Vintage Compressor

Overview

The Vintage Compressor is an emulation of a feedback compressor with a detection filter in the feedback loop. The Vintage Compressor includes a versatile detection filter in the feedback loop that filters the signal passed into the level detector to change which components of the signal are triggering the compressor. Some compressors use a highpass filter or a high shelf boost to reduce pumping. Others have a wide boost in the high frequencies to let high frequency content drive the compressor. The Vintage Compressor in Ozone includes all of these filters. We combined some of the best elements of vintage analog compressors to create this feedback compressor algorithm.

The Vintage Compressor module interface is divided into the following sections:

1. Module Header
2. Views
3. Controls

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Module Header

The Vintage Compressor module header area contains the following controls:

1. View Selector: See the Views section below for detailed descriptions of the different meter views.
2. Channel Processing Modes: Selects the channel processing mode used by the Vintage Compressor.
   • The Vintage Compressor supports Stereo & Mid/Side.
   • See the General Controls chapter for more information.
3. Reset: Returns all module controls to their default values.

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Views

You can toggle between the different views using the view selector buttons in the module header area.

The Vintage Compressor module includes the following views:

• Detection Filter
• Gain Reduction Trace

Detection Filter

This view includes a spectrum analyzer and detection input filter controls. Use the filter nodes to adjust the frequency response of the detection circuit used by the Vintage Compressor, so that it is more or less sensitive to specific frequencies.

Detection Filter Solo

Click the (S) button in the upper left corner of this view to listen to the filtered input to the detection circuit. This is useful for quickly listening to the input signal being used to trigger the Vintage Compressor processing.

Gain Reduction Trace

Displays a scrolling waveform with a superimposed trace reflecting the amount of gain reduction applied over time.

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Controls

The following controls are available in the Vintage Compressor:

• Mode
• Threshold
• Ratio
• Attack
• Release
• Makeup Gain
• Auto Gain

Mode

Adjusts the overall character of the Vintage Compressor. Mode options include:

• Sharp: Provides crisp dynamics and a greater emphasis on transients while maintaining the body of the signal.
• Balanced: Gives a signal-dependent balance between dynamics preservation and overall enhancement to the body of the signal.
• Smooth: Smoothes out transient and dynamic material while enhancing and bringing out the rest of the signal, resulting in a thicker and fuller sound.

Threshold

Adjust the threshold to set the point where the dynamics processing takes place. Since some modes have a soft knee, mild compression may occur below this point.

Threshold Meter

Displays the input level to the module alongside the gain reduction applied by the module’s processing.

• The two meters on the far left and right of the threshold meter display the input audio level.
• The two meters in between the input meters display the gain reduction applied.

Ratio

Sets the amount of attenuation applied to the signal once it has passed the threshold. Higher ratios will result in more compression.

Attack and Release

Adjust the attack and release controls to set how quickly the Vintage Compressor reacts to audio that crosses the threshold.

• Attack: Determines how quickly the Vintage Compressor reacts when the threshold is reached.
• Release: Determines the amount of time before the Vintage Compressor returns the level to normal once the signal is no longer above the threshold. This control sets the release time for transients; for sustained compression, the release time will be significantly longer.

Gain

Adjusts the output gain of the Vintage Compressor module to makeup for decreases in volume.

Auto Gain

When enabled, Auto Gain calculates the RMS levels of both the input and output signals of the Vintage Compressor in order to apply the appropriate gain to the output signal.

Auto Gain acts as a smart “make-up gain” control that adapts over time and adjusts your levels to a comparable level of your unprocessed audio.