Golden Age Project COMP-54 MKIII Handleiding

Golden Age Project Processor COMP-54 MKIII

Lees hieronder de 📖 handleiding in het Nederlandse voor Golden Age Project COMP-54 MKIII (2 pagina's) in de categorie Processor. Deze handleiding was nuttig voor 58 personen en werd door 2 gebruikers gemiddeld met 4.5 sterren beoordeeld

Download PDF

Pagina 1/2

W W W . G O L D E N A G E P R O J E C T . C O M I

COMP-54

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on choosing the Golden Age Project COMP-54 Compressor!

The COMP-54 is a one-channel vintage style compressor. The signal path uses only discrete components like

resistors, capacitors and transistors. The input and output are transformer balanced and the unit also uses a

third interstage transformer.

This is the way audio components were built before integrated circuits became available. IC´s are small and

cheap and they are widely used in most modern designs. It is clear though that audio components built with

modern technology doesn´t always provide the best perceived sound quality or character that the modern

user desires.

On the contrary, the subjective sound quality delivered by vintage equipment is often prefered over the one

delivered by modern units. This is the reason why so many vintage audio components are cloned and pro-

duced again and also why the vintage originals are often very expensive on the second hand market.

The class-A circuit used in the COMP-54 is similar to the one in the classic 2254 compressor that was de-

signed in 1969. It quickly became a legend due to it´s totally unique sound character that is warm, smooth,

sweet and musical.

These characteristics have been heard on countless recordings through the years and it is a versatile sound

that works very well on many sound sources and in many genres. The essence of this sound is now available

at a surprisingly low cost, making it available to nearly everyone.

FEATURES

- Vintage style electronics.

- Based on classic diode bridge designs.

- Transformer balanced I/O´s.

- Prepared for transformer upgrade.

- Flexible control range for Ratio, Attack and Release.

- All controls except the Gain make-up one are stepped.

- Three selectable Sidechain ﬁlter frequencies.

- Separate Bypass and Compression IN/OUT switches.

- Meter selectable for Output and Gain Reduction.

- Possibility to Link two units for stereo operation.

- Separate in- and output XLR and TRS jacks for ﬂexible connections.

- Back panel switch for 600 Ohm termination.

- External power power supply to avoid interaction with the audio circuitry and the transformers.

- Great sound that suits most sound sources and genres.

- A solid build quality that will last many years of normal use.

shifting that could occur if each channel is compressed individually

and content on one channel is louder than that on the other.

Simply connect an unbalanced TRS-cable between the LINK jacks

on the back panels, press the LINK switches and match the controls

on both units.

IN/OUT: Pressing this switch removes the compression action, the

signal still passes through the circuitry though so you can compare

the sound with and without compression.

METER: Switches the meter to show output level or gain reduction.

BYPASS: This is a hardwire bypass, meaning that the signal is

directed from the input jacks directly to the output jacks if this

switch is pressed. You can then easily compare the sound with or

without the COMP-54 in the signal chain.

600 OHM TERM: The output transformer is designed for having a

load of 600 ohms. The input impedance of most modern equipment

is 10 kohm or more. If the transformer isn´t properly loaded, the

output level will increases, the square wave response will worsen

and the higher frequencies will be accentuated.

So, if you connect the COMP-54 to a modern unit, the switch should

normally be engaged so that the output transformer is properly ter-

minated. You can always let your ears decide which position works

best, the switch can be used as a two position high frequency eq.

LEVELS AND METER CARE

Care must be taken to protect the meter from physical overload, not

the least when it is set to show output level. If the needle is hitting

the end of it´s travel hard or for prolonged periods, there is a risk

that the meter will be damaged. This is not covered by warranty.

The unit is calibrated from factory to show 0 VU when the output

level is about +4 dBu (or 1,23 volts). This is a common reference

level in pro audio but most equipment will be able to handle much

higher levels.

Since the COMP-54 will be used in different setups, it is possible to

adjust the meter reference level with the trim potentiometer on the

circuit board marked “Meter Out”. If the needle hits the end of its

travel, you should adjust the trimmer so that the needle stays within

its normal travel, you will then have raised the reference level.

If the COMP-54 is used in a semi-professional -10 dBu environ-

ment, you can decrease the VU reference level by adjusting the

trimmer the other way.

Another way to stop the meter needle from hitting the end of it´s

range is to switch the meter to show gain reduction since the

full scale will usually seldom be reached unless you compress

very hard. There is a trim potentiometer also for this meter mode

marked “Meter GR”.

WARRANTY

The COMP-54 come with a one year, parts and labor, limited war-

ranty. It is built to last, but components can break down.

There is a slow blow fuse located inside the unit. If the unit dies,

please check this fuse. If it has blown, replace it with a new one.

If this doesn´t help, the unit will need repair and you should then

contact the dealer where you bought the unit.

