Compressor Preview for Elektron Analog Rytm

One more compressor page with a scrolling estimate of the master compressor's gain reduction, reached by pressing the compressor page key again.

Module version 1.1.0. Base firmware: 1.74.

About this module

Compressor Preview adds a page behind the compressor page key on the FX track: a scrolling trace of the estimated gain reduction of the master compressor, so you can see what THR, ratio and attack do before you hear it. Pressing the key again returns to the stock page. FUNC + the page key switches the layout: level, threshold and gain reduction together, or gain reduction alone with 0 dB at the top; FUNC + LEFT/RIGHT sets the scroll speed and FUNC + UP/DOWN the vertical scale. The estimate is built from the voices, the PRE delay and reverb returns, the master distortion and each SEQ's sidechain, with a peak detector, a static curve that THR slides along and one attack/release pole. It is an estimate: the compressor has no gain-reduction readback. It is an elemod port of MrScruff's rytm-mods 0006-comp-preview with his code unchanged; the preview is listed in the compressor view through core-ar2's page lists (core_view_pages), so other modules' pages can sit beside it.

• A scrolling estimate of the master compressor's gain reduction on its own page.
• Two layouts, scroll speed and vertical scale on FUNC combinations.
• Listed through core-ar2's page lists, so another module's page can sit beside it.
• Display only: it changes no setting and no sound.

How to use it

1. On the FX track, open the AMP page (the compressor). Press AMP again: the preview page, a scrolling trace of estimated gain reduction.
2. Play a pattern and turn THR down: the gain-reduction line dips below the dotted threshold row. If the trace sits at the bottom of the screen, hold FUNC and press UP once or twice (the vertical scale). FUNC + AMP switches to gain reduction alone and back; FUNC + LEFT/RIGHT sets the scroll speed.
3. Press AMP again to return to the stock compressor page. Build without the module and the page is stock.

Controls

AMP, pressed again (FX track)

Steps from the stock compressor page to the preview and back. With another module's page on the same key the key steps through the stock page, this preview, then that page.

FUNC + AMP (preview)

Switches the layout: level, threshold and gain reduction together, or gain reduction alone with 0 dB at the top.

FUNC + LEFT / RIGHT (preview)

Sets the scroll speed.

FUNC + UP / DOWN (preview)

Sets the vertical scale.

Compatibility notes

• Built for OS 1.74 only, on core-ar2 0.4 or later (Modwerk's base is core-ar2 0.7). 1.0 listed the compressor view's pages itself and does not link with core-ar2 0.4 or later.
• The trace is an estimate, not a measurement: 1.6 dB rms from the measured reduction on random drum-pattern settings, 0.56 dB for a steady tone (author's calibration). DIST symmetry away from 64, reduction past 36 dB, POST returns and unusual crest factors read off.
• The estimate runs in the audio interrupt and costs 4 to 5 points of CPU. It pauses while core-ar2's audio load reads over 95 % and resumes below 88 %. Stock alone peaks near 84 % on a unit.
• At very low THR (around 24) the estimate holds a large reduction between hits, so the trace is a nearly flat line even on a raised vertical scale. At THR 41 one or two FUNC + UP presses bring the full trace back (unit run T217).
• Keeps its settings in memory only; nothing is saved with a project.

Test evidence

Hardware on Modwerk's base: CPH2 (plain 1c14b6b0, 2026-11-09): at THR 41 FUNC + UP brings the trace back, at THR 24 it stays nearly flat; CPH1 (ba530f45, 2026-11-08): the preview opens behind AMP and returns to the stock page, its FUNC keys change layout, speed and scale; CPU about 85 % playing with the preview open. Hardware, core-ar2 0.4 (2026-10-21): the load guard pauses the trace rather than the audio. Modwerk's package linked with core-ar2 0.7 gives a main OS byte-identical to the rytm2_mods v1.3 release object linked with it.