DATA SHEET
QUAD COMPRESSOR / LIMITER / DYNAMIC EQ
General Description
The C4 Quad Compressor/Limiter presents matchless feature,
performance and ergonomic value. Rounding out Rane’s popu-
lar series of analog-controlled digital products for live sound
applications, the C4 offers four feature-packed channels of
compression and limiting in a 2U package. Internal and external
side-chain options offer a fully adjustable parametric EQ for
frequency-dependent compression or de-essing. The oversampled
brick wall limiter determines the maximum output level and op-
erates independent of the compressor. Adjacent channels link in
a master/slave arrangement to ensure accurate tracking of stereo
inputs. Intuitive meters show side-chain level relative to Thresh-
old, gain reduction and complete dynamic range at a glance.
For details on what the C4 can do for your sound, see the
RaneNote Dynamics Processors — Technology & Application Tips
available at the Rane website.
Features
• Independent Compressor / Dynamic EQ / Limiter per channel.
• Relative-threshold Dynamic EQ remains calibrated for all levels.
• Auto mode for fast setup of Attack and Release.
• External side-chain with balanced / unbalanced ¼" TRS input.
• Side-chain includes a parametric EQ with Compress, Dynamic EQ
and Listen modes.
C4
Analog-Controlled Digital
Analog controls (knobs, sliders) allow a performer or sound
engineer to make precise adjustments, in real time. Digital signal
processing (DSP) provides a degree of accuracy, consistency
and flexibility that simply cannot be matched with a traditional
analog design.
The C4 combines the best of both worlds by using analog
controls and high performance digital processing to achieve an
unprecedented feature set. Benefits of this approach:
• Advanced compression and dynamic EQ techniques, difficult
or costly to implement in traditional analog designs.
• Improved accuracy and repeatability.
• Immunity to RF and electromagnetic interference.
• Lower cost per channel.
• Adjustable soft or hard knee compression.
• Independent Metering: Side-chain level, Threshold indicator,
Gain reduction and Limiter headroom.
• Stereo Link between channels 1 and 2 or 3 and 4.
• XLR and ¼" TRS input/output connectors.
• Universal internal switching power supply (100-240V).
Data Sheet-1
C4
QUAD COMPRESSOR / LIMITER / DYNAMIC EQ

