Bettermaker Bus Compressor

The Bettermaker Bus compressor is a high quality stereo VCA compressor that benefits from fast and precise recall and automation. The Bus compressor from Bettermaker offers a 100% analogue signal path, Dry/Wet mix, sidechain with HPF, hardware insert and preview function, adjustable THD saturation and much more.

Features

advanced analog stereo VCA compressor with PEAK/RMS detection
all parameters are digitally controlled via front panel and/or DAW (with dedicated plugin)
dry/wet MIX control for parallel compression
sidechain high pass filter with hardware insert and preview function
adjustable THD for harmonically rich sound
on-board measurement of PEAK/RMS levels
100% analog audio signal path
total recall and A/B comparison from your favourite DAW
LED matrix display and six encoders with push-button action for ease of control
USB connectivity with MAC/PC

Digital Section

The sound of the Compressor is of course based on the quality of its analogue audio path. But all the control and user interactions are performed in the digital domain. This allows us to incorporate options and possibilities not found in any standard analog compressors:

recall last unit state after reboot
Instant reset of all parameters
Rapid, precise and repeatable adjustments
Precisely linked stereo operation with the ease of a single control
DAW automation and recall of all available parameters

The digital section of the Bus Compressor is based around high speed, 32-bit micro-controller, with dedicated firmware programmed into its memory (with the possibility of updating the firmware via USB connection). It's responsible for controlling the VCA, the user interface, presets management, audio measurement, USB connectivity and other Bus Compressor functions.

The use of separate ground planes for analogue and digital section results in perfect noise isolation between these two worlds. High quality switching power supply, designed by Bettermaker, was used to provide low noise, hum free power to all analogue and digital components.

Front panel

The front panel of the Bus Compressor is build around eye-catching LED matrix display, that allows you to monitor almost all functions available on the device, as well as input/output levels and amount of gain reduction applied by the compressor.

Specifications

Frequency response 10Hz to 22kHz (+/- 0.2 dB)
Dynamic range: 106dB (+23dBu, 22kHz BW)
S/N ratio: 87dB (A-weighted, +4dBu, 22kHz BW, unity gain)
Crosstalk: -83dB @ 1kHz, +18dBu, channel-to-channel
CMRR: max 85 dB @ 3 kHz, min 52 dB @ 20Hz, 20 kHz BW
THD: 2nd: < 0.06%, 3rd: < 0.01%; 4th: < 0.006%; (+4 dBu, 20-20 kHz, unity gain, THD and CLIP disabled)
balanced stereo input (XLR), 23dBu max input level (THD < 0.2%)
balanced stereo output (XLR), 23dBu max output level (THD < 0.2% into >2kohm)
Input impedance (differential): 48kΩ (for balanced signal)
Output Impedance: 50Ω + 50Ω (electronically balanced)
2U enclosure, 230mm deep (Mastering Compressor)
1U enclosure, 230mm deep (Bus Compressor)
universal 100 – 240V power supply designed by Bettermaker (with Auto-on function)
Maximum power consumption: 25W
Shipping weight: 5.5 kg (Mastering Compressor), 5 kg (Bus Compressor)

Threshold: -35dB / +5dB (40dB range)
Attack: 0.1 – 60 ms
Release: 10 – 2000 ms
Ratio: 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 10:1
Knee: 20dB
Output: -5dB to +15dB
Sidechain HPF: off – 370Hz
Sidechain Feed: Forward
Sidechain Type: PEAK/RMS

Filters

Outboard

Bettermaker Bus Compressor