Softube AAX DSP, User Manual, Page: 144 / 182

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Expanding Modes
The expansion modes is operated in a very similar
way to the limiting modes, with the big exception
that it is, well, expanding rather than limiting.
Another exception is that the gate mode actually
gates the signal in the exp mode, while it in the
limit mode acts like a negative ratio limiter.
Classic Expansion/Noise Gating
Mode: Exp
Detector Type: avg/peak/gate
Detector Source: INT/DS-FM
Threshold: Adjust so that the desired sound levels
extinguish all lights on the Gain Reduction LED
array.
Release: Start with minimum setting, and then
adjust “by ear”.
Range: Start with 60 dB, adjust to decrease the ef-
fect caused by the gating.
Output: Usually below 0 dB
In the classic noise gating mode you have three
different settings of the Detector Type: avg, peak
and gate. The gate mode is the most brutal mode,
Weird Limiting
Mode: limit
Detector Type: gate
Detector Source: DS-FM or INT
In the category “Weird Limiting” we can find the
negative ratio stuff. The negative limiting mode is
a very special case, and is normally used together
with longer release times and the Range control. In
some settings, specifically with long release times
and a Range at about 10–15 dB, you can get a very
crackling sound. Increase the Range or the Release
time to avoid this.
Negative Limiting for “Organ Effects” (INT, LIMIT, GATE)
Modified Negative Limiting (DS-FM, LIMIT, GATE)
Ratio = 1:-20. As input signal exceeds Threshold,
a 1 dB increase causes a 20 dB decrease in output
level.
This is the mode that is the hardest to find some use for.
It crackles and pops a lot, and one might suspect when
reading the original manual that this is a mode that
wasn’t planned when designing the gear. More like “Wait,
what happens if you use the gate together with the limit-
ing mode? Ahh...”
IN (dB)
OUT (dB)
THRESHOLD
AVG and PEAK mode:
1:2 Expanding
GATE mode:
1:20 Expanding
GATE mode used
with Range control
RANGE