Parameter Specification Limit Units Conditions/Comments

Inputs: Type Active Balanced Auto balanced/unbalanced
..........Maximum Input +22 1 dBu 1 kHz
..........Common Mode Rejection 60 typ. dB 1 kHz
..........Input Impedance 10k 1% Ω Each leg to ground @ 1 kHz
..........Main Input Connectors XLR, ¼" TRS XLR pin 2 hot per AES standards
..........Side-Chain In Connectors ¼" TRS Tip = hot, ring = negative
Digital Processing
Converters: Sample Rate 48 kHz 24-bit
..........Dynamic Range 106 typ. dB A-weighted (input to output); unity
..........Propagation Delay 1.2 typ. ms Converter delay
..........Fixed-Point DSP 48-bit double precision
Dynamics Processing Compress/Dynamic EQ/Limit LED mode indicators
Side-chain detect PEQ rms, Bandpass rms True rms, 50 ms average RC
Dynamics Controls All pots 8-bit resolution or 256 steps
..........Bypass toggle switch Active/Bypass LED indicators
..........Threshold Range +20 to -40 1 dB Before Limiter
..........Ratio 1:1 to 10:1
..........Gain -12 to +12 1 dB 0 dB gain detent
..........Attack 25 to 500 ms Settle to 85% of final value
..........Release 0.025 to 2.0 Sec. For 10 dB step
..........Knee 0 to 10 dB Span
..........Limit Threshold +22 to -40 Peak dBu Oversampled brick wall
Side-Chain PEQ: Gain ±12 dB
..........Frequency 20 to 20k Hz
..........Bandwidth 0.5 to 10 oct.
..........Internal / External Auto Cable Detect
..........Normal / Listen Toggle switch LED indicator (listen to side-chain)
Link Channels 1 & 2, 3 & 4 Switchable
Meter: Gain Reduction -12, -6, -3, -1, Threshold dB Each channel
..........Side-chain level Relative to Threshold setting dBr 4-segment, relative to Threshold
..........Headroom Relative to Limit setting Peak dBr 5-segment
Outputs: Active Balanced Auto balanced/unbalanced
..........Connectors XLR, ¼" TRS XLR pin 2 hot per AES standards
..........Impedance 100 1% Ω Each leg to ground
..........Maximum Output +22 1 dBu 600 Ω or greater
EMI Filters Yes Inputs and Outputs
Frequency Response 15 Hz to 20 kHz +0/-3 dB
THD+Noise .02 typ. % +4 dBu, 20-20 kHz, 20 kHz BW
THD+Noise .006 typ. % +4 dBu, 1 kHz, 20 kHz BW
Crosstalk <-100 typ. dB 2 kHz
Power Supply Requirement 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 20 W
Unit: Conformity FCC, CULUS
Unit: Construction All Steel
..........Size 3.5" H x 19" W x 8.25" D (2U) (8.9 cm x 48.3 cm x 21 cm)
..........Weight 7.3 lb (3.3 kg)
.....Shipping: Size 4.5" x 20.3" x 13.75" (11.5 cm x 52 cm x 35 cm)
..........Weight 12 lb (5.5 kg)
Note: 0 dBu=0.775 Vrms
Data Sheet-2
 C4
QUAD COMPRESSOR / LIMITER / DYNAMIC EQ
Block Diagram
DSP BLOCK MASTER CHANNEL ONLY

CH2 or CH4 PK +22

-40

LINK
THRESHOLD dB LIMIT
LIMIT
PEAK
DETECTOR
3
HEADROOM
6

12
To Link Channel
24
-12 +12 OUTPUT
INPUT
2 + DYNAMIC EQ BYPASS
3 -
ADC COMPRESSOR GAIN OR
1
GAIN CONTROL ACTIVE
LIMITER +
GAIN CONTROL 2
NORM
DAC
DYNAMIC EQ LISTEN
NORM Dynamic EQ Gain reduction is
NOT Linked in Dynamic EQ mode. LINK
Only the controls are Linked.

SLAVE CHANNEL ONLY MASTER CHANNEL ONLY

CH1 or CH3 LMT
COMPRESSOR ONLY
LINK CH1 or CH3 COMP
CH 2 or CH 4
TO CH 2 or CH 4
CH1 or CH3 COMP

Controls are linked in

Comp and Dynamic EQ Modes
MASTER CHANNELS ONLY
FREQ BW GAIN LINK THRESHOLD KNEE
(20 dB) (0 dB)
20 20k 0.5 10 -12 +12 CH2 or CH4 RMS -60 +20 SOFT HARD
COMPRESSOR ONLY ATTACK (ms) RELEASE (ms)

PEQ NORM 25 500 25 2 Sec

RMS
FLAT DETECTOR NORM
DYNAMIC EQ dB RATIO (dB GAIN) ATTACK / RELEASE
SIDE-CHAIN NORM
DYNAMIC EQ
(KEY) INT DYNAMIC EQ RMS
BP DETECTOR (1:1) (10:1)
ADC
EXT THRESHOLD RATIO
AUTO
SWITCHING JACK

-12 -6 -3 -1 TH 18 12 8 4 2 1
dBr REDUCTION dB

True De-essing with Dynamic EQ Adjustable Knee Compression

0 +5
-2.5
-5 +4
-7.5
-10
+3
-12.5
L -15
+2
e -17.5
O
v -20 Threshold u
e -22.5 +1
t
l -25 Increasing Level De-essing p
e
ne
d -27.5 0 u
B -30 K t
u -32.5
H ard -1 d
-35
B
nee
-37.5
u
K -2

