FMR Audio PBC-6A Compressor
The
PBC-6A is FMR's latest
offering in a line of massively underpriced professional audio gear.
We've been waiting to get these in for a while now, and are
proud to finally offer them. It differs from many
other audio compressors in a couple of ways:
Level Dependent Ratio - The PBC uses a feedback configuration to help achieve its function. Along with this, the PBC’s detector allows higher output signals to compress more than lower-level ones. With the lack of thresholding, the change in ratio is smooth and gradual from low-level signals to higher-level.
Knee Control - This allows a transition from lower-to-higher ratios to occur over a smaller range than would “naturally” happen. due to the feedback and detector configuration. These main features help the PBC-6A achieve a wide-range of compression effects—from delicate to crushed!
CONTROLS: There are five rotary controls and two push buttons on the PBC:
- Drive - The PBC’s feedback configuration makes it possible to vary both the amount of compression along with some intrinsic make-up gain in one control. This is it. The most compression is attained with the DRIVE control fully clockwise and at a minimum in the fully counterclockwise direction.
- Knee - The more clockwise this control, the smaller the change in the input signal that is required to achieve higher compression ratios. The more counterclockwise, the wider the change in the input signal that is required to achieve higher compression ratios.
- Attack - As with many other compressors, this controls how quickly the PBC will react to changes in the input signal. Subjectively, this control allows high frequencies to be more easily emphasized.
- Release - This control determines how quickly the PBC will return to its previous gain levels as the signal level decreases.
- Output - This provides a convenient means to help match levels between the PBC and subsequent devices. Two push button controls are present on the front panel as well:
- Bypass - Allows the selection of the signal present at the input jack or the output of the PBC’s balanced line driver.
- Thick - Alters the PBC’s release characteristics in a way that is perceived as a subtle “thickening” the sound.
