Reckless Comp

Using it

The threshold is fixed at −12 dBFS, so Input alone sets how much is compressed; Make-up then sets where the level lands. Pick the gain element for the colour; switching crossfades, so you can compare mid-phrase. The red CLIP lamp lights while the output soft clipper rounds off peaks; if it stays lit, turn Input or Make-up down.

The four gain elements

• JFET — warm second harmonic that grows with level; natural with a fast attack on drums and bass.
• Diode — symmetric third harmonic that reads as thickness; good on a mix bus.
• Optical — clean but slow, with a two-speed release of its own that holds on after a long note. Made for vocals.
• Pure — no device and no colour: the cleanest and lightest on the processor.

Controls

Close-up	Control	Range	Default	What it does
	Input	−10 to +30 dB	+10 dB	Drive against the fixed threshold: sets how much it compresses.
	Make-up	−12 to +12 dB	0 dB	Clean gain on the compressed signal.
	Ratio	1:1 to 20:1	4:1	1:1 is a wire; 20:1 is limiting.
	Attack	0.1 to 100 ms	10 ms	How fast the gain reduction builds.
	Release	10 ms to 2 s	200 ms	How fast the gain comes back.
	Release mode	Manual / Auto	Manual	Auto adds a slow stage after held passages, against pumping.
	Smooth	Off / On	Off	Rounds the gain's moves so it never follows a bass waveform.
	Mix	0 to 100 %	100 %	Dry against compressed, for parallel compression.
	Gain element	JFET / Diode / Optical / Pure	JFET	The device that turns the gain.
	Stereo link	Off / On	On for a stereo track, Off for mono	On: one detector, same gain on both channels.
	SC source	Internal / External	Internal	External: the detector hears the Sidechain input.
	SC highpass	Off / 70 Hz / 150 Hz	Off	Takes lows out of what the detector hears, against pumping.
	LISTEN	hold	—	Hear what the detector hears.
	Look-ahead	Off / 1 ms / 2 ms / 5 ms	Off	Delays the sound so the gain is down before a transient.
	IN / OUT bars	—	—	Peak levels in and out; the red top six decibels is headroom.
	CLIP lamp	—	—	Lit while the output soft clipper works.

A preset carries the stereo link with the other settings.

Tips

• Colour follows level. The element hears the track at its own level, so a hotter track is more coloured, whatever Input says.
• Optical: knobs fast, cell slow. Set Attack and Release short and let the photocell's own timing do the work.
• Parallel compression. Input well up, fast attack, Mix at 30 to 40 %.
• Pumping on the kick? Set the SC highpass to 70 Hz, or 150 Hz for a bass. Hold LISTEN to set it by ear.