Warm Audio WA-2A Mode D'emploi page 6

HARDWARE CONTROLS — BACK PANEL
STEREO LINK
This control allows two units to operate in stereo mode, with a shared threshold response. This is done by blending the
sidechain signal (sometimes referred to as control voltage) of both units via a standard TRS ¼ patch cable. A sidechain
is a signal which, while not directly in the audio path, informs the gain reduction circuitry of a compressor on how to
process audio. Stereo link is useful for accurate tracking of a stereo instrument such as keyboard, sampler, or drum
machine, or accurate processing of a stereo bus in a mix. Stereo link operation does not disable any front panel control,
and care should be taken to keep the units set the same as well as level matched via the Output Gain control, in order
to have a good stereo image. To that end, care should also be taken that the stereo signal sent into two WA-2A's is as
even in volume and dynamic character as can be made. When not operating in stereo mode, the control should be
set to 'Stand-Alone'.
A WORD ON STEREO IMAGE AND STEREO IMAGE SHIFT
Before we move on to calibrating the unit for stereo use, it's important to define, for the sake of this dis-
cussion, what stereo image shift is, and why it should usually be prevented. Contrary to popular
belief, stereo image shift is not the result of improper panning or the result of some transient peak
activity being unique to only one side of stereo signal. Those are separate issues which may or
may not require attention at an earlier stage of production. Stereo image shift, in the context of this
discussion, is the result of one channel of a dynamics processor behaving differently on one side
of a stereo field than on the opposing side. This can have the effect of collapsing a stereo image;
proper stereo image requires both channels of a stereo compressor to act in concert with one
another, regardless of what the source material is doing.
The WA-2A has the capability to allow you to do essentially three different things with a pair of units.
1. Two units can operate as autonomous, stand-alone units.
2. Two units can operate as a stereo pair, sharing a summed or intentionally re-calibrated sidechain signal.
3.
Two units can operate as a stereo unit that compresses two audio signals based entirely on
the sidechain signal of one unit (ducking).
TO CALIBRATE FOR STEREO USE, FOLLOW THESE STEPS
1. Calibrate the meter of both units. Make sure there is no audio input, set Meter Select switch to Gain Reduction, and
calibrate meter to 0db via the Meter Adjust control on the rear.
2. Connect a balanced (tip, ring, sleeve) ¼ inch patch cable between both units, via the Stereo Link Input Jack on both
units. The cable should be short, ideally no more than 2ft.
3. Start with both Stereo Link controls set to Stand-Alone. The units will share a common sidechain voltage merely by
connecting the TRS patch cable, and the Stereo Link adjust will act as a means to fine-tune for any minor differences
between the response of two units.
5