DRAWMER DS501 – Power Gate

The DS501 is a sophisticated dual channel noise gate with fully tuneable \'Peak Punch\' incorporating a number of features pioneered by Drawmer, which are invaluable to the sound engineer, and not found on conventional noise gates.

• \'Tuneable\' Peak Punch.
• Variable high pass and low pass filters for \"frequency conscious\" gating.
• Comprehensive envelope control, attack, hold, decay, and range.
• Key input for external triggering.
• \"Key Listen\" facility.
• Extremely fast attack time, to preserve the natural attack of the sound.
• Balanced inputs and outputs.
• Stereo linkable.
• Can be used for \"Gating\" or \"Ducking\".
• High audio specification.

Positioned in the Drawmer range over the industry standard DS201 Dual Gate, the DS501 Power Gate features a new dual mode ‘tuneable’ Peak Punch processing section on each channel. In tuneable mode a fully variable frequency selector with a range from 75Hz to 16kHz allows the user to shape the transients of the gated signal and ‘tune-in’ to the particular area of the audio spectrum where the Peak Punch is to be active. In addition a variable ‘more’ control allows the user to tailor the amount of processing. A secondary Full Band Peak Punch mode is also available.

Designed principally for drum and percussive gating applications, tuneable Peak Punch makes it possible to add transient punch to frequencies lacking in individual drum sounds, adding greater definition and presence to the gated signal. Using low frequency Peak Punch adds depth to thin drums, whilst higher frequency Peak Punch can dynamically emphasise rim shots or the ‘crack’ of a snare drum. Setting up noise gates can be tedious and unrewarding. For example, when attempting to separate a signal from unwanted noise or crosstalk that is relatively high in level, spurious triggering of the gate by unwanted components within the sound can be a serious problem. This can often be experienced in the studio when recording a drum kit. If a gate is used to clean up the snare drum sound it is quite likely that the nearby hi-hats will spill into the snare drum microphone and cause the gate to open. Increasing the threshold level may cure this problem, but then there is a very real danger that any quieter snare drum beats may not cause the gate to open at all and the performance can easily be ruined.

The DRAWMER solution to this problem is the inclusion of two variable filters, one high-pass and one low-pass, which act upon the side-chain keying circuitry. By setting the output switch to key listen the user can hear the action of the filters and adjust them to reject high frequency spillage from the hi-hats. This now enables the gate to only open on the lower frequencies present in the snare drum.

The very fast attack of the DS501 means that it can open in a matter of micro seconds, thus preserving the natural attack of whatever sound is being gated and the comprehensive envelope controls mean that the gain can be changed at whatever rate best suits the material being processed. With vocals for example, a fairly fast attack is needed so as not to clip the leading consonants but a slower release time will prevent the end of words being clipped off and will also fade out any noise gradually rather than cutting it off abruptly. This latter point is very important as the human ear is far more sensitive to rapidly changing noise levels than to a constant low level noise.

Another important role played by the gate is in the reshaping of existing sounds. An example of this might involve a simple sampling delay line used to store a sound to be re-triggered later and added to a mix. A gate can be used to impart a slower attack or faster decay to the sound and careful setting of the decay envelope can effectively hide any noise present at the end of the sample. When using a sampler or drum machine the gate can be considered a triggered envelope shaper, and the wide range allowed by the envelope controls make the DS501 ideal for this application.

The unit can be switched to accept a key input, which allows the gate to be triggered externally. An example of this would be to use a snare drum signal to open the gate on a separate ambient microphone to create a natural alternative to gated reverb.

Each channel can be individually switched from Gating to Ducking for \'voice over\' applications or the removal of \'clicks\' and \'pops\'.

Features
Enhance switch to restore spectral balance of compressed signal
Switchable Mode - Dual Channel or Stereo linked
Above or Below Threshold LEDs
Balanced XLR and Jack Inputs and Outputs
Intuitive, user friendly layout
Flawless performance

Innovation
The ARX COMPO? is a unique compressor/limiter designed for use in any
professional audio dynamics control application, packaged in a compact 1
RU chassis.The COMPO operates as two independent compressor/limiters,
with 'industry standard' variable Threshold, Ratio and Output gain controls.
A Stereo Link switch on the front panel lets both channels track as a stereo
pair in a Master/Slave configuration.
Enhance Switch
The COMPO features an 'Enhance' switch, which provides frequency restoration
to preserve the spectral balance of the audio signal, compensating for the sagging
Low and High frequency response of compressed program material.
The best way to think of it is as a 'smart' loudness control.
Wide Scale metering
There is comprehensive LED indication of all operating functions and status. Above
or Below Threshold LEDs on each channel give you instant visual confirmation of
compressor activity, as well as easy to read LED Gain Reduction meters.
Balanced Inputs and Outputs
On the rear panel, each channel has true differential Balanced inputs and outputs,
on both XLR and TRS jack connectors. Other features include an Active/Bypass
switch for each channel, and passive RFI filters on the inputs.
Universal AC Power
AC power range is a universal 100 to 120V or 220 to 240V AC, and is connected to
the unit via a removable power lead and standard 3 pin IEC connector, with built-in
fuse and voltage change switch.
ARX Quality
With its smooth compression, intuitive user friendly layout, high density precision
circuitry, and extensive user-variable operating parameters, the ARX COMPO is the
ideal installation 'set and forget' compressor, and is also equally at home in Studio,
Broadcast and Sound Reinforcement environments.

