@Rick Sanders The ratio knob at the top goes from 1 to 50. It sets the amount of gain reduction after threshold is exceeded. 50 is maximum reduction at whatever the max gain reduction knob is set to. Any thing less than 50 on the ratio knob will be less than the max max gain reduction knob setting. The way to set max gain reduction knob is the maximum amount of gain reduction you need for control of the input signal. If the input signal only needs 30 dB of gain reduction then a setting of 30 on the gain reduction knob would give the maximum amount of control needed and it would also make ratio knob more sensitive to it's range of control setting. Basically the ratio knob has a range of 1 to 50. This is not the dB of gain reduction, it is just a measure of how far the knob is turned. If the max gain reduction is set to 20 (it's lowest setting) then the ratio knob will adjust from no reduction (1) to full 20dB reduction at(50). That means that a small adjustment of the ratio knob will have a small change to the amount of gain reduction applied to the input signal after threshold. If the max gain reduction knob is set to 60dB, the the ratio knob will adjust the amount of gain reduction after threshold from none (1) to full reduction 60dB at a setting of (50). This means that the same amount of small adjustment of the ratio knob will have a larger amount of change to the reduction applied to the input signal after threshold. The ratio knob has the same amount of adjustment travel but a higher max gain reduction setting means that the finite amount of travel that the ratio knob has will be less sensitive (larger amount of adjustment for small knob changes). If the input signal only needs a small amount of dB reduction , then a smaller max gain reduction setting is all that is needed and the ratio adjustment knob will be more sensitive to small adjustments. If the input signal needs a massive amount of reduction then a higher max gain reduction setting is needed and the ratio knob will be less sensitive to small adjustments but will have the amount of total gain reduction needed. The SSL X-comp is a bit more complex than most other compressors. The ratio knob is not calibrated to 1:1 or 5:1 or any usual ratio settings, it's just numbered from 1 to 50 as an amount of knob travel. The actual ratio is varied from 20dB full clockwise rotation to 60 dB full clockwise rotation, therefor the ratio setting of the ratio knob would be different for different max gain reduction knob settings. Hope that helps, if you need more clarity just ask and I'll be happy to try and clear it up more.

@Andy Laird Normally you would adjust the attack, release, and ratio settings to allow transients through. The max gain reduction setting besides setting the maximum amount of gain reduction also affects the sensitivity of the ratio knob. Transients and dynamics are actually two different aspects or the program material. Transients are excursions above the average level whereas dynamic range is the difference between the quietest and the loudest level of program material.

Yes , I have a business to run and I can't always join the day of and need the replays.

Any idea on when the day 2 Jake reply will be posted? It has been 3 days and it's still not posted.

REW is one option but I personally use Sonarworks Sound ID Reference. It's best to get the calibrated mic to go with it. The mic comes with the response profile that you load into ID reference then you use the Sound ID Measure part of the program to measure the response of the speakers in the room. ID Reference will give flat response for the room and there are options for Dolby Atmos , a Custom Target EQ you can tweak yourself , and a translation check also. It has options to extend the low and high range of EQ , Latency options , filter options , Listening spot , and safe headroom option. I find it to be more like a Parametric EQ with as many center frequencies as you need. It has been worth every penny I paid and I highly recommend it. You have options for SoundID Reference for Headphones, Stereo & Multichannel studios and more. Check it out here - https://www.sonarworks.com/soundid-reference