low ratio will produce a less subjectively noticeable effect than a high threshold and high ratio, even though the total amount of
compression may be the same. The range of ratios selectable varies depending on the chosen compressor emulation, and the exact
value is shown directly above the dial in the software GUI.
Attack
The Attack control determines how quickly compression is applied once the level of the source signal has risen above the threshold.
When turned anti-clockwise the response is very fast, which tends to make the compressor react to the peak levels of the signal.
This is sometimes desirable, but short transients can cause unwanted ‘pumping’ of steadier low-level signals. A slower attack will
cause the compressor to ignore short transients and respond more to the average loudness of the signal; however this may seem
to increase the relative volume of the transients. The range of attack times selectable varies depending on the chosen compressor
(unless the Free switch is active), and the exact value is shown in milliseconds (ms) directly above the dial in the software GUI.
Release
The Release control determines how quickly compression is removed once the level of the source signal has fallen below the
threshold. When in the anti-clockwise position, the compression releases very quickly, which may be appropriate on rapidly varying
signals to avoid compressing the beats that follow, but can result in excessive distortion on more sustained material. Clockwise
rotation increases the release time, giving a smoother effect, but may also result in transients causing audible ‘pumping’. The
Release time varies depending on the chosen compressor (unless the Free switch is active), and the exact value is shown in
milliseconds (mS) directly above the dial in the software GUI.
Gain Makeup
Compression results in an overall reduction in level. The Makeup control allows you to increase the gain of the compressed signal.
The range of makeup values selectable varies depending on the chosen compressor, and the exact value is shown (in dB) directly
above the dial in the software GUI.
Link
This switch enables both left and right channels to be compressed equally, for use when compressing a stereo signal. This switch
will be active as default when a stereo instance of Liquid Mix is opened. Deactivate the switch if you are wishing to compress two
mono signals separately; this makes the instance of Liquid Mix function in dual-mono mode.
Gain Reduction Meter
The vertical LED meter indicates the action (Gain Reduction) of the compressor, in expanding increments down to -5 dB.
Sidechain Monitor
Activating the Sidechain Monitor switch allows the signal being fed to the sidechain to be listened to. See the Sidechain EQ section
for details.
Compressor Post EQ
The Compressor Post EQ Switch allows the order of processing within Liquid Mix to be reversed, positioning the EQ before
compression. Although this is not normal procedure, as compression can often squash the effects of the EQ, it is sometimes a
desirable effect. With the switch active, the Mid Meter displays the level of the signal directly after EQ and before compression (after
the EQ Output dial) and the compressor Gain Makeup dial now controls the main output level (after both EQ and compression).
Free Switch
A lot of the vintage units that have been sampled to create the compressor emulations have fewer controls or control options than
all of the available dials on Liquid Mix. As such, in default mode, some of the controls may not be active. On the hardware, this will
be indicated by the control active LEDs above those dials not being lit and no corresponding values being displayed on the screen.
On the software, the inactive controls will be greyed out with no values directly above. Similarly, if the vintage unit simply had a few
preset buttons or very limited options, then the Liquid Mix controls will step through those options as the active controls are rotated.
The Free switch on the Liquid Mix hardware and software provides you with options previously impossible with the vintage units.
Activating the switch makes all the Liquid Mix compressor controls active for that emulation, each with a full range. For example,
the ‘Vintage’ compressor emulation has no Ratio and Attack controls in default mode but with the Free switch active both controls
