Rane Corporation Rane DC 22S

The Rane DC 22S is a rack-mount stereo dynamics controller made by Rane Corporation. In one unit it combines three functions that players usually meet as separate compressor pedals and noise gate pedals: it works as a compressor, as a limiter, and as a gate. Rane's manual notes that it acts as a limiter when set at a very high ratio of 10:1¹. The unit is built for an industry standard equipment rack and carries two channels of controls, with channel 2 duplicating the controls of channel 1¹.

Controls and metering

Each channel carries the same set of controls, and the front panel gives you metering to set them by¹:

• GATE THRESHOLD sets the point at which the input signal level causes the gate to become active¹
• GAIN REDUCTION LEDs show the amount of average signal reduction in dB, which helps in setting the THRESHOLD and RATIO controls¹
• INPUT LEVEL indicators with +4 dBu and OL (overload) LEDs; if the OL LED flashes, Rane advises turning the output level down on the previous device¹
• BYPASS switch compares the compressed and non-compressed signal, one per channel, while the INPUT LEVEL indicators stay active regardless of the switch position¹
• LINK switch activates both compressors when either channel's signal exceeds the set threshold, preserving stereo imaging; channel 1's controls then become the master and channel 2's controls go dormant¹

The LINK switch matters most when you are compressing a stereo signal. Without it, a loud hit on one side would push only that channel's gain down and pull the image to the other side. Linked, both channels compress together from either channel's signal¹.

Using it with guitar and bass

Rane's manual lays out three placements for the DC 22S in a rig¹:

1. As a comp/limiter for the input signal, it goes after the guitar, if the guitar has a line-level output, and before the preamp¹
2. As a limiter to protect speakers, it goes after the preamp and before the power amp¹
3. It can be inserted in the effect loop of the preamp¹

Connections and power

Inputs 1 and 2 each accept either a balanced XLR or a balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS jack, but only one type per channel. A 1/4" TS jack will work, though Rane recommends balanced lines for cable runs over 10 feet (3 meters)¹. Outputs 1 and 2 come from balanced XLR or unbalanced 1/4" TS jacks, and using both types at once is permitted, so you can drive two devices such as an amplifier and a recorder¹.

The unit runs on AC mains power at 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, drawing 7 watts, so it needs no external adapter and works on a wide range of mains voltages¹. The POWER LED lights when the DC 22S is connected to a 100-240 VAC source and, in Rane's words, "ready to rock"¹. The plug on the power cord is the AC mains disconnect device and must remain readily operable¹.

Related units

Rane's compressor line includes the closely named Rane DC 22, a stereo compressor whose data sheet describes a built-in gate, GAIN REDUCTION LEDs that show the amount of average signal reduction in dB, and a LINK switch that activates both compressors when either channel's signal exceeds the set threshold, preserving stereo imaging¹.