Compressor Section - dbx 266XL Owner's/Operator's Manual

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Note: Setting the Compressor RATIO to 1:1 will turn the Compressor off, regardless of the setting of the
Compressor THRESHOLD control and BELOW/OVEREASY/ABOVE LED status. Setting the Compressor
THRESHOLD control to +20dB will prevent all but the highest level peaks from being compressed.
OVEREASY¨ Switch
Depress this switch to select the OverEasy¨ compression characteristic. The yellow
THRESHOLD LED turns on when the signal is in the OverEasy region. When the
switch is out, the 266XL operates as a hard-knee compressor, and the yellow LED
does not light.
Compressor THRESHOLD Control and LEDs (BELOW/OVEREASY/ABOVE):
Adjust this control to set the threshold of compression from - 40dB to +20dB. In hard-
knee mode, the threshold of compression is defined as the point above which the out-
put level no longer changes on a 1:1 basis with changes in the input level.
In OverEasy mode the threshold of compression is defined as the middle of the
OverEasy threshold region, that is, Òhalf-wayÓ into compression.
The three THRESHOLD LEDs indicate the relationship of the input signal level to the
threshold of compression. The green LED lights when the signal is BELOW threshold,
the red LED lights when the signal is above threshold, and the yellow LED lights
when the OVEREASY switch is depressed and the input signal is in the OVEREASY
range.
The 266XL's OverEasy compression permits extremely smooth, natural sounding com-
pression, without artifacts, due to the gradual change of compression around the
threshold. With OverEasy compression, input signals begin to gradually activate the
266XL's internal gain change circuitry as they approach the THRESHOLD reference
level. They do not get fully processed by the RATIO, ATTACK and RELEASE con-
trols until they have passed somewhat above the THRESHOLD reference level. As the
signal level passes the THRESHOLD level, processing increases until it is fully
processed to the extent determined by the control settings.
In hard-knee mode, the 266XL can provide abrupt compression effects as well as hard-
limiting applications. Note that when in hard knee mode the yellow LED will not light
as the input signal passes across the threshold. The signal is either being compressed
(over threshold) or it is not being compressed (under threshold).
Note: Even though no input signal is being applied, it is normal for the LEDs to flicker on when the power is
applied or removed.
Compressor RATIO Control:
Adjust this control to set the amount of compression applied to the input signal.
Clockwise rotation of this control increases the compression ratio from 1:1 (no com-
pression) up to °:1 (where the compressor can be considered to be a peak limiter,
especially with faster ATTACK settings).
266XL
Compressor / Gate
C S
OMPRESSOR ECTION