DBX 565 dual-band optical compressor

General

The DBX 565 is a dual-band optical compressor that's ideal for use in the studio or for live applications. It splits the input signal in two using the Linkwitz-Riley crossover filter, which gives you eight different frequencies to choose from. The threshold, attack time, release and output gain can be adjusted for each band of the compressor. A separate mute button for each band is handy when fine-tuning the other or when applying a high or low-pass filter to the signal.

DBX 565: applications

You can decide whether or not to apply compression to each band (and how much) using the compression knob. There's also a bypass switch on board so that you can easily compare the signal with or without compression. A compressor such as this is perfect for keeping sounds like a slap bass, clean guitars, vocals, kick drums and more in check. Optical compressors are not linear, meaning that the curve of the compression changes according to how much the signal rises above the threshold. This results in a subtler form of compression comparable to vintage compressors.

500 series: a modular system

The biggest advantage of the 500 series system is that different components can be combined however you want. All of the products in the 500 series are compatible with each other. That means you can assemble your rack using only the components you need, depending on the situation. It also means you won't have to shell out any extra cash for additional expensive power adapters. Of course, you can put together your rack for each situation using only the components you need from your collection of equipment.