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Paul Wolff · 2nd November 2003, 11:10 PM

2500 facts
The 2500 is designed to make things sound better. Three big differences between it and the Alan Smart is the Thrust, Variable Linking, and the OLD/NEW modes.

Since these are all on seperate switches, they are resettable for future setups, which makes then usable. The AS is basically an SSL type feed forward compressor with a over-compression mode that goes beyond total limit, with what appears to be a gradual ratio up to that point so it doesn't just come on.

The 2500 was designed by me specifically to assist the mixer and while compressing, it makes it not sound compressed. Shelly Yakus, Tom Tucker and Ronald Prent have all said that they can finish a mix in 1/3rd the time and when the 2500 is switched out, it sounds like a completely unfinished mix waiting to be worked on. Most of the other pro users have said the same. Although slightly different in setups, they all pretty much agree that getting hte kick and bass where you want it is key, then switch it in throughout the entire mix.

With the SOFT knee setting, MED thrust and OLD, fast attacks and releases will sound great WITHOUT killing the mix. This is NO SHIT. Try it like you are trying to show how bad a compressor can sound, fast in fast out 10:1 ratio, etc. You will be shocked.

The theory behind the THRUST is very simple. If you look at a music signal on a scope, you will see all low end and little bits of high end travelling on the huge low waveform. BUT, this is not what you hear. If you listen to the music, it all sounds even. The THRUST filter is before the RMS detector and in the LOUD mode, it is the inverse of the pink noise curve, 3 dB/oct. This transforms the signal going into the RMS detector into what is called an EQUAL ENERGY PER OCTAVE signal instead of the tilted low end heavy singal. The MED setting is like the full LOUD one, but has a flat area in the middle frequencies. The Distressor has a high pass filter setting that is very similar and that is why so many people like both. This THRUST filter is what makes the PARAGON II consoles sound so good, as they hads a patent on it for 10 years.

So, if you want something that will make your mix sound like a record, get the 2500. I have even run older mixes that I have done that I was never happy with and the 2500 seems like it remixes them.

Turn it up, set it like you hate the mix and what you hear will not sound like the settings.

2nd November 2003, 11:10 PM	#23
Paul Wolff Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 14	2500 2500 facts The 2500 is designed to make things sound better. Three big differences between it and the Alan Smart is the Thrust, Variable Linking, and the OLD/NEW modes. Since these are all on seperate switches, they are resettable for future setups, which makes then usable. The AS is basically an SSL type feed forward compressor with a over-compression mode that goes beyond total limit, with what appears to be a gradual ratio up to that point so it doesn't just come on. The 2500 was designed by me specifically to assist the mixer and while compressing, it makes it not sound compressed. Shelly Yakus, Tom Tucker and Ronald Prent have all said that they can finish a mix in 1/3rd the time and when the 2500 is switched out, it sounds like a completely unfinished mix waiting to be worked on. Most of the other pro users have said the same. Although slightly different in setups, they all pretty much agree that getting hte kick and bass where you want it is key, then switch it in throughout the entire mix. With the SOFT knee setting, MED thrust and OLD, fast attacks and releases will sound great WITHOUT killing the mix. This is NO SHIT. Try it like you are trying to show how bad a compressor can sound, fast in fast out 10:1 ratio, etc. You will be shocked. The theory behind the THRUST is very simple. If you look at a music signal on a scope, you will see all low end and little bits of high end travelling on the huge low waveform. BUT, this is not what you hear. If you listen to the music, it all sounds even. The THRUST filter is before the RMS detector and in the LOUD mode, it is the inverse of the pink noise curve, 3 dB/oct. This transforms the signal going into the RMS detector into what is called an EQUAL ENERGY PER OCTAVE signal instead of the tilted low end heavy singal. The MED setting is like the full LOUD one, but has a flat area in the middle frequencies. The Distressor has a high pass filter setting that is very similar and that is why so many people like both. This THRUST filter is what makes the PARAGON II consoles sound so good, as they hads a patent on it for 10 years. So, if you want something that will make your mix sound like a record, get the 2500. I have even run older mixes that I have done that I was never happy with and the 2500 seems like it remixes them. Turn it up, set it like you hate the mix and what you hear will not sound like the settings.