Please note that repairs and warranty issues are handled, through

your dealer, by the distributor in the area where you bought the unit.

Damages caused by misuse is not covered by warranty.

REGISTRATION

You are welcome to register your unit at our website:

www.goldenageproject.com

W W W . G O L D E N A G E P R O J E C T . C O M II

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION

The signal ﬁrst enters the input trans-

former, a damping network and is then

passed on to the diode bridge where the

actual gain reduction is taking place, it

is followed by balanced FET-transistor

stage. Then follows an interstage step-

up transformer that feeds the sidechain

circuitry and a three transistor gain stage

followed by the GAIN potentiometer.

The signal then goes to the output stage. This stage again uses only

three transistors, the last one in the chain is a hefty 2N3055 power

transistor running in class-A mode, driving the output transformer.

So, all in all, the complete signal chain only contains a maximum of

ten active elements. Compare that to the big number of transistors

that are usually used in one single integrated circuit!

MODERN VERSUS OLD

It is true that there are some great IC´s available today that achieves

very low levels of static and dynamic distortion.The simple circuits

that the COMP-54 uses, and even more so the transformers, cannot

match the low distortion speciﬁcations of modern IC´s.

It is the distortion components that imparts a sound character to the

audio signal and, if the distortion components are of the right sort,

this is a good thing since it makes the recorded voice or instrument

sound “better”, more musical, more pleasing to the ear. This is one

reason why vintage style units are so popular today.

Sometimes, transparent units are prefered over colored ones. It´s

all about taste and it depends on the genre. For most modern music

styles though, color and character is deﬁnitely a good thing.

And isn´t it great to use audio components built according to the old,

minimalistic approach where one can follow the signal ﬂow from one

discrete component to another?

USING THE COMP-54

The best way to learn using a compressor is by experimentation. A

compressor can be set to do its job, which is to lower the dynamic

range of a signal, more or less invisible or it can be used as a crea-

tive tool, affecting the sound in a big way. You will ﬁnd a lot of infor-

mation about how to use and adjust compressors on the internet.

CONNECTING THE COMP-54

Connect the power adaptor to the AC outlet (please note: there are

different adaptors used for 115V and 230V) and the 24V AC output to

the jack on the back panel.

Connect the audio source to any one of the input jacks, XLR or TRS.

They are wired in parallell, the same is true for the output jacks.

The output stage will easily drive two modern units connected at the

same time. Since the unit is transformer balanced, it usually doesn´t

matter if you use balanced or unbalanced units before and after it.

CONTROLS

THRESHOLD: This sets how high the signal must reach before the

compressor kicks in.

RATIO: This sets how much compression is applied in ratio to the dB

rise in signal level above the Threshold.

ATTACK: This sets how fast the compressor kicks in once the Thresh-

old has been breached.

RELEASE: This sets how fast the compressor lets go, once the input

signal has dropped back below the threshold.

HPF: This adds a high pass ﬁlter in the sidechain circuitry. Frequen-

cies below the ﬁlter cut off will trigger compression to a lesser

degree.

GAIN: This changes the make-up gain so that the ouput level can be

adjusted to a suitable level.

LINK: Is used to synchronize the compressor action in two COMP-54

units working as a stereo pair. This is usually done to prevent image

---------------------------

I would like to thank you for chosing the COMP-54!

I wish you much joy with the unit and I hope that it will help you in

making a lot of great sounding music.

Yours, Bo Medin

Create music – Be happy!

Product specificaties

Merk:	Golden Age Project
Categorie:	Processor
Model:	COMP-54 MKIII

Heb je hulp nodig?

Als je hulp nodig hebt met Golden Age Project COMP-54 MKIII stel dan hieronder een vraag en andere gebruikers zullen je antwoorden

Uw naam*

Jouw email*

Schrijf hier uw vraag

Handleiding Processor Golden Age Project

Golden Age Project Comp-2A Handleiding

3 April 2023

Golden Age Project COMP-54 MKIII Handleiding

29 Januari 2023

Golden Age Project COMP-554 MKII Handleiding

18 Oktober 2022

Handleiding Processor

Nieuwste handleidingen voor Processor

QSC Q-SYS Core 610 Handleiding

5 November 2024

Audibax ADP 36 DSP Handleiding

2 November 2024

Audibax ADP 24 DSP Handleiding

2 November 2024

Audibax ADP 48 DSP Handleiding

2 November 2024

QSC SC28 Handleiding

23 Oktober 2024

QSC RAVE 188s Handleiding

23 Oktober 2024

QSC Core 3000 Handleiding

23 Oktober 2024

QSC DSP-4 Handleiding

23 Oktober 2024

QSC RAVE 522ua Handleiding

23 Oktober 2024

QSC RAVE 88s Handleiding

23 Oktober 2024