Hartke VX3500 Owner's Manual

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Hartke VX3500 Owner's Manual Manual pdf 14 page image

12About CompressionCOMPRESSION5432106789∞VX3500Compression controland LEDThe dynamic range of a sound is the difference between its loudest and softestpoints. For example, as you play your bass, you’ll probably find that some notes(for example, notes played on the upper frets of the lowest string) are consider-ably louder than others. The function of the Compression circuitry in the Model3500 Bass Amplifier is to reduce overall dynamic range by automatically reduc-ing the level of the loudest sounds you play so that they are closer in level tosofter ones—the end result is that the sound “evens out” and all notes playedhave pretty much the same level.The front-panel Compression control determines the amount of compression(peak signal reduction) by simultaneously adjusting both threshold and compres-sion ratio (which ranges from 2:1 to infinity [limiting]). At the fully counterclock-wise “Off” position, the circuitry is bypassed and no compression is applied (theknob clicks when set to the “Off” position). As the knob is raised clockwise (atsettings from “1” to “∞”) increasing amounts of compression is applied. At thehighest settings, loud sounds will not just be compressed, but limited, where theoutput remains virtually constant regardless of input.The Model 3500 provides a front-panel Compression LED which acts as a use-ful visual indicator of the continuous activity of the compression circuitry. Whenlit steadily green (for example, when the Compression knob is set to “Off”), nocompression is being applied. When unlit, compression is being applied to theincoming signal at a ratio of approximately 2:1. When flashing red, thecompression ratio is approaching infinity (limiting is being applied). When litsteadily red, the signal is being limited. This LED “follows” the incoming signal,changing continuously as different amounts of compression and/or limiting arebeing applied.Compression has three main uses. First, as just described, it “evens” out thenotes played by your bass so that they all appear at virtually equal level.Second, it adds “punch” to a sound; since all levels are nearly the same, youcan play with greater force without worrying about the loudest notes distorting.Finally, it serves to protect your loudspeakers from damage as a result of brief(transient) high output levels, as might be caused by finger-popping or otherperformance techniques.Whether or not you need to use compression with your Model 3500 will be amatter of personal taste and playing style—experiment and see if you like theeffect. If you usually play at low volume levels, you’ll find that, even with theCompression knob turned up, the compression circuitry may have no audibleeffect, so it might as well be off. In general, if you don’t need compression,leave it off.