User Manual
Weiss Gambit Series
Intro
Input Section
Shape Section
Equalizer Section
Compressor Section
Drive Section
Latency
Extended Features
One of the most requested features in Console 1 is a clean, sharp and digital channel strip, and what would suit better than a channel strip based off of the two most famous and revered digital processors, the Weiss DS1-MK3 and EQ1.
We have taken the core processing elements of the DS1 and EQ1 and modified them for the Console 1 workflow, and the result is the Weiss Gambit Series for Console 1.
The input section features the 12 dB low-cut and 6 dB high-cut filters from the EQ1. Low noise and super smooth. Just like the original EQ1, every parameter is discrete, but with hundreds of steps, which makes it easy to dial in exact settings.
While the original DS1 didn't contain a "normal" expander, only above-threshold expansion, we worked together with Daniel Weiss to add that functionality to the original algorithms. The result is the below-threshold dynamics section you get here.
Above and Below Threshold?
Some refers to this as upwards or downwards compression/ expansion, but we prefer the term above or below threshold.
Above threshold simply means that the dynamics processing happens for audio that goes above the set threshold, like any normal compressor. Below threshold affects audio below the threshold, like a normal gate or expander. So normal compression and expanding can be called above-threshold compression and below-threshold expansion, respectively.
But why bother with this terminology? It's because the two odd cases: below-threshold compression and above-threshold expansion.
Shape Section = Below Threshold
The Shape section of Weiss Gambit Series work below the threshold. You can do normal expanding/gating with it, by letting the ratio be x:1 (20:1, 5:1, etc). But it's also possible to do below-threshold compression by setting the ratio to 1:x (1:2, 1:5 etc).
With below-threshold compression you can enhance the soft sounds without affecting the loud sounds, for example to bring out the tail of a reverb, the room sound of a drum bus or get more legato in an electric bass without affecting the punch of it.
A little goes a long way, and it's always a good idea to combine this with the Range control, so that you really dial in on the parts of the sound you want to enhance.
The four types of dynamics:
1) Above-threshold compression, aka "normal" compression as found in the Weiss Gambit Series Compressor.
2) Above-threshold expansion, 1:x ratio compression as found in Weiss DS1-MK3 or Weiss Compressor/Limiter.
3) Below-treshhold expansion, aka a "normal" expander.
4) Below-threshold compression, 1:x ratio set in the Shape section of Weiss Gambit Series.
5) Below-threshold compression with Range control.
The EQ consists of the Weiss EQ1 in Low Latency mode without any dynamics. All four bands have full frequency range and super-sharp Q options.
The compressor is the Weiss DS1-MK3 but with a limited feature set, designed to sound transparent and smooth.
How do you make a Drive for a super-clean unit? Well, it's not really a drive, but the Limiter from the DS1 and Weiss MM-1. Use the Drive knob to increase the gain into the limiter.
The Drive has two phases, below 12 o'clock and above:
- For settings below 0 dB (12 o'clock) it will reduce the ceiling of the limiter from OFF, through 15 dBFS down to 0 dB.
- For settings about 12 o'clock it will start to push the gain into the limiter, which has a ceiling at 0 dB (before the Volume control).
The Character lets you select between the three limiter types: original DS1, enhanced TYPE 1 and enhanced TYPE 2.
The latency, total delay, through the Weiss Gambit Series comes mainly from the Limiter. If you, for example, need a surgical EQ or the Weiss Gambit Compressor without that latency, we suggest that you load those into another channel strip, such as the SSL SL4000E.
Console 1 Fader customers can swap out the Drive section, and replace the Weiss Gambit Limiter with something with low latency, such as the SSL SL4000E Output.
A whole range of added control can be accessed with Extended Features. Please see the separate "Extended Features" manual for more information.