Every day, ARX Audio interface products solve audio problems for thousands of people
around the world.

T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
Input Impedance Balanced 20 Kohms, Unbalanced 10 Kohms
Input Headroom + 22 dB
CMRR >60 dB, 20 Hz-20 KHz
Output Impedance Balanced 300 ohms, Unbalanced 150 ohms
Output Level (Max) + 22 dB
Frequency Response 20Hz to 20KHz ±0.4dB
Signal to Noise ratio -85 dB Unweighted, -99 dB 'A' weighted
Distortion .02% THD @ 0dB,1KHz
Dynamic Range 107 dB
Enhance Section
Low Enhance 50 Hz, High Enhance 10 KHz
Power Requirements 100/120 V AC, 220/240 V AC
Weight 5 lbs/2.2 Kg
Dimensions 19“W x 1?“H x 6“D, 482 x 44 x 155mm
Input/OutputConnector type XLR, Balanced Jack

Front Panel Controls
Channel A Active/Bypassed IN/OUT switch
Threshold, Ratio and Output Gain controls
Numbered marker panel for labelling compressor assigns
5 segment LED Gain Reduction display
Above/Below Threshold status LEDs
Enhance switch and status LED
Stereo link switch and status LED
Channel B controls identical to Channel A
Rear Panel Connectors
Balanced XLR Input and Output connectors.
Balanced TRS jack Input and Output connectors.
AC input connector, with voltage switch and fuse.
 

The DPR-504 is a 4-channel noise gate.

Each channel features:
A parametric key filter with key filter listening.
Simultaneous key level and threshold metering with average and
peak metering.
A gate status LED.
A RELEASE/HOLD control (hold tracks proportionally with release
times).
Attack switchable auto/fast (auto tracks signal dynamics for optimum
setting).
Link (links two channels together).
Key source allows external triggers.

The Range switch selects between 7OdB and 2OdB gating depth to
provide alternative release profiles.
The unit features electronically balanced inputs and outputs. 

Interactive Reference-Class 2-Channel Expander/Gate/Compressor/ Peak Limiter with
Integrated De-Esser, Dynamic Enhancer, Tube Simulation and Low Contour Filter 

Whether you?re recording, mixing or mastering, the COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600
gives you total dynamic control. It includes all of the features you would expect from
a reference class compressor?plus a voice-adaptive de-esser, a new dynamic
enhancer, authentic tube emulation and much more. These are some of the indispensable
tools for producing clean, consistent audio with virtually no loss in signal quality.

Features:
Switchable IKA (Interactive Knee Adaptation) program-adaptive compression circuitry
combines the advantages of hard-knee and soft-knee characteristics
Integrated de-esser with switchable male/female voice recognition removes excessive
sibilance from your vocal tracks
IGC (Interactive Gain Control) peak limiting circuitry combines clipper and program
limiter for reliable and inaudible protection against signal peaks
Switchable dynamic enhancer for brilliant, lively audio even with heavy compression
IRC (Interactive Ratio Control) expander/gate circuitry for virtually inaudible
noise suppression
Switchable tube simulation for the extra warmth and transparency of classic
tube circuitry
Automatically or manually adjustable attack and release times
Switchable low contour filter prevents "pumping" due to low-frequency
dominated compression
Stereo couple function with independent output level settings
Switchable side chain input with side chain monitor function
Ultra low-noise 4580 operational amplifiers and state-of-the-art THAT¬ VCA's
Separate 12-segment LED meters for input/output levels and gain reduction
Dedicated "traffic light" threshold and de-esser level displays
High-quality detented ALPS¬ potentiometers and illuminated switches
Servo-balanced inputs and outputs with ? in. TRS and gold-plated XLR
connectors
Relay-controlled hard bypass switch with auto bypass function in case
of power failure
Manufactured under ISO9000 certified management system
 

The S com 4 is a compact and versatile single-rack space device that provides
four channels of high quality dynamics processing with an Expander/Gate and
Compressor/Limiter on each channel.
The four channels operate independently or in stereo pairs. Its multi-segment LED
metering displays input/output level as well as gain reduction. The Expander/Gate
section features a continuously variable Threshold control as well as a switch for
fast or slow release times.
The Compressor/Limiter section includes variable Threshold, Ratio and Output levels.
S com 4's Enhancer switch restores high frequencies that are sometimes diminished
by heavy compression. This wide-ranging combination of features makes the S com
4 an efficient and versatile audio tool for a wide variety of applications. Its clean and
quiet audio characteristics make it ideal where high sonic integrity is imperative. 
 
FEATURES:

4 Channel Compressor/Limiter, Expander/Gate with Enhancer
Linkable in two Stereo pairs
Expander/Gate with variable Trigger control and switchable Fast/Slow Release
5 Segment LED meters for Input/Output levels and Gain Reduction on each channel
Advanced circuit design utilizing Low Noise Operational
Amplifiers and High Quality VCA's
Servo Balanced Inputs and Outputs on XLR and 1/4" connectors
SKD (Smart Knee Detector) circuit automatically switches from soft to hard knee
based on the level of Input signal applied
Individual Threshold and Ratio controls on each channel
Three-year extended warranty