USER MANUAL
Special Thanks DIRECTION Frédéric BRUN Kevin MOLCARD DEVELOPMENT Nicolo COMIN Simon CONAN Florian MARIN Corentin COMTE Matthieu COUROUBLE François REME Vincent TRAVAGLINI Shaun ELWOOD Morgan PERRIER Chuck CAPSIS Neil HESTER Paolo NEGRI Bernd WALDSTADT Marco CORREIA Jay JANSSEN William "Wheeliemix" Chuck ZWICKY "Koshdukai" Luca LEFEVRE ROBERTSON Dwight DAVIES Terry MARSDEN Fernando M RODRIGUES Fernando M RODRIGUES Minoru KOIKE Jose RENDON (Author) Vincent LE HEN Holger STEINBRIN
Thank you for purchasing Arturia's Comp FET-76! This manual covers the features and operation of the Comp FET-76. Be sure to register your software as soon as possible! When you purchased Comp FET-76 you were sent a serial number and an unlock code by e-mail. These are required during the online registration process. Special Messages Specifications Subject to Change: The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct at the time of printing.
Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of Arturia's Comp FET-76 Since the late 1990s, Arturia has received acclaim from players and reviewers alike for designing state-of-the art software emulations of the venerable analog synthesizers from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Table Of Contents 1. WELCOME ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1. What is a compressor?...................................................................................................................................................... 1.2. What are the different types of compressors? ....................................................................................
1. WELCOME 1.1. What is a compressor? A compressor is an audio processing device that has been used by recording, mixing and broadcast engineers for many decades to reduce the dynamic range of signals. This device evens out ("compresses") the level differences between the loudest and quietest sections of a recording to avoid excessive peaks.
1.3. Where are compressors commonly used? Compressors are flexible studio tools and are used everyday to… • Reduce overly dynamic audio sources to help them "sit" better in a mix. • To raise the average loudness level of a recording so that the quiet parts are easier to hear. • To "glue" a final stereo mix together and add cohesion to all the separate tracks. • To sculpt the attack transients of percussive sounds to make them more (or less) "present" and "punchy".
1.4. Arturia's secret ingredient: TAE® TAE® (True Analog Emulation) is Arturia's outstanding technology dedicated to the digital reproduction of analogue circuits used in vintage synthesizers. Linear Frequency spectrum of a well known software synthesizer TAE®’s software algorithms result in spot-on emulation of analogue hardware. This is why Comp FET-76 offers unparalleled sound quality, as do all of Arturia’s virtual synthesizers and plug-ins.
1.5. Arturia's approach to Comp FET-76 Our goal was to accurately model the sound of the most famous FET compressor in the world, commonly known as the "1176." Of course, being an Arturia product, it was not enough to simply model the vintage hardware and call it done. We wanted to push the envelope, so we also added some tasteful new features that honor the original hardware while making it more useful in a modern context.
2. ACTIVATION AND FIRST START The Arturia Comp FET-76 plug-in works on computers equipped with Windows 7 or later and macOS 10.10 or later. You can use the Comp FET-76 as an Audio Unit, AAX, VST2 or VST3 plug-in (64-bit only). 2.1. Activate the Arturia Comp FET-76 license Once the software has been installed, the next step should be to activate your license, so that you can use it without limitations. This is a simple process that involves a different software program: the Arturia Software Center. 2.1.1.
3. COMP FET-76 OVERVIEW 3.1. Working with plug-ins Comp FET-76 comes in VST2, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in formats for use in all major digital audio workstations (DAW) including Ableton Live, Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools and others. Unlike a hardware compressor, you can load as many instances of Comp FET-76 as you find useful. Comp FET-76 has two other big advantages over hardware: • You can automate many of Comp FET-76 parameters using your DAW’s automation system.
3.3. Advanced Mode Comp FET-76 has some advanced features that can be revealed by clicking the Advanced Mode button (the double arrow in the Upper Toolbar). This opens a second panel directly below the main panel where you will find things like Advanced Side Chain Control, Time Warp, a single band Equalizer (with additional high and low-pass Filters), a Compression Range control, and a Listen button.
3.4. Understanding the Comp FET-76 Signal Flow The Comp FET-76 is what's called a "feedback compressor". This means that the detection signal comes already from the Gain Reduction circuit. The signal flow is a little more complex than what could be expected, due to the Advanced Mode features, especially those related to the Advanced Side-Chain Control. This allows for several special detection modes, some of them taking advantage of Mid/Side signal encoding.
The Gain Reduction Control module receives the detection signal (selected from the internal feedback or the external side-chain signal) and also signals from the Advanced Side-Chain Parameters, in order to determine how the Gain Reduction circuit will work on the main signal path. After the M/S decoding block, the main signal (processed audio) proceeds to the Output Gain block. Make-up gain is applied to compensate for any reduction in volume that may have happened at the Gain Reduction stage.
