dbx 1066 Compressor/Limiter/Gate

{
  "schema_version": "capability-outboard-v1",
  "id": "dbx1066",
  "name": "dbx 1066 Compressor/Limiter/Gate",
  "maker": "dbx Professional Products (Harman Music Group)",
  "clone_of": null,
  "clone_of_note": "No clone lineage; the 1066 is dbx's own 1066-series successor to the 16x6 family, featuring the dbx V2 VCA.",
  "device_class": "compressor",
  "device_class_subtypes": [
    "compressor",
    "limiter",
    "expander_gate"
  ],
  "topology": "VCA (dbx V2)",
  "topology_note": "Manual p.2 cites 'the new advanced dbx V2 VCA'. The 1066's compressor/limiter/gate sections all run through the V2 VCA detector path; the limiter (PeakStopPlus) sits post-output-gain as a fail-safe protective stage.",
  "channels": 2,
  "linkable": true,
  "linkable_note": "Stereo Couple switch (p.4) joins the two channels: Channel 1 controls + switches override Channel 2's. Uses dbx 'True RMS Power Summing' for stereo detection.",
  "params": {
    "compressor": {
      "threshold_db": "-40..+20",
      "threshold_db_note": "Manual p.5: 'COMPRESSOR THRESHOLD has a 60 dB range'. The front-panel scale labels around the knob span -40 to +20.",
      "ratio": "1:1..inf:1",
      "ratio_note": "Manual p.6: 'adjustable between 1:1 and infinity:1'. With OverEasy enabled, the ratio transitions smoothly from linear into the compressed region.",
      "attack": "0.04..3 dB/ms",
      "attack_note": "Manual p.6: '3 dB/msec (tighter, more noticeable) to .04 dB/msec (more delayed, gradual)'. Fast attacks make the compressor behave like a peak limiter despite RMS detection.",
      "release": "5..250 dB/s",
      "release_note": "Manual p.7: '250 dB/sec (compression follows the envelope tightly) to 5 dB/sec (very smooth)'.",
      "knee": "switchable_soft_hard",
      "knee_note": "OverEasy switch (p.5) toggles between soft-knee OverEasy and hard-knee operation. When OverEasy is enabled the Threshold OverEasy (O) LED illuminates during the soft-knee region.",
      "makeup_gain": true,
      "output_gain_db": "-20..+20",
      "output_gain_db_note": "Output Gain control (p.7) is per-channel; compensates for level loss due to compression and sets nominal output level.",
      "auto_mode": true,
      "auto_mode_note": "AUTO switch (p.7) overrides ATTACK + RELEASE and substitutes program-dependent times derived from the input signal. Manual calls this 'the classic dbx sound'.",
      "sidechain_external": true,
      "sidechain_filter": "Contour (LF de-emphasis on detector)",
      "sidechain_filter_note": "Contour switch (p.6) adds gentle low-frequency de-emphasis in the detector path; prevents bass-heavy material from 'muffling or punching holes' in the compressed signal.",
      "gain_reduction_meter_stages": 12
    },
    "limiter": {
      "threshold_db": "+4..+22",
      "threshold_db_note": "PeakStopPlus LEVEL control (p.7) range; +22 dBu position is the OFF detent.",
      "architecture": "PeakStopPlus = Instantaneous Transient Clamp + Intelligent Predictive Limiting",
      "architecture_note": "Manual p.7: two-stage limiter. Stage 1 = Instantaneous Transient Clamp (zero attack/release, soft logarithmic clamp, limits excursion to ~2 dB above threshold). Stage 2 = Intelligent Predictive Limiting (program-dependent attack/release, monitors input and attenuates pre-emptively). Lives post-Output-Gain as a fail-safe limiter (p.7).",
      "attack": "instantaneous",
      "attack_note": "ITC stage = zero attack; predictive stage = program-dependent.",
      "release": "program-dependent",
      "release_note": "Predictive stage release scales with the magnitude of the gain reduction event."
    },
    "expander_gate": {
      "threshold_db": "-60..+15",
      "threshold_db_note": "Expander/Gate THRESHOLD (p.4); fully counter-clockwise = OFF (no gating or expansion).",
      "ratio": "1:1..8:1",
      "ratio_note": "Expander Ratio (p.4); higher ratios make the expander behave like a hard gate. Manual cautions against very high ratios on sustained low-frequency material (chattering).",
      "knee": "soft",
      "knee_note": "Soft-knee OverEasy threshold curve (p.4) -- analogous to the compressor's OverEasy. Decay is transparent at low-to-moderate ratios; only high ratios approximate hard gating.",
      "attack": "program-dependent",
      "release": "program-dependent",
      "attack_release_note": "Manual p.4: 'attack and release times are program-dependent. The detector intelligently senses the need for fast attack for rapidly-changing signals, and slows down for more stable signals.' No user-adjustable attack/release on the gate.",
      "hold": null,
      "range_db": null
    }
  },
  "io": {
    "audio_in": {
      "format": [
        "xlr",
        "trs"
      ],
      "balanced": true,
      "impedance_ohms": null,
      "inst_zi": false,
      "note": "Each channel features both XLR and 1/4\" TRS electronically balanced inputs (p.13). Either may be used balanced or unbalanced; using more than one connector simultaneously on the same channel can cause phase cancellation or short conductors to ground."
