Drawmer DL441 Quad Compressor-Limiter
Last Update 01-10-2009
The Drawmer DL441 is a quad channel dynamic processor consisting of a
compressor and limiter. The DL441 became an essential link in my
PA system; after I had blown my PA subwoofer for the SECOND time, I
decided to install a limiter to protect my speakers. Try and FIND
a quad limiter. Everything out there has other bells and whistles
that I don't want to pay for, I just want a SIMPLE HIGH FIDELITY LIMITER!
The Loft 400 was the ideal unit but they have not been made for years
and seldom show up for sale (I later found one cheap). As far as
new and available devices, the DL441 fit the bill.
Each channel has an RMS detector-style compressor followed by a
fast-action limiter, and a pair can be linked for stereo
operation. So for a two-way stereo PA system this quad channel
device is ideal. Since the DL441 is designed for program
material, the compressor incorporates program-adaptive attack/release
control that automatically adapts to full bandwidth mixed music, so
attack/release controls are omitted. You have control over
threshold, ratio, output recovery gain, and soft/hard knee. No
peak detector is available here. Two LED displays are provided
which will show output level and gain
reduction. The peak limiter has a threshold control for clamping
the output to a user defined maximum - no more blown speakers. An
LED indicates when limiting is active and in practice I have indeed
seen the limit clamp down on peaks. The bypass is a hardware
bypass that works when power is removed from the DL441.
Drawmer is world renowned for the transparency of the VCAs in their
compressors and gates. So when I first received the DL441 my
first test was to verify the fidelity of the VCAs. I put the unit
in bypass and listened to a soundcheck CD that I use for checking out
the PA. Then I engaged the processor and listened for differences
in the frequency spectrum. If you've ever owned an Alesis 3630
compressor - unrenowned for their transparency (called the "dirty
thirty" for a reason)
- you can easily hear a difference (mine have long been replaced with
UREI LA-12s). Well when I listened to the DL441 with the
compressor and limiter out of action, I could not detect any difference
in frequency spectrum. None, nada, zero. These things are
really transparent!
I don't use the compressor in practice but the limiter has been a great
protection device. Our band has a drummer who uses
triggers. I was playing triplets on his kit when I blew the
subwoofer. Whoops, I smell smoke! Well I like slamming
drums but not with the expense of reconing subwoofer speakers so the
DL441 became an essential device in my PA system. Although these things
are not cheap, you get what you pay for.
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