Description

Analog compression, digital control

It’s a dilemma we often find ourselves in nowadays: we want the warmth and character of analog processing, but also the convenience and control that digital plugins offer. Well, now you can have both with the DIONE bus compressor from WesAudio! The DIONE is a stereo VCA 500 series compressor with a 100% analog signal path, which offers total recall and full automation via a companion plugin and a USB mini cable. Analog character and digital convenience can now both be yours!

WesAudio Dione in one take

• 100% analog stereo VCA bus compressor
• Fits in 500 series and 500ng series slots
• Options for total recall and full automation via the companion plugin
• Many features including a “Mix” knob for easy parallel compression, sidechain capability with filter, and “Total Harmonic Distortion” options to saturate your signal with analog color

Classic analog glue

Any good mixing engineer knows the importance of a quality stereo bus compressor. The punch and glue they provide can often make the difference between a good and a great mix. For this purpose, the WesAudio DIONE stereo bus compressor is the perfect tool. Its 100% analog signal path provides smooth VCA compression, with +24 dbu of headroom and plenty of options to dial in the perfect sound. Four ratio settings are offered, with 1.5:1 and 2:1 for gentle mixing glue, and 4:1 and 10:1 for more extreme applications (such as squashing a drum bus for added attitude). These different ratios provide even more options when combined with the convenient “Mix” knob, which makes it easy to use parallel compression without having to route signals to two different paths.

Complete digital automation

While the signal path is purely analog, the DIONE bus compressor has full digital functionality, including total recall and complete automation from your DAW. Simply connect the DIONE to your computer via the USB mini port on the front of the unit, and load the included VST2/VST3/AU/AAX/AAX DSP plugin into your DAW and you can save your settings so they load exactly the same way the next time you open your session. And for those who want to dive in deeper, you can fully automate all the controls on the DIONE, allowing you to have different compression settings for different song sections. You can, of course, draw automation lines in your DAW, but the DIONE also features 3 touch-sensitive encoders for recording automation in a hands-on fashion. All this control in an analog compressor really is a dream come true!

Flexible sidechain

Another area where the WesAudio DIONE shines is its sidechain input, which features a filter with 3 high pass options (60Hz, 90Hz, and 150Hz), and 2 tilt filters with special proprietary curves. These filter options can be especially useful for preventing ducking in response to excess low-frequency energy, a common problem when applying mix bus compression. You can either use the original signal (modified by the filter) or any track from your DAW as the sidechain input. This flexibility presents infinite creative mixing solutions.

Analog saturation and color

For those who want to emphasize the analog character of the DIONE, there is a convenient THD (“Total Harmonic Distortion”) button, which enhances the signal with pleasing harmonic distortion. This adds analog saturation and warmth that turns a good sound into a great one. There are three settings (off, medium and high), so you can adjust it to your personal taste.

Powerhouse mixing tool

With a 100% analog signal path, full digital functionality, pleasing harmonic distortion, and easy to use parallel compression and filtered sidechaining, the WesAudio DIONE bus compressor truly is a powerhouse tool for the modern mixing engineer. Take your mix to the next level with the WesAudio DIONE!

Specifications

• Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz (0.1dB)
• THD+N (WET): 0.008% (1kHz,0dBu)
• THD+N (DRY): 0.004% (1kHz,0dBu)
• Input impedance: 10kohm
• Output impedance: <100ohm
• Max gain: 21dB
• Crosstalk:
• < -90dB
• Attack: 0.1,0.3,1,3,10,30 (ms)
• Release: 0.1,0.3,0.6,0.9,1.2,Auto (s)
• Ratio: 1.5,2.4.10
• SC Filter: 60,90,150,T1,T2
• THD (MID switch): 1%
• THD (HIGH switch): 4%
• Power consumption: 70mA/+16V and 50mA/-16V (per slot)