LOOPTROTTER Monster compressor User manual

LOOPTROTTER
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Contact:
www.looptrotter.com.pl
[email protected]
Distribution:
www.mjadiolab.pl
[email protected]
OWNER'S MANUAL
FET COMPRESSOR
with TUBE SATURATION

Manual by: Rafał Smoleń
Table Of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Installation
3. Signal Path
4. Controls - Front Panel
5. Connectors - Rear Panel
6. Getting Started
Introduction
Thank you for choosing Looptrotter MONSTER. This two channel single band FET
compressor provides unique functionality for individual instruments or sections
(submixes for drums, guitars, keys). It can also be utilized on summing bus and
in mastering.
MONSTER consists of three devices of an original design in one piece:
FET compressor / limiter, tube saturator and fully transparent wet/dry signal mixer.
FET transistor is responsible for gain reduction and is optimized for adding
low order harmonics. In its non-linear characteristics it reminds the electron tubes,
so even with the deep compression the sound focused and detailed.
The saturation circuit is built with military grade electron tubes with
a prolonged longevity (NOS). The unique feature of Monster Compressor is the option
of boosting the even harmonics added by the tubes (2nd BOOST), especially useful for
extreme processing of tracks and subgroups.
The MIX option is based on integrated circuits dedicated to sound processing. It is
intended to sound transparent, but gives perfect functionality when using MONSTER as
an insert device when 100% processing is unwanted.
Monster Compressor is a device with "analog character". It was designed to
either complement super clean digital technology or expand sonic possibilities in
your analog studio. The compression module treats the signal in a very musical way,
before the tube saturation. And the unique combination of compression and tube
saturation makes the sound seem distinctly closer, every detail stand out and gives
the energy to the processed sound. It makes the sound more tactile and ear friendly.
MONSTER is a precise device, in terms of control and operation. All rotary
switches (except saturation stage knob) are stepped, so it's easy to record and recall
settings and allows you to maintain the same exact settings for both channels.
Installation
Looptrotter MONSTER is factory set to the correct mains voltage for your country.
Please check the voltage setting on the rear panel.
With the power button switched off, connect the IEC mains cable to a 50/60 Hz AC
source of the voltage typical for your country.
Connect the signals to the 3 pin XLR slots on the rear panel:
LOOPTROTTER
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Contact:
www.looptrotter.com.pl
[email protected]
Distribution:
www.mjadiolab.pl
[email protected]

LOOPTROTTER
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Contact:
www.looptrotter.com.pl
[email protected]
Distribution:
www.mjadiolab.pl
[email protected]
BYPASS
BYPASS
TRUE BYPASS
DESYM.
SY M.
G.R.
GAIN
REDUCTION LEVEL
TUBE
2nd
SATURATION
BYPASS
PROCESS
BOOST
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
ATTACK
RELEASE
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
OUTPUT
INPUT
FET COMPRESSOR
COMP.
LIMITER
BYPASS
PROCESS
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
.5
15
25
50
70
100 150 .2
.3
1
1.5
ms/sec
.1
.2
.5
1
257
15
30
50
100
ms
0
10
20
30
40 50 60
70
80
90
100
MAIN
5
4
3
2
101
2
3
4
5
MIX OUTPUT
dB
%
-
+
OU T
I N P U T
O U T P U T
20
20
LIMITER / COMPRESSOR
040 35 5
1030 25 15
0
40
5
35
10
30
15
25
V U
753
20 10 1035
+
-
L I N K
DU AL
INPUT
OUTPUT
OT H E R C H .
BYPASS
BYPASS
TRUE BYPASS
DESYM.
SY M.
G.R.
GAIN
REDUCTION LEVEL
TUBE
2nd
SATURATION
BYPASS
PROCESS
BOOST
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
ATTACK
RELEASE
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
OUTPUT
INPUT
FET COMPRESSOR
COMP.
LIMITER
BYPASS
PROCESS
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
.5
15
25
50
70
100 150 .2
.3
1
1.5
ms/sec
.1
.2
.5
1
257
15
30
50
100
ms
0
10
20
30
40 50 60
70
80
90
100
MAIN
5
4
3
2
101
2
3
4
5
MIX OUTPUT
dB
%
-
+
OU T
I N P U T
O U T P U T
20
20
LIMITER / CO MPRESSOR
040 35 5
1030 25 15
0
40
5
35
10
30
15
25
V U
753
20 10 1035
+
-
L I N K
DU AL
INPUT
OUTPUT
OT H E R C H .

