When designing the COMPRESSOR, the Dangerous Music team set out to achieve modern levels of limiting and compression without the deadening effect that follows so many of today's heavily limited productions. The result belongs to the rare category of genuinely "transparent" compressors — the kind that control dynamics without introducing obvious artifacts — yet the low end stays big and powerful, the mids keep their texture and detail, and the top end remains open and engaging even under heavy gain reduction.
Smart Dynamics: two detection slopes instead of a compromise
The unique dual-slope detector in Smart Dynamics mode treats fast transient peaks and average signal level independently, so the compressor can control peaks hard without dragging the average loudness down along with them — exactly the mechanism that usually causes audible pumping when pushing toward modern loudness targets. Most users leave Smart Dynamics engaged permanently, since it works equally well on a dynamic vocal and a lively drum kit. In stereo mode, threshold and gain are linked, but signal detection stays independent for the left and right channels (True Stereo Dual Detector) — solving the classic problem of shared-detector stereo compressors, where centered elements get over-compressed while wide-panned or out-of-phase elements get under-compressed, typically narrowing and flattening the stereo image.
Built-in sidechain EQ, no external patching required
Two internal, instantly bypassable sidechain EQ curves feed the detector circuit without any external patch: Bass Cut rolls off below 60Hz, so the compressor doesn't overreact to low frequencies or start pumping in time with the kick, while Sibilance Boost uses the BAX EQ's ultra-linear high shelf to push more top end into the detector, dynamically attenuating sibilance or harsh cymbals. When those two ready-made curves aren't enough, an active external sidechain send and return on XLR let you patch in any equalizer to build midrange dynamic EQ, or chain both channels in series for ultra-transparent "cascaded compression."
KEY FEATURES
- Smart Dynamics dual-slope detector: independent handling of transients and average level
- True Stereo Dual Detector: independent L/R detection even in stereo mode
- Auto Attack/Release mode plus manual time control from the front panel
- Switchable compression knee: hard or soft
- Stepped ratio settings from 1:1 to 20:1
- Two built-in, instantly bypassable sidechain EQ curves: Bass Cut and Sibilance Boost
- Active external sidechain send/return on XLR
- Stereo (linked) or dual-mono (two independent channels) operation
- Dual VU meters with gain-reduction, input, and output modes, -6dB offset
- True hardwire bypass (Engage button)
- Linear power supply with two toroidal transformers
- Hand-built in the USA
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Frequency response: flat within 0.25dB from 15Hz to 80kHz
- Maximum I/O level: +27dBu
- Noise floor: -93dBu
- Dynamic range: approximately 120dB
- THD+N: below 0.005%
- IMD: below 0.007%
- Crosstalk: 115dB at 1kHz, greater than 109dB at 10kHz
- Sidechain Bass Cut filter: 6dB/octave, -3dB at 60Hz
- Sidechain Sibilance Boost filter: corner frequency 1kHz, +2dB at 5kHz shelving
