IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE ASHMOD FUNCTION (A SHMOD).
This alters the shape of the attack envelope, allowing you to fine-tune the attack beha-
vior to adapt it to any audio source.
Shape modulation on the attack allows the detector’s attack curve to be deformed ba-
sed on curves sampled from the most powerful software and hardware compressors. In
particular, values lower than the middle position tend to reduce the transient, while hi-
gher values tend to emphasize it. In the case of the FAST detector, where two detectors
are in action, the lower value at the first quarter of the knob stroke also leads to a single
detector (gradually reducing the balance with the second detector). In short, at the lower
position of ASHMOD, the FAST compressor is reduced to a single detector.
In general, minimum positions of ASHMOD tend to reduce attack times to one-tenth
of their nominal value, while in the opposite case, they tend to double it. In the case of
a minimal knob position, if the attack value is also minimal, there will be a null/instanta-
neous time (also corresponding to values less than a microsecond, depending on the
oversampling value set).
The positions above the middle of the knob stroke are of particular interest: from the
center to 3/4 of the stroke, the amount of HOLD of the attack gradually increases. In an
envelope detector, the attack (attack) is the time required for the output of the circuit to
reach the maximum value of the input signal after a sudden increase in its amplitude. On
the other hand, the hold function forces the time required for the output of the circuit to
maintain its value after a sudden increase in the amplitude of the input signal.
The visible result is a tendency to preserve transients, avoiding compressing them if they
are shorter than the HOLD time. In Tiger, the time is also proportional to the current at-
tack value. The HOLD function related to attack differs from that of release because it is
dependent on the threshold value of the compressor (whereas in the case of release, it
is independent): when the hold function is active, once the amplitude of the input signal
exceeds the threshold, the output of the circuit will remain at its value for a predetermi-
ned period, regardless of further changes in the amplitude of the input signal. So as a
general rule, transients that exceed the value set by the threshold and are shorter than
the HOLD time are perfectly preserved. Caution: once the threshold value is exceeded,
if the detector does not make it in time to stop compressing (because, for example, the
release is too large) and thus crosses the threshold level again, subsequent transients
will be compressed. Finding a balance between threshold level, hold, and release time is
essential for optimal transient behavior.
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