3.5. Getting hands on with Comp FET-76 3.5.1. Compression Basics To get an idea of Comp FET-76's capabilities, we suggest you try the following: • Load a stereo clip into an audio track in your DAW (drum or vocal tracks are ideal for this); • Load an instance of Comp FET-76 as an insert in that track and open the Comp FET-76 window; • Ensure the Default preset is loaded. This will mean that all settings are positioned to provide a neutral sound; • Begin playback.
♪: Note that Comp FET-76 has no direct control over the threshold. The threshold level is variable and depends on the chosen compression ratio (the higher the compression ratio, the higher the threshold). At 4:1, the threshold is around -18 dB, while at 20:1 it is around -12 dB. 3.5.2. More advanced compression methods Now that you have a feeling for the Comp FET-76 basics, let's continue on and go a little deeper.
4. COMP FET-76 CONTROL PANEL The Comp FET-76 plug-in can be used in Mono or Stereo channels. The Mono configuration is automatically loaded when we use the plug-in with mono tracks. When inserted in stereo tracks, the Stereo configuration is automatically loaded as well. 4.1. Channel Configuration (Mono/Stereo) The plug-in has different configurations for Mono and Stereo versions.
4.2. Main Control Panel The Comp FET-76 Graphical User Interface reproduces all the controls present in the emulated hardware unit, as well as a couple of extras added by Arturia to complement the feature list. Those are located in the Main Control Panel , which is the one that opens by default when we launch the plug-in. Besides these, Arturia included several advanced features, not present in the original unit, and some even unimaginable when it was launched.
The Comp FET-76 doesn't have a Threshold control. Threshold changes according to the chosen compression ratio. This is because, although we can define the compression ratio (among the available choices) the compressor is still program dependent. This means that it reacts differently according to the audio that feeds the circuit. ♪: To better find the right compression settings, first define the desired Ratio, and then slowly raise the Input value.
4.2.3. Output This control is also often called Make-Up Gain, especially in modern units. Compressors reduce the volume of the louder parts of the audio, which will lower the overall volume. This is exactly what we use a compressor for. Since we don't have parts too loud anymore, we can then raise the overall volume, which will make the lower volume parts more audible. This is achieved with the Output control. Range goes from -48 dB to 0 dB.
4.2.4. Attack The Attack time is a very important control in a compressor. It is with this parameter that we define how much time the compression takes to happen when the threshold value is reached. Manipulating this parameter can completely change the character of a sound. Very fast attack times cause the compressor to squash the signal.
4.2.5. Release The Release parameter may be considered as the inseparable partner of the Attack. As the first controls the time it takes for compression to start when threshold is reached, the second tells the compressor how much it should take to bring the signal back to the original value after the threshold level is no longer reached. As we can see, all these parameters are linked to each other.
4.2.6. Ratio Together with Input, and complemented with Attack and Release, this is where we mainly act to find the best settings for the effect. Ratio is the relation between the incoming audio power and the resulting audio output power, after compression. That's why it may also be called Compression Ratio. This is perhaps the most important parameter in the compressor. The values of the compression are displayed as numbers which express ratios.
Threshold is defined by the Ratio. The higher the ratio, the higher the threshold (meaning that compression starts at a higher level). Ratio also influences the compression curve, which will be harder (closer to the behavior of a limiter) at higher ratios. The All button is a special case, where all the ratios are activated at the same time. The original units didn't have this button but they allowed to press more than one ratio button (or all ratio buttons) at the same time.
4.2.8. VU Meter The VU Meter is very important to give us visual references. It doesn't replace our ears, but certainly gives them some help. The VU Meter, showing channel selector In the Compressor collection, Arturia improved the Meters by allowing the user to choose to monitor the Input Level, the Output Level or the Gain Change (Reduction) Level. By default, they are set to Gain Reduction.
Another handy functionality built in the VU Meter by Arturia is a clipping warning indicator. This is a small red "LED" light positioned in the bottom right corner of the Meter. Every time audio reaches clipping, the "LED" lights on with a bright red color. 4.2.9. Power Switch This switch, when turned Off, makes the audio bypass the compression circuit. We can still monitor it visually through the VU Meter, though.
4.3. Advanced Mode Control Panel The Advanced Mode Control Panel is accessed by clicking the Advanced Mode (double arrow) button in the Upper Toolbar. This extra Control Panel is common to all three Compressors, and with very similar features. These are very important add-ons, that bring a lot of extra power and flexibility to the Compressors. Comp FET-76 Advanced Mode Control Panel 4.3.1. Advanced Side-Chain Control Side-Chain is the signal used to control the compression applied to the audio.
