Alan Smart C2 Dual Mono Compressor

Alan Smart C2 Dual Mono Compressor

Alan Smart, the designer for Smart Research worked on Solid State Logic consoles for many years... upon leaving SSL he created a company that built a rather "SSL-esque" sounding 2 buss compressor that had [at least in this user's opinion] a higher level of fidelity and control. The characteristic sound of this unit arises mostly from the fast response at the onset of compression. When set to occur around the mid range attack settings (after 0.3 to 3 milliseconds) results in a window through which transients can still pass. When used across a mix, or with any dynamic program, this has the effect of adding 'punch', as the side chain 'breathes' around these transients, while still controlling overall levels. CRUSH mode has been developed as an extension of this 'musicality', adding to and accentuating the factors involved in producing the character of the unit. CRUSH may sound surprising to those interested in more gentle applications, being capable of exaggerated compression effects, but in conjunction with the fast limit settings also introduced with this unit, it allows the C2 to be used for a much wider range of applications than just buss compression, the unit makes an absolutely wonderful tracking device as well, which is why it has dual mono controls as well as "single channel true stereo" control.

The C2 compressor houses two independent mono compressors, or in STEREO mode, the left-hand controls operate both audio channels, with the right-hand controls not used, giving true Stereo operation. Both audio paths are 'sensed', the result processed, and then acted on equally to eliminate image shift (so a 'peak' on either channel results in the compression of both). By extension of this method, in a multi-channel system, the master set of controls can be interlinked to sense and control any number of audio channels where image shift would otherwise be a problem. When 'stereo' mode is selected, the left hand front panel controls become the masters for all channels in the system.

The characteristic sound of this unit arises mostly from the fast response at the onset of compression, which when delayed to occur around the mid range attack settings (after 0.3 to 3 milliseconds) results in a window through which transients can still pass. When used across a mix, or with any dynamic program, this has the effect of adding 'punch', as the side chain 'breathes' around these transients, while still controlling overall levels. CRUSH mode has been developed as an extension of this 'musicality', adding to and accentuating the factors involved in producing the character of the unit. CRUSH may sound surprising to those interested in more gentle applications, being capable of exaggerated compression effects, but in conjunction with the fast limit settings also introduced with this unit, it allows the C2 to be used for a much wider range of applications than the C1.

FEATURES:

Fast attack and limit settings for protective limiting
Crush Mode gives FET "over compression" with tailored frequency response and higher distortion
External side chain inputs
Ratios - 1.5:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 10:1 and Limit
Attack - 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 and 30 m/sec
Release - 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 seconds
All input and outputs balanced

SPECIFICATIONS:

Noise floor: Below -104sBm (flat 20Hz - 20kHz)
Distortion: Below 0.005% (1K/+4 THD 20Hz - 20kHz)
Frequency Response: Within 1/2dB from 20Hz to 100kHz
Main Input: Balanced, Impedance 1K8 per leg
Side chain Input: Balanced, Impedance 10K per leg
Output: Discrete transistor. Above +26dBm into 600Ω load
Threshold: Adjustable -20 to +20dBm
Make-up gain: Adjustable 0 to +20dBm

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