OPERATIONAL NOTES & ADJUSTMENTS
The front panel of the RSE VMU-1 compressor is designed to provide easy access to all the
necessary controls for adjusting the sound output.
The Gain (1) knob is used to adjust the input level of the signal, which can be increased or
decreased depending on the desired output.
The Threshold (2) knob controls the point at which the compressor begins to reduce the level of
the signal. This can be adjusted to achieve the desired amount of compression.
The Ratio (3) knob is used to adjust the amount of compression applied to the signal. Its
counterclockwise position makes the compression effect equal to zero, so there is no
compression at all. It works in conjunction with the Threshold (2) knob to determine the amount
of gain reduction applied to the signal. The counterclockwise position of Threshold (2) moves the
point of detection to the lowest level, so the compression effect appears earlier.
The Out (4) knob controls the overall output level of the compressor, allowing you to adjust the
final volume of the signal.
Both the Gain (1) and the Out (4) knobs have “zero” position, what means that if these knobs are
in this position, there is no compression, and the input signal is sinusoidal +4dBu, the output
signal will be sinusoidal +4dBu as well.
There are two analog GR meters (5) on the front panel, which display the amount of gain
reduction being applied to the signal in real-time. These meters are useful for monitoring the
performance of the compressor and ensuring that it is working correctly. When there is no gain
reduction at the moment, the needles are at 95% of the full scale. When the maximum gain
reduction (~20dB) occurs, the needle goes to 5%.
The Attack (6) and Release (7) rotary switchers control the speed at which the compressor reacts
to changes in the input signal. The Attack (6) controls how quickly the compressor responds to
sudden increases in volume, while the Release (7) controls how quickly it returns to normal
operation after a sudden drop in volume.
