How It Works
Technical view
The current compressor core follows signal level with a low-passed absolute-value envelope and divides the incoming signal by that envelope-derived term, which creates smooth gain reduction rather than a discrete threshold/ratio model. `contour` boosts the numerator feeding that scaling while also shaping a low shelf afterward, so the patch acts like a compact leveler with some body control rather than a full studio compressor architecture.
- Compression, Gate & EQ
- waveshaping / saturation
- delay processing
- oscillator / LFO modulation
- DC blocking
Signal Path
Compiled preview chain
Preview source: An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with a 19-sample right-channel delay and slight left/right shelf-EQ offsets before it hits the dynamics or EQ core.
- 1internal picked-string demo phrase
- 2stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
- 3envelope-following gain reduction
- 4low-shelf contour shaping
- 5post-processing high-shelf tone shaping
- 6dry / wet mix
- 7DC blocker
- 8output gain trim
- 9final tanh limiter
Preview source
An internally generated picked-string phrase is widened to stereo with a 19-sample right-channel delay and slight left/right shelf-EQ offsets before it hits the dynamics or EQ core.
Effect core
Envelope-dependent gain reduction with post-compression low-shelf contouring and high-shelf tone shaping.
Signal path
The static waveform and the live player both reflect this compiled signal chain.
- internal picked-string demo phrase
- stereo spread with a short right-channel delay
- envelope-following gain reduction
- low-shelf contour shaping
- post-processing high-shelf tone shaping
- dry / wet mix
- DC blocker
- output gain trim
- final tanh limiter
Controls that matter
These are the currently active controls detected in the FAUST source for this effect.
- mix: Blends the untouched stereo preview source with the processed path after the core effect.
- output_gain_db: Applies final post-effect level trim after DC blocking and before the output limiter.
- squeeze: Raises the multiplier applied to the smoothed input envelope in the denominator of the gain-scaling stage.
- tone: Adjusts the post-processing high shelf.
- contour: Raises the numerator of the gain-scaling stage and adjusts the post-processing low shelf.
Code-backed analysis
The generated description is tied to the active helper blocks and routing found in the current DSP.
- demo
- fx
- outputStage
- leftDemo
- rightDemo
- gateCore
- phraseMono
- previewShiftSamples
Controls
Audible controls in this DSP
Blends the untouched stereo preview source with the processed path after the core effect.
Lower settings keep more dry attack and natural dynamics; higher settings push the processed behavior forward.
Applies final post-effect level trim after DC blocking and before the output limiter.
Matches loudness without changing the actual dynamic or EQ structure.
Raises the multiplier applied to the smoothed input envelope in the denominator of the gain-scaling stage.
Adds more leveling and sustain by pushing the signal down harder as it gets louder.
Adjusts the post-processing high shelf.
Moves the compressed signal from darker and smoother to brighter and more open.
Raises the numerator of the gain-scaling stage and adjusts the post-processing low shelf.
Adds body and low-end weight while also changing how strongly the leveler pushes back.
Analysis
Code-derived notes
Current implementation shares the same envelope-leveling compressor core as Optical Compressor, Sustain Compressor, FET Compressor, Parallel Compressor, Multi-Band Compressor, and Upward Compressor.
Active blocks
- demo
- fx
- outputStage
- leftDemo
- rightDemo
- gateCore
- phraseMono
- previewShiftSamples
- pickedVoice
- fund
- pickEnv
- ampEnv
- triggerAt
- maxDelaySamples
Inactive helpers
- synthVoice
- organVoice
- bellVoice
- softsat
- quantize
- combLP
- echoOnly
- diffuser
Warnings
No current warnings are attached to this effect.
Source
- library/compression-gate-eq/studio-compressor.dsp
- Output stage: DC blocker -> output gain trim -> final tanh limiter
- Library position: 41