Becos CIQ-2 COMPIQ MINI PRO COMPRESSOR - Page 2

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CIQ‐2COMPIQMINIPROCOMPRESSORPEDAL
FORGUITAR&BASS
Designed&HandMadeinRomania/EU
ThankyouforusingBECOSproducts!
MANUAL
Lastmodified:May2,2021
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providesagoodandmusicalcompressioneffect.TheSoft
Knee
compressionismoresubtleandisappliedprogressively,withasoft
corner curve. The effect is gentle and desirable when compression
doesn't have tobe obvious (lower ratios up to 4:1), or used asan
audio effect. Think of it like a mastering tool for voicing audio
content.Withhigherratios(inbetween4:1and10:1),itmakesfora
studio quality compression effect. Soft Knee is also more usable
whenthresholdissetlow,becauseitmakesthecompressionmore
musical.WhenSoftKneeisusedwithhigherthresholds,itaddsmore
transparencytothesound,dilutingcompressionfeel.
SCFSWITCH‐SideChainFilterswitchhastwopositions:Normal(N),
Deep(D).InNormal position, the Side Chain Filter is set to
accommodate a large range of audio signals and instruments. By
design, it has an attenuation of lower frequencies below 1 KHz,
whichallowsthecompressortoactwithashortdelayandletlower
frequencies pass through withouttriggeringthecompressionright
away.Thissettingrendersanaturalresponsethatissuitablefor
mostcases.InDeep(D)position,moreofthelowerendfrequency
(an additional ‐12dB@130Hz) is freed up to prevent triggering
compressorkickingintooearly.Thissettingletsmoreofthelowend
pass through at the output, while also lowering the amount of
compression.Thisisapropersettingforguitarifafullersound is
neededandespeciallyforbassinstrument.
COMPRESSIONDISPLAY‐A5‐LEDdisplaytakespreciseinformation
fromtheRMS‐levelsensorandcompilesavisualfeedbackforthe
amountofcompressionappliedtoinputsignalthatgoesabovethe
threshold. The visual indication is calibrated for ‐20dBu (77.5mV)
input reference signal level, suitable to a wide range of electric
instrument pickups.Thedisplayisveryprecise,butisalsototally
relatedtoinputaudiosignallevel,whichishighlydynamicbynature
andmayvarywildlyfromcalibratedreferencewhenusingdifferent
sources.EvenatlowtomidRatios,ifaudioinputlevelishigher,the
display can peak Yellow or Red color. Red color does not indicate
anythingwrong!Thismayhappenfrequentlyifyouhavehighinput
signallevels,lowerThresholdandhigherRatio.Useonlyyourearto
attainthedesiredcompressioneffect!
AUTOADJUSTINGDINAMICTIMING‐Any dynamic processing
requires a precise timing of the Attack and Release of the effect.
CompIQ uses a responsive Auto Adjusting Timing Circuit, which
adapts to playing dynamics. Short and percussive transients are
handledwithfastertimings,whilelonger,steadysignals,andbenefit
from slower timings. The circuit responds dynamically to your
playingandisveryfastinchangingthesetimings.AttackandRelease
timings are applied with softness,whichmakesthiskindof
processingverymusical.AmanualsetofAttackandReleasewould
har
dly match the quality of auto timing of this circuit! On top of
that, the Timing Switch allows you to choose from FastorSlower
attack&releasetimes.SlowerTimingspositionisapproximately10‐
15msforattacktimeand100‐220msforreleasetime.Fastertimings
are approximately 5‐7ms for attack, 70ms for release. Attack time
meansthetimeittakesforthemaximumcompressiontoreachthe
setamount.Releasetimemeansthetimeittakesforthe
compressiontoreturntonormal(input)audiolevel.
DCPOWERCONNECTOR ‐Useonlygoodfilteredpowersupplies,
withavoltageof9‐12VDC,withcenternegativepolarity.UseaDC
Power Plug Ø5.1/2.1mm, with a 12mm long barrel because the
connectorisrecessedinsidetheenclosure.
Compressorsareusuallyplacedrightafteraninstrument,firstinthe
signalchain.Thisisanarbitraryconvention.Itsplacementdepends
onwhatyou'retryingtoachieve.Forinstance,ifacompressorisset
lastintheFXloopofanamplifier,itmayactlikeamasteringtool.In
suchaninstance,thecompressioncannotreallybeusedasaneffect,
and mustbe dialed in cautiously to preserve the dynamic range of
themusicalcontent.
The combination of Ratio, Threshold, Make‐up Gain and Dry/Wet
MixmanualcontrolsalongwithCompressionKnee,SideChainFilter
andFast/SlowerDynamicTimingsselectableoptions,makesthistiny
littlepedalamightyweaponofdynamicprocessing.Youwillsimply
notgoingtofindthismanyfeaturesandthisqualityinsuchapedal
formfactor,anywhere.Youmayalsouseitwithvocalsorother
stringed instruments like acoustic guitars, violins, cellos, orbrass
instrumentsliketrumpets,etc.
OUTPUT‐Fromhereyouwillsendthecompressedsignaltothenext
effectpedal,oranamplifier'sinput,ortotheRETURNFX‐loopofan
amplifier. Output signal can also be recorded directly into a Hi‐Z
interfaceinput.Whennotengaged(orpowered),thepedalisinTrue
Bypass.
INPUT‐Here youwill connect eitheraninstrument directly,or the
outputofanothereffectorevenamicrophonepreamp,ora signal
takenfromtheamplifier'sSENDFX‐loop.
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