Valley Audio 730 AD

The Valley Audio belongs to the family of digital companders, ie it is a compressor on several modes, an expander, a limiter and a de-esser.
It offers compressor mode which baffle anyone, but it also offers two alternative cuts, I think it is useful to investigate further.

First mode, Enhanced compressor:
This mode has the same parameters as a compressor called "normal", but few other settings have been added. In fact, it does not work the same way, the screen shows 4 parameters dependent on each other.
For example, the "unity" will give the Valley Audio level the user has chosen so that the compressor gain is zero. Depending on the item, the 730 itself will determine a new threshold and / or gain, and it will also function of the ratio. This allows numerous possibilities, which would be impossible with a conventional compressor.

Second mode, the Dynamap:
This program allows experienced technicians to go even further in the operation of the compander decidedly to the many resources and endowed with "intelligence" and flexibility rarment reached ..
Usually, one defines a compressor ratio, threshold and gain. Dynamap this feature allows you to go much further, because it lets you build a sort of arbitrarily card consists of 8 dynamic segment difinisant nine-point threshold and gain.
In this case, the 730 automatically calculates the ratio, which can operate in compressed mode as in expansion mode, based on the values selected.
Of course, it is also possible to act on the parameters for attack, release and mixing, as a compressor standard.Ce which opens up uses quite amazing .. You can define a curve compression (or expansion) through the memory values that will be calculated at 730 different points on the curve to connect the segments together.
I switch modes-esser and peak limiter are all fairly standard ..


UTILIZATION

The use of this machine is simple and effective, not to get lost in endless menus, everything is logical and well arranged, despite a number of significant opportunities ..

SOUND QUALITY

I tried the 730 on vocals, various instruments and acoustic music, and effects out of what we usually hear said analog compressors with high levels qualitatively speaking .. The record is incredibly soft, it's pretty amazing for a compressor using digital technology dating back fifteen years. The rendering is very silky ..

OVERALL OPINION

This dynamics processor allows great flexibility of use for all areas of audio, whether in live or studio .. Definitely a machine to discover ..