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There are rare times in the professional audio industry when a new
piece of recording equipment comes to the market that is ahead of its
time. A Designs Audio, Inc. believes the HM2 Compressor "Nail" is one
of those pieces of recording equipment.
The Nail is offering endless possibilities in the control of
compression and shaping the envelope with three features that set the
Nail apart from other compressors, such as Hard Threshold, Filter and
Mix. Due to the unique nature of the design, the Nail will take you to
places you have not experienced before. But with all things new, there
is a "learning curve".
The NAIL is a Feedback, Diode baised design combined with tubes.
This combination qualifies it to be a Hybrid.
One feature that is missing is the Ratio setting control. It has
been replaced with a "Variable Ratio". This means that the ratio will
change as the settings of the Threshold and Hard Threshold are changed
along with the amount of gain reduction. You may, or may not, need to
adjust Attack and Release, depending on what is sonically pleasing.
Mix
This feature is a powerful tool of the Nail’s design. This is what A
Designs would consider a highly valuable function. The Mix feature
allows for endless combinations of mixing the sound of the Nail’s
compression with your audio signal path. You can go from your signal
(Dry) to full on compression, depending upon your need or taste.
This means you can perform the maximum compression on a signal, such
as drums, then blend it into the audio path. Where as with most
compressors, you do not have this option and you will find yourself
fighting this in a mix. The Nail takes all that away and makes it easy
to blend just the right amount into your audio signal path. This is
also referred to as Parallel Compression.
Filter
The Nail offers another feature, the Filter. The Filter is a
Variable High Pass Filter on the side chain so that selected
frequencies below are not triggered by the gain reduction. This
feature, in combination with the Hard Threshold and Threshold, allows
you to select the frequency or frequencies you wish to compress. This
is by no means a "multi-band compressor" where you can isolate and
compress, but it works somewhat along those lines.
For example, if you would like to compress everything above 50HZ,
but you do not want to drag down the frequencies below that, then
simply select the right frequency you wish to apply compression to.
Then, you will be compressing all frequencies above your selected
choice.
The frequencies below 50HZ will be hit by the Nail’s compression,
but they will NOT be dragged down, the way most compressors will do.
Again, this will not isolate the assigned frequency, such as a
multi-band, but it will allow you to be very flexible without fully
compressing the lower frequencies. This function becomes extremely
useful with recordings that are Kick Drum-forward or Bass-forward. But,
the Nail has much more to offer with numerous other applications.
Meters
A great deal of thought and consideration went into the decision to
use an LED array as opposed to the traditional VU meters you would most
likely see on a compressor. Aesthetics and personal taste are involved
and A Designs chose a combination of "Old School and Modern Look." But,
plain old work environment dictates that the LEDs can be seen from
across a dark studio much easier than a backlit VU meter and in some
cases with more accuracy.
2 Buss and Tracking
The NAIL was designed with the 2 Buss in mind. It is with this that
the feature of a Stereo Link Switch was developed. All the functions on
both channels in Stereo Link Mode will be controlled via channel 1
(with the exception of Gain and Mix).
The NAIL is not limited to this application alone! It works very
well as a tracking compressor too.
Mojo, Vibe, Color
All equipment brings something unique to the table. The NAIL is no
different in that respect. It has it’s own sonic flavor, for lack of a
better term, but it can be "neutral," clean or colored, as well. The
tubes in the NAIL (12AT7) were selected because they will allow for
more on-demand control.
Switches
The NAIL has six functional switches that aid in the operational use
of the compressor. There is a main power switch, a stereo link switch
and two gain reduction/level switches to change your metering, one for
each channel. There are also two in/out switches, one for each channel,
that allows you to hard bypass the compressor channel, as needed.
Connectors
The NAIL has four XLR connectors on the rear panel, two male
balanced and two female balanced for easy standard integration for any
studio.
Potentiometers
The potentiometers, or pots, are a conductive plastic. The
conductive plastic pots are found to be most reliable and have an
above-average life-span. There is a lesser chance of getting that
"scratchy-ness" when compared to a carbon based pot.
Custom-milled aluminum knobs, and milled-aluminum face plate add
just the right touch to compliment this unit.
A Designs Audio Inc. considers the HM2 COMPRESSOR "NAIL" to be the
last product to complete our signal chain, which ranges from the MP-2A,
Tube Microphone Pre Amplifier, Pacifica, Solid State Pre Amplifier, and
HM2EQ "HAMMER" Hybrid 3 Band Dual Mono EQ. All in a 19 inch rack
mountable gear for both the Professional and Non Professional. And, as
always, our products are Beta Tested to the max and then field tested.
A Designs feels you will find the NAIL to be a great addition to
your studio’s working environment and will help enhance your audio
signal. The more you use the NAIL the more you will understand the
unique functions and greater possibilities this unit has to offer. You
will no longer be controlled by compression. You will have the control.
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