Fredenstein 500-Series Compressor Artistic Comp SE User Manual
- June 13, 2024
- Fredenstein
Table of Contents
Fredenstein 500-Series Compressor Artistic Comp
Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE
The Artistic Compressor SE is a single-channel FET compressor with multi- channel link capability in the 500 series form factor. The Compressor SE features rotary controls for Input Gain, Release Time, Compression Ratio, Make-up Gain, and Wet-Dry Mixing (parallel compression). The Attack Time can be set in three steps, as well as the side-chain low-cut filter. The LED bar- graph meter indicates the gain reduction in the range of 1dB to 16 dB. Its punchy and detailed sound comes from Fredenstein’s proprietary Reverse-Mancini FET architecture Like all Fredenstein products, the Artistic Comp SE is designed by a German-American team and manufactured in Taiwan.
Installation
Please power down your rack or box first, before inserting the Artistic Compressor Plus. Since the Artistic Comp uses the link interconnect in the box or rack, it cannot coexist with any other third-party modules using the same link interconnect (PIN 6 on the edge connector). If you are using a Fredenstein Bento box, please turn off the compressor link switches to any third-party module(s), only turn on the link switches between Artistic Comp modules. Other third-party equipment not using the link interconnect, such as most Mic-Pres and EQs, etc., can be used simultaneously with the Artistic Comp in any enclosure. The power requirements are very light at a maximum of +/-16V, +/-75mA, and should not overload any enclosure.
Note
The Artistic Comp SE includes a switch called “SC Input” which allows an
external signal to control the gain of the main signal. This can have
applications from simple “ducking” or using an EQ to set up some frequency-
shaped sensitivity like de-using or even setting up a parallel track with
automation to adjust the compression for different sections of the song.
However – if you don’t have a Fredenstein rack with the AUX inputs, this
function simply won’t have a source so there will be no compression in that
case. Similarly, if you don’t have a signal fed into the AUX input, no
compression can be achieved. And if, at some point, the compressor just
doesn’t seem to be working, and you can even see the clip LED showing a signal
is patched in, don’t panic, maybe the SC Input switch is in the EXT position.
It happens. Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE Manual V1.0 May 25, 2023 Page 1
Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE
Rotary Controls
- INPUT: Sets the line level gain in the range of -10 dB to +20 dB
- RAT: Sets the compression ratio in the range of 2:1 to 20:1
- REL: Sets the release time of the compressor from 70ms to 2.5s
- OUTPUT: Make-up gain control in the range of -10 dB to +10 dB
- MIX: Output Mixer between the compressed (wet) and uncompressed (dry)
- SC Filter: Select the low-cut filter in the
- side-chain: lower position: off
- middle position: 300Hz
- upper position: 150Hz
- SC Input: INT Position: Normal operation
- EXT: Enables the external sidechain input when used in Bento 6 or 10 racks through the AUX
Input connector
- LINK: Multi-channel synchronization for two or more Artistic comp modules. All channels will have identical gain reduction to avoid shifts in the balance
- ATT: Compressor Attack
- Time lower position: 0.5 ms
- middle position: 25 ms
- upper position: 5 ms
- ON/BYP: in the upper ON position, the compressor is active, in the lower
- BYP (BYPASS) position or if the rack is powered down, a relay connects the output directly to the input.
Indicators
- GR: the gain reduction meter will still show the depth of compression
- Clip LED: Lit when the output level reaches +24dBu (2db before clipping)
- GR (Gain Reduction): Shows actual gain reduction in the range of 1db to 8db in one DB step and 2dB for 8dB to 16dB
Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE
Detailed Description
Like most FET compressors and caused by limitations of FET devices, the
Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE features a fixed threshold. The compression depth
is controlled by changing the input gain. Increasing the input gain will cause
the compressor to apply an increased gain reduction. The compressor output
level control is used to make up for the gain reduction. The maximum
compressor output gain is +/-10 dB. The ATTACK TIME switch and RELEASE TIME
control define how fast the compressor reacts and how fast it falls back after
the signal is lower than the threshold. The perfect values depend on the
program material and the desired sound.. The COMP RATIO control sets the
relationship between input and output levels for signals above the threshold
and can be varied from 2:1 to 20:1. A ratio of 20:1 is considered a limiter.
Additionally, so-called dry/wet mixes can be performed (parallel compression).
The dry signal (uncompressed) and the wet signal (compressed) can be mixed together in any relationship to achieve special sounds. The Wet-Dry control of the Artistic Comp dramatically boosts the versatility of the device. If you put the Wet-Dry control fully counterclockwise, only the compressed signal is present at the output, if turned fully clockwise only the unprocessed input signal reaches the output. Another sound-shaping tool is the three-position side-chain low-cut filter. If switched to 150 or 300Hz, it prevents low- frequency signals below the selected value from being processed by the compressor.
Technical Data
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz, +/- 1dB
- Make-up Gain : + 20 dB
- Distortion : < 0.05%, no compression
- Noise: < -90 dB, no make-up gain
- Input Impedance : > 5000 Ohms
- Max. Input Level : + 26dBu
- Output Impedance: 600 Ohms
- Max. Output Level : + 26 dBu
- Clip Indicator : + 24 dBu
- Input Gain Range: -10 dB to +20 dB
- Side-chain Filter: 150 or 300 Hz (switchable)
- Attack Time: 0.5, 5, and 25 ms (switchable)
- Release Time: 70ms to 2.5s
- Compression Ratio: 2:1 to 20:1
- Power Consumption : +/-16V < +/- 75mA (~2W)
Contact Info
Fredenstein Professional Audio by Orion Communication
7F-1, No. 582, Ruei Guang Rd.
Neihu District
Taipei 114
Taiwan
Phone : + 886-2-2657-2618
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.fredenstein.com