Mastering engineers take note: the Dangerous COMPRESSOR is designed to give you transparent dynamics control, so you can reign in dynamic material, make it loud, and minimize dynamic comprises. With a bevy of useful features, this VCA compressor can help you deliver a master that’s every bit as loud and impactful as the competition, while allowing you to retain a sense of dynamics.
A big selling point for the COMPRESSOR is its versatility: the BOX can handle anything from hip hop to acoustic folk with ease. Such versatility is achieved through separate detection circuits for the right and left channels (maintaining impeccable stereo separation), switchable dual-slope detection circuits (for handling peaks and average levels differently), and comprehensive sidechain filtering (to keep low end from triggering compression, or to help tame sibilant material). Add audiophile-grade components throughout as well as stepped controls for perfect recall, and you’ll have a compressor up for transparently handling the most demanding tasks—all without the intermodulation distortion so typical from similar methods employed in the digital realm.
The COMPRESSOR utilizes two totally independent RMS detectors on each channel, with a nuanced and sophisticated circuit governing how they work together in stereo. This allows the unit to deliver crystal-clear and rock-solid stereo imaging when processing a full mix, a drum buss, a finished master, or any stereo material.
What's more, you can use each channel as an independent mono compressor, or you can cascade the two channels into each other for ultra-transparent compression with peak limiting. Try this for riding a vocal, a spiky lead instrument, or any other track where powerful yet transparent control is demanded.
Smart Dynamics is equally helpful when tracking a dynamic singer or mixing a snappy drum kit, and most users end up leaving the "SmartDyn" button engaged at all times.
Bass Cut turns down low end below 60 Hz, so the COMPRESSOR won't overreact to low-frequency content, or create pumping.
The Sibilance Boost utilizes the BAX EQ's ultra-linear high-end shelf to push more treble content into the detector, which causes The COMPRESSOR to dynamically attenuate sibilance and other unwanted spikes of high-end, such as harsh cymbals, blaring loops, or erratic acoustic guitar strums.
What VUs cannot show you are the lightning-fast transients. That's where the LED metering comes in. Together, the VU and LED meters provide critical insights into the intricate inner workings of the COMPRESSOR in action.