Publicité
This principle has been used in the SMC series of amplifiers i.e. two compressors are
used, however the controls for these two compressors have now been simplified to
one rotary control that adjusts the compression level for both the HIGH and LOW
frequency compressors simultaneously.
Separate attack and release characteristics are used for the HIGH and LOW
compression, fast for the HIGH compression and medium to slow for the LOW. Fast
is needed on the HIGH compression in order to catch the initial high frequency
transients on striking the string, if however this speed of attack is used for the LOW
compression it produces distortion on low bass notes.
If the slower attack is used on the high frequencies then any initial transient will get
through unchecked and subsequent transients will disappear as the low bass
compression would not have had time to recover, i.e. the release is too slow for the
high frequencies.
Use Of Compression
Adding a small amount of compression gives a fat bottom end to the sound and
allows a greater volume of amplification to be used without the playing peaks
distorting the sound.
You will also find that this will add definition to your playing bringing out notes
within a run more clearly as it evens out the dynamics of your playing.
A large amount of compression can be used as an effect but it will tend to reduce the
dynamics in your playing to such an extent that the volume of the note will almost
be the same no matter how hard or soft you hit the string.
Compression also adds sustain to notes making them longer before they die away.
The Compressor may be switched IN or OUT with the compression push button
switch on the front panel.
Effects Send And Return
The SMC preamp is provided with a serial effects loop and the sockets for this are
located on the front panel.
The EFFECTS SEND socket is for linking the preamp sound into your effects unit and
the EFFECTS RETURN socket for returning th signal back to the preamp.
As this is a SERIAL effects loop then you will need to adjust the balance of direct to
effects sound within your your effects unit (i.e. dry/wet mix).
The signal path through the preamp is only broken when a jack plug is inserted into
the EFFECTS RETURN socket, so the EFFECTS SEND signal may be used as a pre
master volume LINE OUT socket or connected to a tuner. This will allow silent
tuning by turning the OUTPUT LEVEL to zero, tuning up and returning the OUTPUT
LEVEL control back to its original setting.
The EFFECTS SEND socket is located after all EQ and after the compressors
7
Publicité
