Mackie D8B v5.1 User Manual

• Click the ACTIVE button to turn on the

compressor for the selected channel.

• Click the MENU button to Open, Save, Reset,

Undo, Cut, Copy, and Paste a Compressor patch.

• Each MEMory stores the most recent MEM A or

MEM B EQ settings made for the selected channel.

• Click either of these memory positions to instantly

recall the stored settings.

• Ideal for making quick A/B comparisons between

compressor settings.

 Soft Knee, Meter View, and Meter Mode are not

stored in the MEM A or MEM B settings.

The meter in the Gate section indicates either

the input signal level or the amount of gain
reduction, depending on the setting of the ME-
TERING switch next to the meter. This setting is
global and is not recalled with any individual
channel. The default meter setting is IN (Input
level).

The Input Signal meter displays the channel’s

input signal, as measured at the post-Digital Trim/
pre-Compressor point.

When there is no signal applied, the Reduc-

tion meter indicates 0 dB of reduction, with the
needle all the way to the right. As the signal level
decreases below the Threshold setting of the Gate,
the needle drops down, indicating the amount of
gain reduction being applied at any given moment
in time, to a maximum of 20 dB of reduction. With
normal gating the amount of reduction is “minus
infinity” (or OFF). With EXPAND turned on, the
amount of reduction is determined by the RATIO
setting. Click on the meter to change to the
alternate meter view. This can be useful for lower-
level signals.

The red LED, near the top of the meter, is a

“gate threshold” indicator and lights up to indicate
when the Gate is on.

• Determines the level at which the gate acts on the

incoming signal. It is calibrated in decibels,
ranging from –60.0 dB to –1.0 dB.

• Determines how fast the gate opens once the

threshold has been exceeded. It is calibrated in
milliseconds, ranging from 0.1 ms to 2500 ms
(2.5 seconds).

• Determines how fast the gate closes once the

signal falls below the threshold. It is calibrated in
milliseconds, ranging from 10.0 ms to 2500 ms
(2.5 seconds).

• Determines the amount of gain reduction applied

to the signal once the signal level drops below the
threshold. It is calibrated in decibels, ranging
from 0 dB to 100 dB.

• Activates the expansion function of the gate. The

RANGE control is removed and a RATIO control
appears.