Soft
-40
-42.5
-3
-45
20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k
Frequency (Hz) -4

The C4 uses a relative threshold approach to dynamic EQ to en- -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0

Input dBu
+1 +2 +3 +4 +5
-5

sure precise, predictable performance. Unlike traditional de-ess-

ers, which simply use an EQ boost in the side-chain to increase The adjustable KNEE setting provides full control over how the
the compressor’s sensitivity to high frequencies, the C4 actually compressor transitions from unity gain to maximum compres-
determines the amount of sibilance present in the program mate- sion. Softer knee settings are preferred when compressing vocals
rial and compares it to the overall signal content. The benefit to or an overall music mix, while harder knee settings work better
this approach is that de-essing depends only on the relationship for bass and drums, for instance.
between sibilant sound and the broadband (full-range) sound,
and is not affected by changes in absolute level. The result: sizzly
sounds are successfully subdued during soft or strident sections.
A de-essing ‘preset’ in each channel is found by aligning the
controls to the triangles .
Data Sheet-3
C4
QUAD COMPRESSOR / LIMITER / DYNAMIC EQ

Rear Panel
C4 OUTPUT 4 INPUT 4 OUTPUT 3 INPUT 3 OUTPUT 2 INPUT 2 OUTPUT 1 INPUT 1 SIDE-CHAIN

RANE CORP.
COMMERCIAL AUDIO
EQUIPMENT 24TJ
CH 2 CH 1

100-240V
50/60 Hz 20 WATTS CH 4 CH 3

FOR CONTINUED WIRING THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING
GROUNDING TIP / PIN 2 = POSITIVE TWO CONDITIONS: (1) THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND (2) THIS DEVICE
PROTECTION RING / PIN 3 = NEGATIVE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED, INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE
DO NOT REMOVE SLEEVE = SIGNAL GROUND UNDESIRED OPERATION. THIS CLASS B DIGITAL APPARATUS COMPLIES WITH CANADIAN ICES-003. CET
SCREW PIN 1 = CHASSIS GROUND APPAREIL NUMÉRIQUE DE LA CLASSE B EST CONFORME À LA NORME NMB-003 DU CANADA.

Applications

GRAPHIC EQ
MIC INPUT MIC CH 1 SIDE-CHAIN MIC INPUT 2

OL
4

0
MASTER CONTROL

LEVEL
6

10
8

BYPASS
±12

±6

RANGE
+
6
4
2
1
0
1
2
4
6
–
25 31.5 40 50 63 80 100 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1k 1.25k 1.6k 2k 2.5k 3.15k 4k 5k 6.3k 8k 10k 12.5k 16k 20k
+
12

–
8
5
2
0
2
5
8
12
POWER
ME 30B
MICROGRAPHIC
EQUALIZER

CH 1 SIDE-CHAIN
INSERT SEND CH 1 INPUT INSERT SEND CH 1 INPUT
INSERT RETURN CH 1 OUTPUT INSERT RETURN CH 1 OUTPUT

INSTRUMENT IN BASS CH 2 SIDE-CHAIN

MIXER C4
INSERT SEND CH 2 INPUT

INSERT RETURN CH 2 OUTPUT

Using an external equalizer in the side-chain.
SUB GROUP 1 CH 3 SIDE-CHAIN

INSERT SEND CH 3 INPUT

INSERT RETURN CH 3 OUTPUT

MASTER
STEREO LINK
SLAVE

SUB GROUP 2 CH 4 SIDE-CHAIN

INSERT SEND CH 4 INPUT

INSERT RETURN CH 4 OUTPUT

MIXER C4
Connection to a mixing console.

©Rane Corporation 10802 47th Ave. W., Mukilteo WA 98275-5000 USA TEL 425-355-6000 FAX 425-347-7757 WEB rane.com
Data Sheet-4 All features & specifications subject to change without notice. 1-2014