Mackie Quad Gate/Compressor Owner's Manual - Page 14

QUAD-COMP/GATE 22. RELEASE knob 26. ON button In gate mode, this knob adjusts the amount of time for This button engages or disengages the key filter the gate to close and begin attenuation, after the signal circuit. This allows you to quickly compare the action of drops below the threshold and the hold time has passed. the key filter on gating. Use this knob to adjust the Release time from 50 ms When this button is out, the key filter knobs will have to 3 seconds (fully clockwise). no effect on the gate. 23. HOLD knob 27. HP FREQ knob This adjusts the amount of time the gate stays open for, after the signal drops below the threshold, and before attenuation begins. Use this knob to adjust the Hold time from 0 ms to 5 seconds (fully clockwise). 24. RANGE knob If the EXP button is pressed, this knob is disabled and has no effect. Otherwise: This allows you to set the amount of attenuation that occurs when the signal drops below the threshold. Use this knob to adjust the Range from 0 dB to 60 dB (fully clockwise). For example, if you set it to 10 dB, all signals lower than the threshold will be reduced 10 dB. 25. BYPASS button Press this button to bypass the currently selected channel's gate processor (A, B, C, or D). The signals then pass merrily on their way into the compressor. (This does not affect the Gain Reduction metering.) Gate Key Filters The gate's detector circuit receives a copy of the incoming signals, detects when gating should occur, and applies the gating and all its parameters to the incoming signals. When the key filter ON button is engaged, the key filter is placed before the detector, so you can adjust the signals reaching the detector, and remove any signals which may cause false triggering. (The low-pass and high-pass filters are only applied to the signal going to the detector and not to the main audio output.) LEVEL DETECTOR KEY FILTER AND CONTROLS INPUT HPF LPF OUTPUT The gate key filter high-pass filter employs a 12 dB per octave Linkwitz-Riley design. This knob allows you to adjust the key filter's cutoff frequency from 20 Hz to 5 kHz. Any frequencies lower than the setting will be attenuated, and play less part in the gating and noise reduction. Press this knob for 2 seconds to listen to the key filter and select the best setting of this control. 28. LP FREQ knob The gate key filter low-pass filter employs a 12 dB per octave Linkwitz-Riley design. This knob allows you to adjust the key filter's cutoff frequency from 1 kHz to 20 kHz. Any frequencies higher than the setting will be attenuated, and play less part in the gating and noise reduction. Press this knob for 2 seconds to listen to the key filter and select the best setting of this control. Gate Key Filter listen Pressing and holding either key filter knob for 2 seconds will illuminate the bottom amber LED of the knob, and place the channel in key filter listen mode. The channel will output only the key filtered signal and allow you to quickly identify target frequencies by ear. For an example of how to use key filter, suppose you have the Quad Comp/Gate connected using channel inserts (as in figure 1 on page 6). It receives the individual channel signals and sends them back to your mixer: 1. On your mixer, remove the channel from the main mix. 2. Solo that channel to the headphones. 3. Engage the key listen by pressing and hold- ing either of the key filter knobs on the Quad Comp/Gate. 4. Use the HPF and LPF controls to remove unwanted frequencies false-triggering the gate. 5. Make appropriate gate parameter adjustments. 6. Disengage the key listen. 7. Bring the signal back into the mix. 14 QUAD COMP/GATE