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Compression
TRACE ELLIOT have always avoided including compression in any of their previous
amplifiers as the integrity of the signal has always been paramount in all designs. The
reason for this is simply that any kind of FULL RANGE compression used in bass is
always an unacceptable compromise. It cannot act fast enough to catch attack transients,
and if it does then it distorts the low frequency signals. If you have used any full range
compression then you will know what we mean.
That was before the TRACE ELLIOT SMX and now the 12-BAND range of amplifiers
where we developed a compressor in which the bass signal is split into its HIGH and
LOW frequency components, and each passes through its own compressor, one
optimized for LOW frequencies and one optimized for HIGH frequencies.
The signals from these two compressors are then recombined into a single bass signal
providing FULL RANGE compression without the drawbacks of a single compressor.
This principle has been used in the 7-BAND 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.
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