TRANSFORMERS - you can choose from three transformer types, each of which give the
Pawn Shop Comp a different overall frequency response and different distortion
characteristics when you hit the unit hard. Nickel has a flat response, Iron is bright and
tight sounding, and Steel is round, dark and has a low end bump.
WEIGHT - is an adjustable inductor emulation peak style EQ, similar to that found on
vintage Neve preamps. The response curve is a wide, gentle bell. There are two center
frequencies to choose from, 63Hz and 171Hz. These frequencies were carefully selected to
catch kick drum frequencies (63Hz) or affect the "warmth" area of the frequency spectrum
(171Hz). Gain is initially at 0dB gain. Turning it clockwise will add up to +8dB of gain,
counterclockwise will reduce it by -8dB. WEIGHT was added to the Pawn Shop Comp as a
way to compensate for the loss of bottom end when a signal is really squashed by
compression. It is NOT a surgical eq. Setting it to 63Hz and cutting will not effect hum.
But if you're really hammering a signal with the Pawn Shop Comp’s compressor circuit,
adding a few dB of WEIGHT will restore bottom end and balance. Conversely, when
compressing things like vocals and acoustic guitars, a little bit of cut at 171Hz can clean up
an otherwise lumpy, chesty sounding track.
FOCUS - this adjusts a gentle (wide Q) peak-style inductor EQ centered at 1.2 kHz and
2.4kHz. It's initially at 0dB gain. Turning it clockwise will add up to +8dB of gain,
counterclockwise will reduce it by -8dB. 1.2 kHz is an ignored area and people are very
hesitant to boost in here, because too much can sound harsh and/or honky. However, with
a wide, gentle curve, a slight boost in here adds presence and "width." Adding a dB or two
of FOCUS across, say, a drum bus, will make the kit sound wider. It's psychoacoustics for
sure—there is no spacial processing going on in the Pawn Shop Comp—but try it and see if
it doesn't "open things up" in your mix.
While 1.2kHz and 2.4kHz might seem to be very close together on the spectrum, there is a
tremendous difference between the two. The 2.4kHz setting has a lot more effect on the
signals highs - it seems to get up into the "air band" area while still remaining quite
smooth. The 1.2kHz setting feels much lower and solidly in the middle of the audio
spectrum.
OPERATING LEVEL - turn this up to add gain, presence and "in your face." Turn it WAY up
to get HUGE amounts of distortion.
In the old days, mismatched operating level would tend to blow gear up. Literally. Like
smoke from behind the rack and a bad smell and a repair bill from the studio. With the
Pawn Shop Comp, the worst you can get is some digital clipping. Very often turning this up
3dB (clockwise just a tiny bit) can make a big difference.
