Fairchild Question

[azulay]

Actually, 2 Fairchild questions.

1. In the PDF docs it says that when you turn the DC Bias knob clockwise
the knee gets broader and the ratio softer. Isn't it the other way
around? or UA's clock goes the other way around?

2. Can't understand the \"Bal\" knobs of the channels. The DC-Bias I get,
but what are they? and how do they affect my sound?

Gotta love the fairchild.

 

[azulay]

oh, and while we're at it,
can anyone give a more thorough explanation of the Lat-Vert
modes? and how to use it in a practicaluseful way?

I'll be grateful.

 

[jwnc]

I would also love a more detailed, how to use it musicial info myself.

JW

 

[neil wilkes]

Actually, 2 Fairchild questions.

1. In the PDF docs it says that when you turn the DC Bias knob clockwise
the knee gets broader and the ratio softer. Isn't it the other way
around? or UA's clock goes the other way around?

2. Can't understand the "Bal" knobs of the channels. The DC-Bias I get,
but what are they? and how do they affect my sound?

Gotta love the fairchild.

1 - I think you are correct, from memory. (DAW is doing something else right now so will check when I can get to it)
2 - The effect of these is very subtle indeed. What they are doing is adjusting (well, modelling the adjustment, anyway) the voltage level across the 6386 tubes in the compressor. The effect is - according to a document I have about this amazing piece of kit - low level dynamic phase variations. The recommended setting is both at 12 o'clock, but you will hear the differences if you set them - in some pieces - to one at all the way clockwise, the other all theway anti clockwise. It can make some nice changes in the way the bass is reproduced as well. The best way is to fiddle until you can hear the effect your changes are making.
As usual, set the beast up so that you can hear the compression taking place then make the small adjustments.

Lateral/Vertical is used for Mastering to Vinyl, and is very similar to M/S processing. (Lat/Vert is the way a needle tracks in vinyl, with lateral motion & vertical motion in the grooves of the record.
From memory, Lateral is S and Vertical is M (although I may be wrong way around here)

 

[marQs]

oh, and while we're at it,
can anyone give a more thorough explanation of the Lat-Vert
modes? and how to use it in a practicaluseful way?

azulay, probably there's a long way for me to understand this beast of a compressor in detail - no matter. I use lat-vert mode often for "dynamic control of side-signals" (all that's not "center"), e.g. on overhead-busses, where the mono source (upper "lat" controls) keeps untouched and only "vert-signals" are compressed a little.
Saying this, there's a bit of a feeling, that I do not really understand myself, what I'm talking about, but it works well to my ears...