Waves Stereo Comp / CLA Setting

[HeadCrusher]

So the settings on the Chris Lord-Alge preset on the Waves SSL Comp are

Threshold: 6.0
Make Up: 0.0
Attack: 10ms
Release: Auto
Ration: 4:1

Now: What's a threshold that's greater than 0 for? Now if I get that right it should let through everything that's under 6. If it's over it will compress (4:1) after 10ms (Attack time). That's the theorie but in real life it works different. When I put that setting over my 2 bus it never get's anywhere near 0 anymore (let alone 6 of course).

So what's the purpose of a threshold that's bigger than 0 and how would one reproduce that setting an a comp that doesn't go over 0 treshold-wise?

 

[alexrookie]

this is a tool with five knobs for what reason do you need a preset?

i think this preset is more about the attack and release times and maybe ratio - threshold is depending on the level of the incoming signal and so a preset for something like this is absolutely useless - to me!!

what do you want to do with the comp?

 

[kaomao]

it's because ... if you read the manual it will tell you why

 

[HeadCrusher]

Well, my question basically was what a threshold above 0 could be good for. Afaik CLA used this to strap across the 2 bus while mixing.

I've read the manual but couldn't find anything related to my question. Guess I'll have to give it another try...

 

[whitedamp]

from the manual: The compressor’s gain reduction meters are fitted to the classic
SSL console range and displayed in dBu rather than in dBFS. There is an external side
chain source select. Meters are calibrated to 18 dBu = 0 dBFS.

ps: i think it sucks too. btw, when using it on a master bus, which attack would you put?

 

[HeadCrusher]

from the manual: The compressor’s gain reduction meters are fitted to the classic
SSL console range and displayed in dBu rather than in dBFS. There is an external side
chain source select. Meters are calibrated to 18 dBu = 0 dBFS.

ps: i think it sucks too. btw, when using it on a master bus, which attack would you put?

Aaaah! Thx! I must have missed that!

I use that exact setting while mixing to do the "clue-together-trick" so attack is 10ms.

 

[smy1]

For the 2bus I use the longest attack possible and an auto-release ... ratio 2:1 or 4:1.

 

[alexrookie]

my actual settings on the 2bus:

attack - 30ms
release - .1 (.3 , or auto as well sometimes,depending on the song)
ratio - 2:1
gr - max. 2-3 dB

 

[Ermz]

Whenever I set 'auto' release on the SSL Bus Comp the needle basically just stays at a fixed point of gain reduction. I'm afraid that it shits itself and just compresses constantly rather than letting go every now and then, so I tend to just set either 100ms or 300ms on my master bus, depending on how hard I'm clamping down.