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SIMON TILLBROOK pulls his newprocessor out of the box, readyto learn some new lessonsabout power and control, andcomes out smiling.THE REVIEWERSIMON TILLBROOK is the PrincipalMusic Tutor at Islington MusicWorkshop in London. The rest ofhis time is spent as a freelanceengineer, mainly in the USA.The latest arrival to my desk has been a two-channelcompressor. That, in itself, is not something that wouldhave any immediate impact, but there is oneremarkable thing in this case: the unit was not only designedin the UK, but also manufactured and, wherever possible,parts sourced in this country. I felt that was worth a mention,as it is rare indeed.OverviewThe Dynamics Toolbox is a 2U rack unit, with two identicalchannels that can be linked for stereo operation. The twosets of channel controls are identical, with ‘channel one’acting as master when linked.A quick scan over the front controls presents you theusual array of functions for such a processor: Ratio, Attack,Threshold, Release, gmu (gain make up), as well as a fewadditions. Each channel's VU is dual-scale (gain reductionand output level), with two reference levels: +6 or +18dBu.Below the meter we find an output level rotary controlwith +/-15dB of gain and a notched zero point. This is nextto a control and button that is essentially a 'mix' control forcompressed and dry levels.The sidechain section of the Dynamics Toolbox offersa little more flexibility than the norm. Rotary controls forthe HPF and LPF can be engaged with an EQ button thatplaces this sidechain EQ immediately before the compressorcircuit to prevent unwanted triggering from high amplitudefrequency sections of your audio. An external unit can beinserted through rear connections and placed in signal flowwith the insert button. Finally a sidechain listen functionbutton is also here.Four final pushbuttons on the front of the DynamicsToolbox are used in conjunction with applying a limiter onone of two compressor modes, which I will explain shortly.<strong>Audio</strong> connections through quarter-inch TRS connectorscan accept balanced and unbalanced connections.Inputs and outputs have ground lift switches, and there aresidechain inserts for both channels. There are two outputs foreach – electronic and transformer-balanced, with Lundahl,Sowter, Jenson, and Cinemag options available to the latter.The review unit was fitted with the Lundahl option.Toolbox OpenedThe limiter is a fast-attack type with a look ahead dynamictracking design. Enabled with the front limiter buttonyou can set the threshold with range +6 to +24dBu.The Dynamic Toolbox then looks to the transient of theincoming audio and can dynamically alter the attack timeup to a very fast 100us, and a programme tracking releasethat can vary from 100ms to 500ms to follow the naturalchanges in the audio signal.The Dynamics Toolbox has two compressor operatingmodes called ‘Peakride’ and ‘Dynamic Tracking’. As with theLimiter function, the Safe <strong>Sound</strong> <strong>Audio</strong> website has a whitepaper that explains the principles in a great deal of detail.I will try to summarise here:Peakride compression is about achieving a smoothmusical result, and trying to avoid the over-compressionthat so often occurs when struggling with the odd excessivetransients in an audio programme. It uses three linkedsidechains working together, each with different ratio,attack, and release settings.As the initial transient hits the threshold, the DynamicsToolbox dynamically alters the attack, ratio, and releaseaccording to the changes in the dynamics of the audioprogramme above the threshold.Dynamic Tracking gives a greater degree of control to theuser for primarily submix and final mix compression whereyou may wish to be more aggressive. You can set attack andrelease times manually to either pull mix elements together,or create pumping up front effects.Dynamic Tracking tracks the speed of the audio signal’snatural attack before it hits the compressor thresholdcontrol, increasing the compressor attack speed to copewith excessive transients, then reducing it following thedynamics throughout the programme. Ratio and release arebalanced and dynamically altered as well.WorkingThe design of the Dynamics Toolbox may be complex butthis does not get in the way of making it easy to operate.Straight out of the box you can be up and runningvery quickly achieving good results, but do spend time toSAFE SOUND AUDIODYNAMICS TOOLBOXTWO-CHANNEL COMPRESSORunderstand the differences in the modes. The benefits ofthe Dynamic Toolbox will then make a lot more sense.Firstly, just putting a signal through the Dynamic Toolboxand comparing the two outputs with no processing: there isa very subtle and pleasant difference between the electronicand transformer outputs. Both are extremely transparentwith the Lundahl transformers showing a little low midcolour. When you start to drive the Dynamic Toolbox thisreally starts to come out with a smooth, warm effect.With Peakride on both instruments, and in particularvocals, the Dynamic Toolbox tracks extremely well,applying just enough processing in a smooth and virtuallyindistinguishable way – very musical indeed. Musical isthe best description for this mode of operation, as theDynamic Toolbox dealt with all manner of intensive transientinformation faultlessly through all of the examples I tried.Dynamic Tracking gives you all the flexibility to bringout some real aggressive character. When used with thefront blend control for that ‘New York’ style of adding inaggressive compression to dry signal, the rock meter goesall the way to eleven. Great to have all this control in thebox with such simple functional control.ConclusionSafe <strong>Sound</strong> <strong>Audio</strong> is looking to enhance some functionsof the Dynamic Toolbox for mastering purposes withfeedback from the industry’s best placed people, and thatwill only increase the popularity of this processor.Easy to use, but so powerful when you learn what theDynamic Toolbox is really about. Capable of producingresults that are smooth and musical, to hard, aggressive,and in-your-face, you are never disappointed and willcontinue to find reasons to widen that smile. ∫....................................INFORMATION£ GB£999.00 (exc.VAT)Optional plug-in Lundahl LL1539 – GB£87.50 (exc.VAT)T +44 (0) 7866 574522W www.safesoundaudio.comE info@safesoundaudio.com28AUDIO MEDIA MAY 2008
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