Mackie DL Series Reference Guide

Mackie DL806 and DL1608 Reference Guide
85
Chapter 13: Channel View : Output Compressor / Limiter
Introduction
The output compressor / limiter looks and functions similar to that of the channel compressor, except
(1) the output compressor / limiter aects and alters the sound of everything passing through the selected
output and (2) the output compressor / limiter output is in stereo.
Compressorsareusedtoreduceorlimittransientpeaksinasignal.Ifthesignalistoohot,turnit
down,otherwiseleaveitalone.Astheinputleveltothecompressorincreases,theoutputlevel
increaseslinearlyuntilthethresholdpointisreached.Afterthatpoint,theoutputlevelnolonger
increases linearly. Instead, it increases at a reduced rate determined by the ratio setting.
With limiters, signals below a specied input level are allowed to pass unaected while attenuating
the peaks of stronger signals that exceed the input levels.
Theattackandreleasecontrolsaecttherateofthegainchange;attackaectstherateofthe 
onset of gain reduction and release aects the recovery rate once the transient has passed.
For stereo linked auxes, the gain reduction is applied equally to both the left and right side.
There are actually two dierent types of output compressor / limiters to choose from on each channel:
the clean, surgical modern output compressor / limiter and classic sounding vintage output compressor /
limiter.That’sright,youcanmixandmatchtoheart’scontent!Wewilldissectboththemodernandvintage
outputcompressor/limiterseparately,butlet’sbeginbytakingapeekatwhatfeaturesapplytoboth.
The modern output compressor / limiter is discussed further on pages 85-86, while more information
about the vintage output compressor / limiter may be found on pages 87-88.
Output Compressor / Limiter On / O
PresstheCompbuttontoturnthecompressoronoro.Itwillilluminategreenwhenengagedandisgray
whendisengaged.Noticetheinputandoutputmetersbelow,aswell.Thereismonometeringonunlinked
auxes and stereo metering on the LR and linked aux outputs.
Modern / Vintage
The modern / vintage button is located directly to the right of the comp on / o button. It displays
thecompressortypecurrentlyinuse,with“Modern”asthedefault.Tapthisbuttontorevealthe
two compressor types, then tap the compressor you would like. The image will change to reect
the compressor type chosen.
Modern Output Compressor / Limiter Introduction
Asmentionedpreviously,themodernoutputcompressor/limiterisdesignedforclean,surgicalprocessing;
it’sgreatfordialinginanice,tightsound.Assuch,theattack,releaseandratiofeaturesmaybene-tuned
whenthemodernoutputcompressor/limiterisutilized.Nowforadetailed(let’ssay“surgical”)lookatthe
modern output compressor / limiter.

Mackie DL Series Specifications

General

Brand	Mackie
Model	DL Series
Category	Music Mixer
Language	English