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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
 Posted - 09/26/2008 : 08:49:15
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Played a lot yesterday and made a kind of a/b/c test and found out this.
CS-2 (1988) is a little warmer but cuts off a little of the brightness, it changes your original tone to become darker. It has also a pretty strong effect, it "clips" the sound a little too much in my opinion for a good sustainer.
CS-3 (MIJ 1988) doesnt change the original tone as much, not at the bright tones. But I think that it does something with the midrange. Not in a bad way. Its a little bit clearer than the CS-2 and the effect is quite strong, but can be handeled without loosing to much sustain. Think that that was hard with CS-2.
LM-2 (used as a compressor, 1988) does something with your sound that is hard to explain. It also colours your tone, but I really could not tell how. Its kind of opens up wide. It gives a nice sparkle shimmer over all of the strings and it separates the strings so the sound is almost studiolike. My settings are: Level: 2 o clock, Tone: 12 o clock, Release: 9 o clock and Threshold: 9 o clock.
I think that Release is the attack-knob and Threshold is the sustain-knob - but inverted. Anyway, this setting gets a soft sustained tone and without that much clipping, just a little smooth popping and it separate the strings in a nice way.
I am really curious about if someone more than me have any thoughts about this and have tested it. Have a nice weekend by the way. Im going in to studio and make the first takes for whats going to be our second album. So fun! (but I have not decided wich pedal thats going to be my sustainer yet... There all good in their own way) 
Im going mad about this. Have anyone else tested the LM-2 in a A/B test together with any other compressor? Someone who knows what I am talking about? What is it that happens when using LM-2 as a compressor that the CS-2 or 3 don�t have? Have someone compared them inside, is there kind of the same components in it?
A lot of questions here... Think its interesting but I dont have the knowledge to find out by my self.  |
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MullyFX
Gold Member
Germany
753 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2008 : 09:32:13
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(disclaimer: I didn't make any measurements so this is basically a guess since I don't know if the LM-2 has a fixed ratio - otherwise it wouldn't really be a limiter though)
well the thing is, the LM-2 will always be a limiter - doesn't matter how you use it.
the only difference between a limiter and a compressor is the ratio.
1:1, 2:1 & 4:1 are compression ratios - #8734;:1 is a limiting ratio
the threshold lets you set the point where the volume will be cut (reduced to a set level) - the lower this point is the more level you will need to get unity gain.
of course you are somewhat right when saying the release is the opposite of the attack... but it's not just a matter of turning a knob the other way.
the attack time determines how long the audio is allowed to be above the threshold before it's reduced. this setting is very important for transient heavy instruments like drums. (a transient is the first peak of a tone)
the release time determines how long the audio will stay compressed / limited - when it's already below the threshold again...
that being said.... I really like the LM-2 - two LM-2s directly after one another (though set differently) is even better. |
Edited by - MullyFX on 09/26/2008 09:36:40 |
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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2008 : 12:09:03
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Big thank you MullyFX! Do you know what it is in the LM-2 that does the nice sound? Have not opened it up yet and really don�t know what to look after anyway. Is quite the same components in it as in a compressor, good or bad ones aso? I think it adds something really nice to my tone and are smooth but I cant really tell why or what it is.
quote:
Originally posted by MullyFX
(disclaimer: I didn't make any measurements so this is basically a guess since I don't know if the LM-2 has a fixed ratio - otherwise it wouldn't really be a limiter though)
well the thing is, the LM-2 will always be a limiter - doesn't matter how you use it.
the only difference between a limiter and a compressor is the ratio.
1:1, 2:1 & 4:1 are compression ratios - #8734;:1 is a limiting ratio
the threshold lets you set the point where the volume will be cut (reduced to a set level) - the lower this point is the more level you will need to get unity gain.
of course you are somewhat right when saying the release is the opposite of the attack... but it's not just a matter of turning a knob the other way.
the attack time determines how long the audio is allowed to be above the threshold before it's reduced. this setting is very important for transient heavy instruments like drums. (a transient is the first peak of a tone)
the release time determines how long the audio will stay compressed / limited - when it's already below the threshold again...
that being said.... I really like the LM-2 - two LM-2s directly after one another (though set differently) is even better.
