Waves Audio Kramer PIE Compressor User Guide
WAVES
Kramer PIE Compressor
User Guide
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................3
1.1
WELCOME.........................................................................................................................................3
PRODUCT OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................3
1.2
1.3
ABOUT THE MODELING ......................................................................................................................3
1.4
COMPONENTS...................................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 2 – QUICKSTART GUIDE......................................................................................................
5
CHAPTER 3 – INTERFACE AND CONTROLS.......................................................................................6
KRAMER PIE INTERFACE ...................................................................................................................6
3.1
3.2
KRAMER PIE CONTROLS ...................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 4 – THE WAVESYSTE
THE WAVESYSTEM TOOLBAR ..........................................................................................................11
4.1
4.2
PRESET HANDLING..........................................................................................................................11
4.3
INTERFACE CONTROLS....................................................................................................................13
M......................................................................................................11
Waves
Kramer PIE Compressor
User Guide
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Chapter 1 – Introduction
1.1 Welcome
Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of your Waves processor, please take the
time to read through this manual.
In conjunct
an extensive Answer Base, the latest Tech Specs, detailed Installation guides, new Software
Updates, and current information on Authorization and Registration.
By signing up at www.wavesupport.net
products, reminders when updates are available, and information on your authorization status.
1.2 Product Overview
About the Kramer PIE Compressor
The PIE was modeled on the dynamics processor known as the Pye Compressor, a solid state unit that
was manufactured durin
originally manufactured military wireless communication devices, later venturing into the television and
professional broadcast equipment markets. Pye manufactured a limited number of sound consoles with
these compressors built-in, and which were popular enough that the Neve company made a
compressor that could fit and replace the Pye compressors in its form factor. While it may well be that
the Neve replacements are harder to find than the originals, there is less demand for them than the
actual Pye compressors.
As an engineer at London’s Olympic studios during the classic rock era, almost everything Eddie
Kramer reco
ion, we also suggest that you become familiar with www.wavesupport.net
, you will receive personalized information on your registered
by Pye Telecom. The Cambridge, England-based company
rded during
g the 1960s
that era passed through the Pye compressors.
. There you will find
1.3 About the Modeling
Many different elements contribute to the unique sonic behavior of analog gear. Waves painstakingly
modeled and incorporat
capture and replicate the sound and performance of the original equipment. The hardware was
modeled at reference levels of -18 dBFS = +4 dBu, meaning that a signal of -18 dBFS from the DAW to
the hardware unit will display a meter reading of 0 VU (+4 dBu).
ed the chara
cteristics of the hardware into the Kramer PIE, in order to fully
Waves
Kramer PIE
Compressor
User Guide
3
These are some of the most important elements of analog behavior:
Total Harmonic Distortion
•
Perhaps the most important analog behavior is Total Harmonic Distortion or THD, which is
defined as t
fundamental frequency. THD is usually caused by amplification, and changes signal shape and
content by adding odd and even harmonics of the fundamental frequencies, which can change
the overall tonal balance. THD can also change peak output gain, usually by no more than
+/- 0.2-0.3 dB.
he ratio of the sum of the powers of all harmonic components to the power of the
• Transformers
Some hardware uses transformers to stabilize or change Input/Output loads and signal levels. In
earlier days, transformers did not have a flat frequency response, and often introduced low and
super-high frequency roll offs. The original channel has transformers which cause high-frequency
roll off, so if you encounter loss above 10 kHz, this is due to the modeled transformers.
•
Hum
Waves modeled both 50 Hz power current and 60 Hz power current. If you listen closely, you
will hear that there is a d
to each region and dependent upon the local electrical conditions, you may find that the
modeled hum is different than the hum already present in your studio, and may not be suitable
for your particular use.
ifference in hum level between 50 Hz and 60 Hz. Since hum is unique
• Noise
All analog equipment generates internal noise or a noise floor. In vintage equipment, the noise
floor is sometimes quite high and colored. Waves modeled the noise to match the level and color
of noise exhibited by the original unit, both with and without signal present.
1.4 Components
WaveShell technology enables us to split Waves processors into smaller plug-ins, which we call
components. Having a choice of co
choose the configuration best suited to your material.
The Kramer PIE Compressor has two component processors:
w
Kramer PIE Stereo — T
Kramer PIE Mono — One-channel
o-channel compressor, with one detector for both channel paths
mponents for a particular processor gives you the flexibility to
compressor
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Kramer PIE Compressor
User Guide
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Chapter 2 – Quickstart Guide
The Kramer PIE offers 3 main compression controls:
• Use the Threshold control to control the level at
which the compressor activates, beginning
attenuation.
determine when attenuation begins, and adjust your
settings accordingly.
• Use the Compression Ratio control to set the amount
of gain change that will b
overshooting the threshold.
• Use the Decay Time control to set the speed at
which the compressor will return to u
the signal falls below the threshold. Faster decay
times will produce louder sound with more harmonic
distortion; slower decays will result in a smoother
sound with less loudness and distortion.
• Use the Output gain control to set the level that you
Watch the VU meter needle to
e applied to signal
nity gain when
wish to hear. This will no
rather just the output level.
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Kramer PIE Compressor
User Guide
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t affect the compression,
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