CHARACTER SWITCH SETTING SUGGESTIONS
A good starting place is optical clean, attack set at 4, release set at 5.5, and knee set
at 6. Sound with these settings will be similar to the classic LA-3. When the character
switch is set to optical vintage, attack set at 4, release set at 5.5, and knee set at 6;
the sound is similar to the classic LA-2A. Varying the release and shape knobs will change
the sound from more up front to softer. The softness is the main sound difference between
the modern versions of the optical compressor and the original.
If a hard edged sound is desired, use the hard knee settings.
SIDE CHAIN
The side chain connector is a DB 9 connector. The inputs and outputs are balanced. Keep in
mind that this is an insert point and must be normaled when not being used. If a connector
is not installed in the back of the unit, the side chain insert can be ignored because it
is disabled.
The side chain is for inserting an equalizer into the control path. Due to the design
of the link system, separate equalizers (with identical settings) must be used for all
channels to achieve channel matched operation when in the link mode. This scheme allows
reliable signal averaging regardless of the phase relationship between the audio channels.
The approach used in TRAKKER is beneficial for stereo FM broadcast where phase
relationships can affect the stereo generator. In a conventional link circuit (one which
uses a single EQ for all channels) out of phase material is ignored by the compressor.
Many different sound can be created by using an equalizer in the side chain. TRAKKER
can respond to a frequency that is causing a problem. In the hard knee mode, if all lows
are cut and the hi frequency content is boosted, the TRAKKER can function as a de'ssser.
If every thing below 80 Hz is cut, TRAKKER will not respond to the low frequency content
of a signal. By modifying the side chain frequency response, infinite variations can be
created.
LINK CONNECTOR
The link connector is a 15 pin DB style connector. There are control voltages and logic
signals in the link cable. Because of this the AC power cable should be kept away from it.
It is also good practice to keep audio cables separated from the power cable. The order
that the connectors are plugged in does not matter. When using a cable with extra
positions the one with the loop must be plugged in for the system link.