4.3.1.2. Detection Mode The Detection Mode selection control appears only when the plug-in is inserted in a stereo track/bus. When inserted in mono tracks, Comp FET-76 doesn't show these controls (since they cannot operate with mono signals). This is where things start to really become "advanced" in the Advanced Side-Chain section. When we described the Signal Flow [p.9] of the unit, we mentioned that the first operation performed is optionally encoding the audio signal in Mid/Side mode.
Side Only is the second option. In this one, only the Side Channel is used for detection and compression. This will have the opposite effect of the previous option, increasing the presence of the centered elements of the mix (making it more mono compatible). ♪: Advanced Detection Mode needs two channels. Therefore, this control is absent (it doesn't exist) when the plug-in is instantiated in Mono tracks. 4.3.1.3.
4.3.2. Side-Chain Equalizer Modern compressors offer the possibility to sculpt the sound by manipulating some frequencies (boost/cut high frequencies, for example) prior to detection, This way, we can avoid some compression artifacts these frequencies could cause. To do this, we need to route the sound through an EQ before it enters the detection circuit. This is why the EQ is positioned first in the detection patch, right after the sound splits between main signal and detection signal.
4.3.3. Compression Range This control works in conjunction with the Compression Ratio. What it does is limiting the amount of gain reduction applied, acting in practice as a Gain Reduction Limiter. The higher the value, the less gain reduction is applied. At 0 dB the Compression Ratio is 1:1 (no compression). By default, it is positioned at -100 dB (full compression). The value can be increased by any value up to 0 dB.
5. USER INTERFACE The Comp FET-76 User Interface has a Main Control Panel, an Advanced Mode Control Panel and toolbars in the top and bottom of the window. It is still a very simple User Interface. That will always be the main focus of every Arturia product: to unleash your creativity while remaining easy to use. We already look at the control panels. Now, it's time to look at the toolbars. 5.1.
5.1.2. Save As… If you select this option, you are presented with a window where you can enter information about the preset. In addition to naming it, you can enter the Author name, and select a Type. You can even create your own Type, by entering custom names in the respective place. This information can be read by the preset browser and is useful for searching the preset later. 5.1.3. Import... This command lets you import a preset file, which can be either a single preset or an entire bank of presets.
5.1.6. Preset Selection The Preset browser [p.34] can be opened by clicking the library symbol on the toolbar. The filter, name field and left / right arrows in the toolbar all assist with preset selection. Selecting a preset is performed by clicking the preset name field in the Upper Toolbar. That action will open a list with all the presets available. The currently selected preset is marked with a v.
5.2. A/B Button The A/B button is a new feature introduced with the current version of Arturia plug-ins. This button allows to compare between two distinct snapshots of the current preset, like for example the currently edited version, with all the changes you made, and the stored version. The snapshot in use is the highlighted one. This is great to perform some changes in a preset, and check if those really match what you want and are an improvement when compared to the original settings.
5.3. Advanced Mode (Double Arrow) Button This button opens the Advanced Mode control panel. This is where are located the controls for the extra features added by Arturia to expand the possibilities found on the original units. This extra control panel is common to all three compressors. When the Advanced Mode panel is opened, the arrows point up. When the panel is closed, the arrows point down.
5.5. The Lower Toolbar When you are changing a parameter, you will see a readout showing the value or state of whatever control you are modifying at the left-hand side of the lower toolbar. It will also display the current value of a parameter when you place the mouse pointer over that parameter control in the control panel. This is handy, because you don’t need to touch the parameter control to read the current value.
5.6. The Preset browser The preset browser enables you to search, load and manage preset configurations in Comp FET-76. Although this looks and is based on the usual Arturia Preset Browser, it is simpler, and even easier to work with. You access the preset browser by clicking on the library symbol next to the Arturia logo/plug-in name on the left. When you click on the library symbol, you will see a screen with all the Presets you have saved.
5.7. Some Final Words Some final words to mention something very important. Usually, to change values in the plug-in controls, we click on the corresponding control and drag the mouse up or down. If the controls are switches, we simply click them to toggle On or Off. If we want finer editing values, we can use Ctrl+Drag (Cmd+Drag on macOS). Alternatively, we can mouse RightClick and Drag. Using this key combination, the values change in a slower way, which allow us to get more precise values easily.
6. SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT In consideration of payment of the Licensee fee, which is a portion of the price you paid, Arturia, as Licensor, grants to you (hereinafter termed “Licensee”) a nonexclusive right to use this copy of the SOFTWARE. All intellectual property rights in the software belong to Arturia SA (hereinafter: “Arturia”). Arturia permits you only to copy, download, install and use the software in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
6.