LOOPTROTTER
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Contact:
www.looptrotter.com.pl
[email protected]
Distribution:
www.mjadiolab.pl
[email protected]
Signal Path
The FET Compressor Stage:
ATTACK
RELEASE
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
OUTPUT
INPUT
FET COMPRESSOR
COMP.
LIMITER
BYPASS
PROCESS
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
.5
15
25
50
70
100 150 .2
.3
1
1.5
ms/sec
.1
.2
.5
1
257
15
30
50
100
ms
ATTACK
RELEASE
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
OUTPUT
INPUT
FET COMPRESSOR
COMP.
LIMITER
BYPASS
PROCESS
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
.5
15
25
50
70
100 150 .2
.3
1
1.5
ms/sec
.1
.2
.5
1
257
15
30
50
100
ms
SIDECHAIN
FILTERS
T I M I N G
CIRCUIT
V O L T A G E - C O N T R O L L E D
R E S I S T O R A T T E N U A T O R
AMPLIFIER
O T H E R C H .
ATTACK
RELEASE
OUTPUT
INPUT
L I N K
DUA L
COMP.
LIMITER SIDECHAIN
OUTPUT
I N P U T
The FET compressor is fed by INPUT knob. There is no threshold or ratio setting,
so the more signal gets into the compressor, the more gain reduction occurs. However,
there are traditional attack / release setting knobs, allowing you to set fast to slow
attack time (0.1 ms - 100 ms), and release time between 15ms to 1.5 sec. This is useful
to shape the compressor's behavior and allows to use for example fast attack/release
times for drums, and slower settings for vocals.
The compressor / limiter switch gives you the choice of compression curve.
The compressor's curve has softer knee, while the limiter's knee is harder
(see diagram)
I N P U T
O U T P U T
20
20
LIMITER / COMPRESSOR
040 35 5 1030 25 15
0
40
5
35
10
30
15
25
I N P U T
O U T P U T
20
20
LIMITER / COMPRESSOR
040 35 5 1030 25 15
0
40
5
35
10
30
15
25
The bypass switch makes the signal avoid the compressor section completely.
Output knob controls compressor's output level.

Tube Saturation stage:
LOOPTROTTER
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Contact:
www.looptrotter.com.pl
[email protected]
Distribution:
www.mjadiolab.pl
[email protected]
TUBE
2nd
SATURATION
BYPASS
PROCESS
BOOST
0
1
2
3
456
7
8
9
10
TUBE
This is where the magic happens. The more signal gets into the tube saturation
stage, the more saturation occurs. Please note that it also depends on the output
level of the compressor's stage, so it gives you the option to get even more extreme
saturation when raising the compressor's output level. The saturation knob indicates
numbers from 0 (the smallest amount of saturation but still tube processing
occurs!)to 10. To achieve more saturation, the 2nd BOOST switch brings up even
harmonics introduced by the tube circuit. The process / bypass switch allows the
signal to bypass tube circuit completely.
Mix and Output Stage:
0
10
20
30
40 50 60
70
80
90
100
MAIN
5
4
3
2
101
2
3
4
5
MIX OUTPUT
dB
%
-
+
0
10
20
30
40 50 60
70
80
90
100
MAIN
5
4
3
2
101
2
3
4
5
MIX OUTPUT
dB
%
-
+
This section allows you to mix completely dry signal from the input
of the device with processed signal (compressed and/or tube saturated) with the use
of one mix knob. The numbers indicates the percentage amount of wet signal, so 0% means
that on the output of MONSTER compressor is completely dry (unprocessed) signal, 50%
means that there is equal amount of dry and processed signal, and 100% means
that there is fully processed signal on the output of the device.
The Output knob allows you to tweak the output level of the MONSTER compressor.
The range is from -5 to +5 dB.

LOOPTROTTER
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Contact:
www.looptrotter.com.pl
[email protected]
Distribution:
www.mjadiolab.pl
[email protected]
Controls –Front Panel:
Beside the controls described in the section above there are few more
elements in the central section of the front panel.
POWER – switches the device on or off
LINK/DUAL – when the LINK is on, the compressor's control voltage is summed up and
common for both channels but all other settings for compressor's input, output,
attack release, tube saturation knob and switches are independent. So if you want
to use MONSTER compressor as the stereo unit you MUST set all knobs and switches to
same exact settings.
When DUAL switch is on, both left and right channels of the compressor are fed by their
own independent sidechain signal.
Ch 1/2 PROCESS / TRUE BYPASS – switches MONSTER's channels into fully operational
circuit or completely bypasses the unit's circuits (the input signal is led directly
to it's output)
Connectors – Rear Panel:
1
3
21
3
2 1
3
21
3
2
Channels 1 and 2 has input and output connectors based on XLR sockets. There are
additional TRS unbalanced outputs for each channel marked as Monitor Output.
Sidechain Input and Output:
This circuit allows you to master-shape the compressor's sidechain signal. It can be
used as an insert send/return to EQ the sidechain and obtain specific kind
of compressor's behaviour, eg. boost of 8-10kHz on the external EQ and setting
the compressor's attack/release to it's fastest settings will make the compressor
act as a deesser.
Sidechain input can also be used to feed the compressor with external analogue signal,
eg. using kick drum as the external sidechain signal while the compressor inserted
on the main mix buss will make the compressor „pump-up” the whole mix.
XLR:
PIN 1: ground
PIN 2: positive
PIN 3: negative

Getting Started:
As a starting point for general purpose, set compressor's input and output to
5, attack 15 and release to 50. Set mix knob to 100% and Main Output to 0.
Increase compressor's input and listen how gain reduction works with
your signal. When you decide your signal is well cooked, start decreasing
the Mix amount and listen how processed signal blends with the dry signal.
Try changing attack and release of the compressor. As soon as you're done
with experimenting with the compressor itself, engage the tube saturation
circuit and check how it works with the processing you've already achieved.
The most natural warmth and tube-style distortion can be obtained with
Saturation at 4 and 2dBoost switch to off.
More overdrive may be obtained by switching the 2d Boost and turning the
saturation knob over 6. Adding very fast attack and release time and
switching compressor to limit mode gives more harshness from both
compressor and tube saturator.
For optimum results make sure the source signal is not clipped before it
arrives at the MONSTER's input.
LOOPTROTTER
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Contact:
www.looptrotter.com.pl
[email protected]
Distribution:
www.mjadiolab.pl
[email protected]

LOOPTROTTER
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Contact:
www.looptrotter.com.pl
[email protected]
Distribution:
www.mjadiolab.pl
[email protected]