Mercenary Audio - Alan Smart C2 Stereo Buss Compressor Compressor

Alan Smart, the designer for Smart Research worked on Solid State Logic consoles for many years... upon leaving SSL he created a company that built a rather "SSL-esque" sounding 2 buss compressor that had [at least in this user's opinion] a higher level of fidelity and control. The characteristic sound of this unit arises mostly from the fast response at the onset of compression. When set to occur around the mid range attack settings (after 0.3 to 3 milliseconds) results in a window through which transients can still pass. When used across a mix, or with any dynamic program, this has the effect of adding 'punch', as the sidechain 'breathes' around these transients, while still controlling overall levels. CRUSH mode has been developed as an extension of this 'musicality', adding to and accentuating the factors involved in producing the character of the unit. CRUSH may sound surprising to those interested in more gentle applications, being capable of exaggerated compression effects, but in conjunction with the fast limit settings also introduced with this unit, it allows the C2 to be used for a much wider range of applications than just buss compression, the unit makes an absolutely wonderful tracking device as well [which is why it has dual mono controls as well as "single channel true stereo" control.

Alan Smart C2 Compressor features

The C2 compressor houses two independent mono compressors, or in STEREO mode, the left-hand controls operate both audio channels, with the right-hand controls not used, giving true Stereo operation. Both audio paths are 'sensed', the result processed, and then acted on equally to eliminate image shift (so a 'peak' on either channel results in the compression of both). By extension of this method, in a multi-channel system, the master set of controls can be interlinked to sense and control any number of audio channels where image shift would otherwise be a problem. When 'stereo' mode is selected, the left hand front panel controls become the masters for all channels in the system. The C2M version has one set of controls and two audio channels for Stereo use, whilst the C2R is a dual channel remote expander for building up to 8 channel systems controlled from one C2M or C2.

The characteristic sound of this unit arises mostly from the fast response at the onset of compression, which when delayed to occur around the mid range attack settings (after 0.3 to 3 milliseconds) results in a window through which transients can still pass. When used across a mix, or with any dynamic program, this has the effect of adding 'punch', as the sidechain 'breathes' around these transients, while still controlling overall levels. CRUSH mode has been developed as an extension of this 'musicality', adding to and accentuating the factors involved in producing the character of the unit. CRUSH may sound surprising to those interested in more gentle applications, being capable of exaggerated compression effects, but in conjunction with the fast limit settings also introduced with this unit, it allows the C2 to be used for a much wider range of applications than the C1.

A multi-channel system comprises a master C2 or MC2 unit, to which is added one additional remote controlled 1RU audio rack per pair of extra channels needed. A four channel system would therefore need one master C2 (or MC2), and one RC2 ('Remote C2'). The system can be extended as needed, for more or less channels, or the additional channels unplugged and the master unit used on its own functioning as a normal unit (the only difference being that the 'sidechain' XLR connectors on the rear panel are changed to multi-pin types for additional control lines to and from the RC2 chain).

This approach has been adopted for two reasons: first as the most adaptable in allowing for different choices of mix formats and the ability for additional RC2 channel capacity to 'float' between control rooms or be purchased as needed, and second because of being able to offer the RC2 unit at a more reasonable sale price than a complete unit. In allowing for the above configuration, we have also provided for further customizing. The master C2 unit has an external fader input, and we would be happy to discuss any further modifications required.

FEATURES

Fast attack and limit settings for protective limiting
Crush Mode gives FET "overcompression" with tailored frequency response and higher distortion
External sidechain inputs
Ratios - 1.5:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 10:1 and Limit
Attack - 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 and 30 m/sec
Release - 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 seconds
All input and outputs balanced

SPECIFICATIONS

Noise floor: Below -104sBm (flat 20Hz - 20kHz)
Distortion: Below 0.005% (1K/+4 THD 20Hz - 20kHz)
Frequency Response: Within 1/2dB from 20Hz to 100kHz
Main Input: Balanced, Impedance 1K8 per leg
Sidechain Input: Balanced, Impedance 10K per leg
Output: Discrete transistor. Above +26dBm into 600Ω load
Threshold: Adjustable -20 to +20dBm
Make-up gain: Adjustable 0 to +20dBm

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