EMPRESS EFFECTS ECM 519 User Manual

compressor  
ECM-519  
The Basics of Compression  
Compression works by narrowing the difference between high  
and low audio levels by reducing the gain of any signal over the  
threshold. By doing this at specific time constants, compression  
can add consistency, sustain, punch, detail, definition and  
personality to your tracks.  
The ratio determines how  
much gain reduction will be  
applied to the signal once it  
crosses the threshold. At a 3:1  
ratio, for every 3dB of input  
signal above the threshold,  
there will be 1dB of output  
signal. A 12:1 ratio would  
output 1dB for every 12dB of  
input signal, etc.  
Attack controls how quickly the gain reduction will begin after a  
signal has crossed the threshold. Release controls how long it  
takes for the compressor to return to its initial level after the  
signal drops below the threshold.  
Quick Start Settings  
Vocal Tracking  
Drum Buss Smashing  
This setting is great for  
This adds a ton of character to  
controlling the dynamics while your drum buss. Set the input  
tracking. The auto mode  
handles the attack and release  
times, so setup is super fast.  
level for 25dB of reduction.  
Mixing in some dry signal  
keeps transients intact.  
Quick Start Settings  
Acoustic Guitar  
Bass  
Extremely natural sounding on  
acoustic guitar. This setting  
will control the dynamics  
without feeling squashed.  
This will lock the bass in the  
mix, giving a solid bottom end  
that is very controlled. It will  
also even out any  
inconsistencies in the playing.  
Controls a  
xformer: Select how the output transformer is used in the circuit.  
Oꢀ: The output transformer is not used and the output is  
balanced with active electronics. Very clean sound with the  
largest bandwidth.  
On: Inserts the output transformer in the circuit. Smooths  
transients providing warmer top end and thicker low mids.  
Loaded: Loads down the output transformer so it saturates  
easily. Provides a warm, vintage feel. Great for controlling  
cymbals and sibilance in vocals.  
link: Links 2 compressors to form a stereo pair. See “Using the  
Link Functionfor details on connecting the units.  
side chain hpf: The high-pass ꢀlter cuts out low frequen-  
cies in the side chain below either 120Hz or 220Hz.  
manual / auto: Control the attack and release times manually or  
with one of the two auto modes: *  
auto1: Great for dynamic control. Use when tracking to  
control peaks or to smooth out a mix.  
auto2: Attack is more open making things sound big  
and present.  
GR meter: This 10 segment meter shows the amount of gain  
reduction being performed by the compressor at any given time.  
at a Glance  
bypass: Use to engage/bypass the unit. It will illuminate when the  
compressor is in the signal chain. It is true bypass and will pass  
signal when bypassed even if the unit is powered oꢀ.  
ratio: Determines the compression ratio for signals above the threshold.  
3:1 - Gentle and transparent.  
6:1 - More aggressive compression.  
12:1 - Limiting.  
Note the threshold raises slightly with higher ratios so that the  
output volume is more constant when switching ratios at typical  
gain reduction settings. This makes comparing the eꢀect of diꢀerent  
ratios more accurate.  
input: Controls the level of the signal entering the compressor.  
The unit has a ꢁxed threshold so higher input settings will result  
in increased amounts compression.  
attack: Controls the time constant which aꢀects how quickly  
gain reduction acts after the signal has exceeded the threshold.  
(50us - 50ms) *  
release: Controls the time constant which aꢀects how quickly the  
gain reduction decreases after the signal drops below the threshold.  
(50ms-1s) *  
mix: Blend between wet(compressed) signal and dry(uncompressesed)  
signal. Counter clockwise is dry, clockwise is wet.  
output: Controls the overall output level leaving the compressor.  
*The attack and release controls are not used when the compressor is in  
auto mode. Switch to manual mode for control over attack and release.  
Using the Link Function  
The link function allows two ECM-519s to work as a stereo pair.  
The front panels of both linked units should be set the same to  
maintain the stereo image and the link switch needs to be set to  
'link' on both units as well.  
Connecting the link: there's two ways to connect the link, either  
through your 500 series rack enclosure (if your 500 series rack  
supports linking ) or through the supplied link cable using the  
link connector.  
Tip: If you want the absolute closest matching we recommend  
sending the same mono signal to both units. Return them to  
your console/daw and invert the phase of one channel, and  
blend both signals to mono so the signal nulls, then adjust the  
output controls for most cancellation.  
Linking through the cable is always engaged. If you'd like to link  
using the enclosure set the 'Link through rack' dip switch to the  
'on' position. By having this dipswitch off (default), the unit  
won't interfere with any other units you may have linked in your  
rack. (Typically, racks link with pin 6 on the card edge  
connector).  
High Pass Filter  
The high pass filters cut out low frequencies in the side-chain  
below either 120hz or 220hz. Good uses for this would be:  
- Engaging the 120hz filter on bass will allow you to smooth out  
the mid-range without over-compressing the lower notes.  
- The 220hz filter is useful on instruments like chugging guitar  
or other low mid instruments to avoid the pumping effect.  
Auto Modes  
The auto modes react to the audio coming in and modify the  
attack and release in real-time depending on what the music's  
doing. In each auto mode, there are 2 detectors that run in  
parallel. One with really fast time constants at a higher  
threshold that reacts primarily to peaks, and a slower detector,  
with a lower threshold to smooth the overall signal. There is  
also some frequency compensation in these detectors which  
changes the ratio slightly depending on frequency. This allows  
the auto modes to provide extremely transparent compression  
that isn't possible with traditional attack and release controls.  
Auto mode 1 : This mode is great for general dynamic control. It  
can be used while tracking vocals to control peaks and smooth  
out the overall level, without nasty artifacts. Also, it works great  
for sitting things in a dense mix, but still allowing them to  
breathe.  
Auto mode 2 : This is great on acoustic guitar. The attack is  
more open and it makes things sound big and present without  
squashing the transients too much. On individual sources it's  
good for bringing them forward in a mix and even works well on  
a mix buss to add some overall punch.  
Xformer Loading  
The compressor is equipped with an output transformer that  
can be switched in and out of the circuit.  
Off: In this mode the unit runs with an electronically balanced  
output. It is very clean and provides the largest bandwidth.  
On: This inserts the output transformer in the circuit. It is pretty  
clean sounding but you'll start to notice a smoothing of  
transients providing a warmer top end, and a slightly thicker  
low-mid from slight saturation in the low frequencies.  
Loaded: In this mode the output transformer is loaded down so  
it saturates easily. This really smoothes out the transients, and  
provides a vintage feel. It's amazing for controlling cymbals in a  
drum buss or for taming sibilance in vocals.  
Tip: The transformer is at the very output of the unit. So if you'd  
like to add the transformer sound without any compression, you  
can run with completely dry mix to do this.  
Tip 2: The Output control on the front panel also controls how  
much level the transformer sees, so turning up the output will  
provide more saturation.  
Speciꢀcations  
Input Impedance:  
Output Impedance:  
Frequency Response (-3dB):  
Distoron:  
Noise:  
Output Level:  
48kΩ  
50(600with x-former)  
10Hz – 35kHz  
Varies based on gain reducon  
Varies with sengs  
Up to +22dBu  
Input Level:  
Required Current:  
Aack Range (manual mode):  
Up to +22dBu  
120mA per rail.  
50us - 50ms  
Release Range (manual mode): 50ms - 1s  
user manual version 1.0  

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