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Edited by - Shoegazers Anonymous on 09/26/2008 12:09:35 |
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MullyFX
Gold Member
Germany
753 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2008 : 13:41:39
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| well there are components in there that are made by dbx. dbx is a company that's famous for compressors and limiting amplifiers. so that should tell us something.... but apart from that I have no clue why it sounds good. sorry. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2008 : 14:58:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Shoegazers Anonymous
CS-3 (MIJ 1988) doesnt change the original tone as much, not at the bright tones. But I think that it does something with the midrange. Not in a bad way. Its a little bit clearer than the CS-2 and the effect is quite strong, but can be handeled without loosing to much sustain. Think that that was hard with CS-2.
Hi Shoegazers Anonymous! Is it possible for you to take the back off the CS-3 and see if it has a "THAT" chip or a "dBX" chip? It is one of the chips near the corner of the board.
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Edited by - Laurie on 09/26/2008 14:59:04 |
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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2008 : 17:35:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
quote:
Originally posted by Shoegazers Anonymous
CS-3 (MIJ 1988) doesnt change the original tone as much, not at the bright tones. But I think that it does something with the midrange. Not in a bad way. Its a little bit clearer than the CS-2 and the effect is quite strong, but can be handeled without loosing to much sustain. Think that that was hard with CS-2.
Hi Shoegazers Anonymous! Is it possible for you to take the back off the CS-3 and see if it has a "THAT" chip or a "dBX" chip? It is one of the chips near the corner of the board.
I will try that later today, I�ll be back! |
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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2008 : 20:01:20
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Hi Laurie!
It has a dBX chip and two with mistubichi logotype on.
While I was ongoing with it I opened up the LM-2 as well and there was the same chips, but one moore of something namned ba***something. It was also found in the CS-3. BUT, the LM-2 had two "knobs" (dont know the english word for it) that can be set by a philips screwdriver, one at the left side and one at the right side at the center of the board. What is that for? Someone who knows???
quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
quote:
Originally posted by Shoegazers Anonymous
CS-3 (MIJ 1988) doesnt change the original tone as much, not at the bright tones. But I think that it does something with the midrange. Not in a bad way. Its a little bit clearer than the CS-2 and the effect is quite strong, but can be handeled without loosing to much sustain. Think that that was hard with CS-2.
Hi Shoegazers Anonymous! Is it possible for you to take the back off the CS-3 and see if it has a "THAT" chip or a "dBX" chip? It is one of the chips near the corner of the board.
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2008 : 03:33:34
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Hi Shoegazers Anonymous
quote:
Shoegazers Anonymous
I opened up the LM-2 as well and there was the same chips, but one moore of something namned ba***something.
It's a BA718 it's the VCA (Voltage Controlled Amp)
That chip automatically controls the gain in the LM-2.
Regards Dr. Bob
3800
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Edited by - Dr. Bob on 09/27/2008 03:35:02 |
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MullyFX
Gold Member
Germany
753 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2008 : 10:28:58
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quote:
BUT, the LM-2 had two "knobs" (dont know the english word for it) that can be set by a philips screwdriver, one at the left side and one at the right side at the center of the board. What is that for? Someone who knows???
interesting...
well again just guessing - one could be for the KNEE parameter and one for RATIO this way you could really turn it into a compressor. |
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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2008 : 10:49:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
Hi Shoegazers Anonymous
quote:
Shoegazers Anonymous
I opened up the LM-2 as well and there was the same chips, but one moore of something namned ba***something.
It's a BA718 it's the VCA (Voltage Controlled Amp)
That chip automatically controls the gain in the LM-2.
Regards Dr. Bob
3800
Hi DrB!
Yes, thats the one. I saw it in the CS-3 as well, but only one of it. But in the LM-2 there was two of them. And I guess - only cause it make sence in a way - that the two controllers inside at the board was to set these two cause they were sitting close to the VCA�s. But that�s just a wild guess. |
Edited by - Shoegazers Anonymous on 09/27/2008 10:50:20 |
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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2008 : 10:55:09
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quote:
Originally posted by MullyFX
quote:
BUT, the LM-2 had two "knobs" (dont know the english word for it) that can be set by a philips screwdriver, one at the left side and one at the right side at the center of the board. What is that for? Someone who knows???
interesting...
well again just guessing - one could be for the KNEE parameter and one for RATIO this way you could really turn it into a compressor.
If I only have the guts to start testing whats happening when turn the screws. It may have some potential to be a bad-ass compressor or something... It�s a little mystery to me and gives my mind something to hang up to.  |
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CS-2, CS-3 & LM-2 A/B/C test
