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 Charlotte METAIS Holger STEINBRINK (Author) Vincent
Thank you for purchasing Arturia's Comp VCA-65! This manual covers the features and operation of the Comp VCA-65. Be sure to register your software as soon as possible! When you purchased Comp VCA-65 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 VCA-65 * 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?...................................................................................................................................................... 2 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 1973-Pre offers an unparalleled quality of sound, as do all of Arturia’s virtual synthesizers and plug-ins.
The VCA compressor path can be manipulated by several controllers, each one changing a specific parameter. Arturia Comp VCA-65 Comp VCA-65 features prominently the Threshold and Compression controls, as well as the Attack and Release controls. In the middle of these we have a button for Auto Attack/ Release, which makes them program dependent, as in the older compressors.
2. ACTIVATION AND FIRST START The Arturia Comp VCA-65 plug-in works on computers equipped with Windows 7 or later and macOS 10.10 or later. You can use the Comp VCA-65 as an Audio Unit, AAX, VST2 or VST3 plug-in (64-bit only). 2.1. Activate the Arturia Comp VCA-65 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 VCA-65 OVERVIEW 3.1. Working with plug-ins Comp VCA-65 comes in VST2, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in formats for use in all major digital audio workstations (DAW) including Live, Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools and others. Unlike a hardware compressor, you can load as many instances of Comp VCA-65 as you find useful. Comp VCA-65 has two other big advantages over hardware: • You can automate many of Comp VCA-65 parameters using your DAW’s automation system.
3.3. Advanced Mode Comp VCA-65 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 VCA-65 Signal Flow To better understand what happens in Comp VCA-65 let's take a look at a signal as it flows through the product. The paths are 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, many of them taking advantage of Mid/ Side signal encoding. As the signal enters the plug-in, it is immediately split in two paths: 1.
Next step is the Output Gain. Here, make-up gain is applied to compensate for any reduction in volume that may have happened at the Gain Reduction stage. There is also a rough Limiter (Peak Stop) that prevents clipping. Finally, the audio signal passes through the final Mix stage, where it can be mixed with the original (bypassed) audio, before sending everything to the plug-in output. This is the complete signal flow of the Comp VCA-65.
3.5. Getting hands-on with Comp VCA-65 3.5.1. Compression Basics To get an idea of Comp VCA-65'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 VCA-65 as an insert in that track. Open the Comp VCA-65 window; • Ensure the Default preset is loaded. This will mean that all settings are positioned to provide a neutral sound; • Begin playback.
• Now lower the Compression value until you hear results that are satisfactory to you. Usually, a compression ratio around 4:1 is enough for most uses, but some material may ask for more, and other may demand a more subtle ratio. Don't forget to check frequently how the uncompressed audio sounds, by clicking the System Bypass button; • You can now try to set manually the Attack and Release values. To do that, turn the Auto button Off, and find a value that you find satisfactory.
4. COMP VCA-65 CONTROL PANEL The Comp VCA-65 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 VCA-65 Graphical User Interface offers most of the controls we are used to in a modern compressor. 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.
In the case of the Comp VCA-65, since it models the old dbx Model 165A, it features the same Compressor Curve (knee) of that unit, which was a very soft one, originating the name "Over Easy Compressor" given by the manufacturer. This means that the unit starts compressing way below the Threshold, but in a very subtle way, increasing the Compressor Ratio gradually, and reaching the maximum level of compression way after the Threshold.
4.2.2. Compression Together with Threshold, and complemented with Attack and Release, this is where we mainly act to find the best settings for the compressor. This is the parameter which defines how much compression (level and dynamic reduction) is applied to the audio when the detected level exceeds the Threshold. Like it happens with Threshold, the way this parameter acts is also influenced by the "compressor knee".
4.2.3. 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.
4.2.4. 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.
4.2.5. Auto The original hardware model had a nice feature that Arturia reproduced in this emulation: Auto Attack/Release. As was very much implied on what we wrote previously, there is no "right" way to set the Attack and Release controls. When the Auto switch is On (Auto Mode), the Auto Att/Rel "LED" will be On (green light), and the unit will automatically adjust its Attack and Release. This is program dependent, which means it varies according to the audio.
4.2.8. Mix A technique often used in production is what's called Parallel Compression. This is useful to allow compression of the audio signal while also preserving intact all the transient characteristics of the audio. The basic concept is having a way to preserve the original audio, while also processing it through compression. For this, we need to have a channel that "passes the audio through". while on another channel we have the audio sent to the compression path.
4.2.9. 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. In the original, the meter already have several modes. 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 Change.
Comp VCA-65 VU Meter, showing channel selector. In the bottom, we can see the Lower Toolbar, where we can adjust the meter sensitivity. 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 top right corner of the Meter. Every time audio reaches clipping, the "LED" lights on with a bright red color. 4.2.10. System Bypass This button makes the audio bypass the compression circuit.
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 VCA-65 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.
By default, the Compression Range control is at Full position, which means that each time we press Manual the max level of gain reduction (as defined by the compression ratio) will be reached. By lower that value, we can limit the gain reduction to a lower amount.
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 VCA-65 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 encoding the audio signal in Mid/Side mode.
Side > Mid is similar to the Reversed option in Stereo mode. Here, the Side Channel is used for detection and the Mid Channel will be compressed accordingly. Mid > Side is a variation of the above, this time using the Mid Channel for detection, and compressing the Side Channel. ♪: 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 path, 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. 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. Comp VCA-65 Full Compression Range and Listen controls 4.3.4.
5. USER INTERFACE The Comp VCA-65 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.35] 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 VCA-65. 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.
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