Focusrite P3 Compounder

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zZounds Gear Experts Say...
High performance dynamics processor designed for the quality conscious professional and project studio owner.

Main Features
Gate/Expander:
*Quiet operation - unique opto circuit means no pops or clicks
*Class A Low distortion - far exceeds VCA based designs
*Release/Hold - essential for accurate gate control
*Range - varies gate attenuation between -15dB and -70dB
*Expander switch - for noise reduction on difficult audio tracks such as vocals

Compressor:
*Make it sound clean or fat or even make it pump!
*Class A amplifier - superb sound, low distortion
*Soft and Hard Knee - choice of compression
*Wide Ratio Control - from Gentle to beyond infinity to get that classic, pumping sound
*Bass Expander - Make Kick drums and Bass riffs more powerful and effective. The expander circuit generates extra Bass harmonics to fatten up any low frequency signal.
*Huge - Get even more Bass. Be afraid, be very afraid!

Bass Expander:
*Unique inductor powered bass expander - boost kick drums & bass riffs!

Huge:
*Get even more bass - if you write, perform or produce dance music, this button alone makes the Compounder a must have unit.

Limiter:
*A matched pair of high quality Opto's to give improved performance over VCA Limiter designs which tend to add high levels of distortion even when they are not Limiting. Use to control levels when recording to an A/D and prevent overload.
*Class A Low distortion design, mainly 2nd order distortion occurs during limiting which is virtually undetectable by the human ear.
*Accurate Threshold Control means Limiting only occurs exactly where you set it and therefore read more only as and when required. The fine sensitivity of the scale means very accurate and specific levels can be set.

Linking:
*Mono/Stereo Independent Stereo linking is provided for both Limiter and Compressor sections.
*When switched to stereo the left channel becomes the master section and controls both left and right compressor and limiter sections simultaneously, allowing perfect stereo effects to be made from one set of controls. This is the most accurate form of stereo control as both channels, including makeup level controls and bass expander settings, are perfectly matched.

Class A:
*The unique sound of Focusrite compression is considered by many of the top industry professionals as the key to achieving a clean and controlled mix with all the punch and clarity that makes the difference between success and failure.
*A Focusrite only sounds like a Focusrite because all audio processing sections of the unit are unique Focusrite Class A circuit designs, we do not employ any standard off the shelf VCA components. Each stage of the Compounder is optimised in design and component performance to get that legendary Focusrite smooth and pleasantly warm audio performance

Applications:
Recording Chain:
*Use with a high quality Pre Amp and EQ to create a high quality record path with compression for dynamic control and a Limiter to protect the A/D of the record device.

Mixing:
*Insert into the console channel path to control individual or stereo tracks to give real presence and punch to vocals and instruments.

Mastering:
*Place across the console two track bus or use on a finished mix or DAT tape to beef up the sound. Use the Bass expander to get serious hard punching results for dance and techno tracks.
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Compressor
Threshold: Range -24dB to 12dB
Ratio: 1.3:1 through Á (infinity) to over compression
Slope: select between hard and soft knee.
Attack and Release: Variable or auto (program dependent)
Attack: 100µS to 100mS
Release: 100mS to 4S

Limiter
Threshold Range: 12dBu to 26dBu
Ratio: Á (infinity)
Attack: Fast

Gate
Threshold Range: -40dB to +10dB
Gate Range: -20dB or -80dB(full)
Attack: switched fast or slow
Release/Hold: variable or fixed 100mS to 4S
Expander Ratio: 2:1

Inputs
Electronically balanced, impedance 20KOhm,
nominal level +4dBu/-10dBV switchable.

Outputs
Electronically balanced, impedance 50KOhm,
nominal level +4dBu. Unbalanced, ground
compensated, impedance 75Ohm, nominal
level -10dBV.

Headroom
22dB

THD
@ +6dBr, all sections IN, no gain reduction:
<0.006% (80KHz BW)
Distortion during gain reduction is determined by the attack and release times set.

Noise (22KHz)
-100dBr (compressor OUT)
-87dBr (compressor IN

Frequency Response
5Hz - 200KHz +0/-2dB

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 310-322-5500
Web: https://support.focusrite.com/

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (12 ratings)
Submitted June 20, 2004 by a customer from hotmail.com

"Fatten up the kick drum"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.
Sound
I used the compounder in my Project Studio, G4 1.25ghz Digi 001 PTLE 5.2.1 DA7 NS-10's.Focurite VMP dbx 386. I mainly do alot of Rap/Hip Hop and bands of all types, rock, punk, tejano, Jazz. honky tonk.. 1st I recompressed a Kick drums and snare from a live drummer. Was very impressed w/ the bass expander function. It made a flabby kick PHAT sounding. Useing it on snare helped, but had to use it sparingly. Bass expander works very well w/ bass guitar too, adds loads of depth to an otherwise thin signal. Also used the bass expander on midi sequenced drums and bass synth out of Reason 2, out of Lexicon core2 sound card analog into DA7 and componder inserted in the channel. Once agin very impressed w/ the result, punchy kicks and snares, low low phat bass

Features
The gate section works very well too.This was a real drum kit. I sent a copy of a bottom snare track to the key input and used the gate on the side snare mic which had a lot of bleed from the rest of the kit. Using the "hold" function i was able to hold the gate for the correct time for the decay of the snare. This worked VERY well, the gate was able to isolate the snare more and get even more punch for a live recorded snare. The limiter section is useful, but can be audible if pushed too hard, its alright.

Quality
This is a Very well made product...its a little deeper than most rack gear tho. It will be used in studio read more only.

Manufacturer Support
No need to contact Focusrite for either Voice Master Pro w/ AD card or Compounder...both are Great.

Musical Style:
All
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