threshold. OverEasy
called) is when the volume of the sound is limited gradually. OverEasy
before the level of the signal reaches the threshold and reaches full limiting after the level has
gone above the threshold. This OverEasy
and more natural and will be used for most applications. When it is gentle (natural sounding or
light) limiting that you are looking for, the limiter offers VariKnee™. VariKnee™ gives you ten
levels of OverEasy limiting to choose from (1 being almost hard knee and 10 being the softest
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(most gradual) knee). This lets you choose the exact knee that is needed for the dynamic effect
you are looking for. If you are unsure where to set this parameter, a setting of 4 is a great place
to start.
Threshold (T) -40 to +20dBu
Threshold is the signal level at which the unit starts to limit the signal. If the level is set to -10
dBu, any signal larger than -10 dBu is limited while any signal that has a level that is lower
than -10dBu is left at the same signal level. Light limiting is where only the loudest parts of the
signal go over the threshold. Very heavy limiting can be achieved by setting the threshold low
enough that almost the entire signal content is over the threshold. For most signals, the most
natural limiting is achieved when most of the signal content remains just below the threshold
and only the peaks cross the threshold.
Auto On/Off/
When auto is turned on, the 260 will override the manual attack, hold and release parameters
and continuously adjust these parameters automatically.
Attack .01 to 200 m Sec (per band or global)
This is the speed at which the 260 limiter starts to limit the signal once it has crossed the
threshold. Set the attack time longer for lower frequency bands, and shorter for higher
frequency bands.
Hold 0 to 500 m Sec (per band or global)
Hold is the time the limiter stays in gain reduction after the signal level has dropped below
threshold. Hold is useful when you want the limiter to function for a period of time after it has
been triggered. Be careful not to set the hold time too long as it will not release in time.
Release 360 to 5 dB / Sec (per band or global)
Just like the release time on the compressor, the limiter's release time controls how fast the
limiter releases from gain reduction after the signal drops below the threshold. Set the release
times longer for lower frequency bands and shorter for higher frequency bands.
Peakstop+™ On/Off and 1-6
This parameter turns the PeakStop+ limiting on and off. PeakStop+ involves a two-stage process
of dynamic limiting. The first stage of PeakStop+ is the Instantaneous Transient Clamp™
whichclamps the signal with a soft logarithmic clamp function. This logarithmic function ensures
that the signal will not exceed the level set by the PeakStop+™ OVERSHOOT control by more
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(soft knee as it is sometimes
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limiting, by its very nature sounds much smoother
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limiting starts to limit
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