    },
    "audio_out": {
      "format": [
        "xlr",
        "trs"
      ],
      "balanced": true,
      "impedance_ohms": null,
      "note": "Each channel features both XLR and 1/4\" TRS servo-balanced outputs (p.13). Output transformer option available for long cable runs (cited in Specifications)."
    },
    "sidechain": {
      "send": true,
      "return": true,
      "format": "trs",
      "format_note": "Sidechain SEND is balanced 1/4\" TRS per channel; Sidechain RETURN is UNBALANCED 1/4\" TS per channel (p.13). Encoded here as 'trs' (the more capable format); the asymmetry is recorded as a note.",
      "per_channel": true
    },
    "stereo_link": true,
    "bypass": "relay",
    "bypass_note": "Bypass Switch (p.7) -- a relay hard-wires input to output, no signal processing. The same relay engages automatically on power failure; 1.5 second turn-on delay on power-up.",
    "operating_level": [
      "+4dBu",
      "-10dBV"
    ],
    "operating_level_note": "Rear-panel Operating Level Switch (p.13): in position = -10 dBV (semi-pro); out position = +4 dBu (professional). Internal level is always +4 dBu; the switch applies 11.8 dB pad/boost externally.",
    "rack_format": "1U"
  },
  "meters": [
    {
      "kind": "gain_reduction",
      "stages": 12,
      "range_db": "0..30",
      "shared": false,
      "note": "Per-channel 12-stage gain-reduction meter (p.6). Shows GR from compression, expansion/gating, or PeakStopPlus limiting -- whichever stage is currently reducing gain."
    },
    {
      "kind": "input_output_level",
      "stages": 8,
      "range_db": "-24..+18",
      "shared": false,
      "note": "Per-channel 8-stage I/O level meter (p.7). Reads directly when Operating Level = +4 dBu; in -10 dBV mode reads ~12 dB high relative to the actual signal. The I/O Meter Switch (per channel) toggles the meter source between input and output."
    }
  ],
  "performance": {
    "bypass_per_channel": true,
    "auto_release": true
  },
  "provenance": {
    "manual_path": "manuals/dynamics--dbx-1066-manual.pdf",
    "confidence": "high",
    "last_verified": "2026-05-27",
    "manual_pages": [
      2,
      4,
      5,
      6,
      7,
      8,
      13,
      15
    ],
    "verify_via": "SM45 single-seat manual extraction (Opus general-purpose seat). P8 tracer.",
    "verify_note": "Manual-grounded extraction from manuals/dynamics--dbx-1066-manual.pdf (Operating Controls pp.4-8 + Rear Panel p.13). All three subtypes (compressor + limiter + expander_gate) have explicit manual citations. Knee = switchable_soft_hard (OverEasy switch on compressor; soft-only on expander). PeakStopPlus architecture has its own free-text descriptor (two-stage ITC + Intelligent Predictive) per manual p.7. Sidechain SEND is TRS balanced + RETURN is TS unbalanced per p.13 -- encoded as 'trs' with the asymmetry in format_note (a hypothetical 'mixed' io_format token wasn't earned for a single tracer). Operating level switch is rear-panel only (front panel does not expose it).",
    "fields": {
      "device_class": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 2
      },
      "device_class_subtypes": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 4
      },
      "topology": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 2
      },
      "channels": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 4
      },
      "linkable": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 4
      },
      "params.compressor.threshold_db": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 5
      },
      "params.compressor.ratio": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 6
      },
      "params.compressor.attack": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 6
      },
      "params.compressor.release": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.compressor.knee": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 5
      },
      "params.compressor.makeup_gain": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.compressor.output_gain_db": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.compressor.auto_mode": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.compressor.sidechain_external": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 5
      },
      "params.compressor.sidechain_filter": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 6
      },
      "params.compressor.gain_reduction_meter_stages": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 6
      },
      "params.limiter.threshold_db": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.limiter.architecture": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "params.expander_gate.threshold_db": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 4
      },
      "params.expander_gate.ratio": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 4
      },
      "params.expander_gate.knee": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 4
      },
      "io.audio_in.format": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 13
      },
      "io.audio_out.format": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 13
      },
      "io.sidechain.send": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 13
      },
      "io.sidechain.return": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 13
      },
      "io.sidechain.per_channel": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 13
      },
      "io.stereo_link": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 4
      },
      "io.bypass": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      },
      "io.operating_level": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 13
      },
      "io.rack_format": {
        "conf": "medium",
        "pg": null
      },
      "meters.0.stages": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 6
      },
      "meters.1.stages": {
        "conf": "high",
        "pg": 7
      }
    }
  }
}