"Bryson" wrote in message
k.net...
The Expressor is their "real" compressor, with the ratio, thresh, attack,
release controls. It's got a hi freq expander (HFX) that boosts treble at
a a
selected freq and ratio as the compressor vca attenuates, to compenste for
high
end lost from compression. There's also a Lo Cut filter in the sidchain
that can
be a handy feature. They track fairly well in stereo, but controls on both
units
need to be matched (though there may be a way around that using sidechain
inserts, summing the detector signal, in master/slave mode, blah, blah,
blah....
I never tried it...just thought about it in bed one night). It's a good,
clean
sounding, useful unit. The "Tubessence" (eeew, that term...whenever I see
it, I
hear it in my head with a lisp.) model has the addition of an Auto timing
circuit, but I don't know if it's worth going through that deprived tube
for.
The Compellor is a slow compressor combined with an even slower leveler
(gain
riding), with next to zero (compression) tweakability. I've always
thought it
to be more of a broadcast tool to keep overall program levels consistent,
though
I know many use it for recording and mixing.
I really disagree regarding the Compellor in the studio. It is VERY useful,
but it's really a different bird altogether. It's not like any other
processor. I use it mainly for the 2-buss. It's extremely uncolored, and
useful when you want to really flatten the dynamic range on a mix without
really making it obvious. When I want 2-mix transparancy, I break out the
Compellor. When I want 2-mix glue, I use the Smart. It's nice to have both.
But if you're looking for single channel compression, you may want to look
elsewhere.
The Dominator (Dominatrix?) is just a nice limiter to use as the last
processor in the mix chain. Helps me to get hotter mixes to tape.
BTW for some good references, do a google search.
--
Steve Holt
INNER MUSIC
Music Creation & Production
http://www.inner-music.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/steveholt