Product Review: BSS DPR-402 Compressor/De-Esser/Limiter

A crucial distinction from the rest lies in the fact that there are 2 separate control circuits here, and the signal no longer passes through the VCA itself. According to a very clever design that has never been applied in this type of device until now, you can determine on the back of the device how you want to regulate part of the signal.

In the end, you have the following functions at your disposal: compressor with a “hard” or “soft” action, a separate peak limiter, in the “reverse” mode, you get an expander, a frequency-dependent compressor (thus a part of the spectrum), frequency-dependent de-esser, broadband de-esser, and any desired combination of these features.

Combined with features like switchable LED meters for Gain Reduction and signal level, side-chain monitoring, automatic setting of attack and release, “hard-wire” bypass, choice between XLR and jack connections, stereo linking, and fast or slow response of the peak limiter, this results in an extremely flexible and professional device. 

BSS DPR-402 is priced at 3900 Dutch guilders at Ampco, 030-433134.