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5.1 Introduction

The Duende PCIe EQ and Dynamics Channel Strip plug-in is based on the EQ and compressor sections of the XL 9000 K Series

console. SSL were the first manufacturer to feature dynamics and EQ on every channel on an in-line console with the SL 4000

B Series in 1977. The plug-in includes separate high and low pass filters, a four band parametric equalizer, an independent

compressor/limiter and gate/expander as well as input and output gain adjustment knobs and a phase invert button. Let’s have

a closer look at each section in detail.

5.2 Input Section

Gain

: Controls the level of the incoming audio signal.

Ø 

(Phase Reverse)

: Reverses the phase of the incoming input signal.

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5. Duende PCIe EQ and Dynamics Channel Strip

Summary of Contents for DUENDE PCIe

Page 1: ...D DU UE EN ND DE E P PC CI Ie e User Guide 82S6MC120A ...

Page 2: ......

Page 3: ...5 4 2 Launching a Duende PCIe plug in 6 4 3 DSP Resource Management 7 4 4 Guidelines for Plug in Delay Compensation 8 5 Duende PCIe EQ and Dynamics Channel Strip 12 5 1 Introduction 12 5 2 Input Section 12 5 3 Filter Section 13 5 4 Equaliser Section 14 5 5 Dynamics Section 17 5 6 Advanced Signal Routing Options 20 6 Duende PCIe Stereo Bus Compressor 21 Introduction 21 Parameter Description 21 7 Du...

Page 4: ...Printing History February 2008 First Edition ...

Page 5: ... home and project studio owners who don t have the budget or the floor space required to install a large format console Drawing on our unique understanding of audio processing and years of DSP know how our team of engineers set about creating the SSL processing solution for your DAW environment We knew we needed serious DSP horsepower to accommodate our powerful algorithms and we knew it had to co...

Page 6: ...ersion 10 5 1 or higher 60MB of free hard disk space Audio Units VST or RTAS compatible host application One available PCIe PCI Express slot Please visit www solid state logic com duende for details on compatible computers 17 or larger colour monitor with screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher recommended Internet Connection for product registration and to download software updates 2 2 System R...

Page 7: ...he on screen instructions making sure to attend to the Add Hardware Wizard when prompted Software Hardware Installation Mac 1 Power down the computer and remove the power lead 2 Remove the cover s to gain access to the PCIe sockets 3 Locate a free PCIe socket and ensure that the rear panel blanking plate is removed 4 Plug your Duende PCIe card into the PCIe socket and secure the mounting bracket t...

Page 8: ...ailable for parameter adjustment When the mouse cursor is hovered over a knob it s value is displayed in the appropriate units At any point you can see exactly what value a knob has without touching it If you have a mouse with scroll wheel it can be used to change the knob position Windows XP To reset a knob to its default value hold Ctrl click on that knob For very fine adjustment hold SHIFT whil...

Page 9: ...u have available at any time Windows XP The panel can be found in Start Menu Programs Solid State Logic Duende or in the Windows control panel OS X The panel can be found by navigating to Apple Menu System Preferences SSL Duende Each mono plug in loaded into Duende PCIe will take up one slot a 1 representing a used slot and a Ø or representing an unused slot At 44 1 and 48kHz there are 32 slots av...

Page 10: ...icular methods for instantiating launching a plug in Consult the host application documentation for specific instructions on loading and using plug ins within the application Launching a Duende PCIe channel strip in Logic 8 Launching a Duende PCIe channel strip in Cubase 4 6 ...

Page 11: ...his may well occur because you have filled up all the resources and subsequently unloaded 2 mono plug ins This situation can be seen in the diagram below As you can see above the two remaining slots reside on different DSP chips and in this case when you attempt to load a stereo plug in you will encounter the above mentioned situation The way to handle this is as follows 1 Save your project song 2...

Page 12: ...matically compensate for this latency by simply turning on the Plug in Delay Compensation PDC or similar usually found in the applications preferences Some hosts even provide full plug in delay compensation throughout the entire signal path including sends groups and buses The location of the settings for the PDC option within some common host applications is as follows Cubase SX 4 Nuendo 2 3 4 Al...

Page 13: ... s how The track with the most Duende PCIe plug ins will introduce the most latency those with 1 or 2 plug ins will introduce less and those with no Duende PCIe plug ins will introduce no latency providing other plug ins that introduce latency are not used To find out the latency introduced on a particular track by Duende PCIe plug ins go to the channel in the mixer and Command Ctrl Click twice in...

Page 14: ...er there are still some considerations to be taken into account to make sure all Duende PCIe plug ins are compensated for and everything stays perfectly in sync To turn on ADC go to Setup Playback Engine whilst Pro Tools is stopped and you will see a box labeled Delay Compensation Engine Change the setting here to Long 4095 Samples per channel Pro Tools will then tell you that it will close and re...

Page 15: ...e other channels by If the dly value is less than the 4095 set in the Delay Compensation box then you don t need to worry and everything will be compensated for As you can see in the picture shown left the kc merged channel has 1 Duende PCIe channel strip loaded onto it therefore Pro Tools is automatically delaying the other channels by that amount 1028 samples to ensure all audio is kept in sync ...

Page 16: ...Series in 1977 The plug in includes separate high and low pass filters a four band parametric equalizer an independent compressor limiter and gate expander as well as input and output gain adjustment knobs and a phase invert button Let s have a closer look at each section in detail 5 2 Input Section Gain Controls the level of the incoming audio signal Ø Phase Reverse Reverses the phase of the inco...

Page 17: ...e filters come before the Equalizer section When the DYN S C button is pressed the filters are switched into the sidechain of the Dynamics section The term process sidechain will be discussed in greater detail in the overview of the Dynamics section Using Filters DYN SC The Filters are switched into the sidechain of the Dynamics section The Equaliser can be switched into the sidechain independentl...

Page 18: ...s EQ bandwidth varies with applied gain and so increases the selectivity of the EQ This EQ type generally works best at moderate settings particularly on instruments or vocals as a gentle corrective EQ The E series EQ is the Black Knob circuit which has a constant bandwidth at all gains This means that it can be particularly useful for surgery EQ tasks as it offers relatively narrow Q at relativel...

Page 19: ...ly variable Q from 0 5 to 2 5 The HF section operates over a frequency range of 1 5kHz to 22kHz and is capable of up to 20dB of cut or boost Selecting BELL in this mode switches the equaliser to a peaking curve As default the Duende PCIe EQ is set to the G Series EQ curve The G Series shelving curves have a degree of overshoot undershoot depending on whether you are boosting or cutting below the s...

Page 20: ...re aggressive There are three buttons associated with this section of the plug in EQ IN Switches the EQ section into circuit E SwitchestheEQfrom G operationto E operation seeabove DYN SC Switches the EQ section into the sidechain of the Dynamics section The Filter Section can be switched independently of the EQ section If both Filter and EQ sections are assigned to the dynamic sidechain the EQ sec...

Page 21: ...s like de essing etc The Dynamics Section has a few routing buttons ssociated with it DYN IN Switches the Dynamics Section into the signal path post EQ PRE EQ Switches the Dynamics Section pre the EQ section but post the Filter section if the Filter INPUT switch is pressed t EXP HOLD FAST ATT ATTACK RELEASE RANGE dB GAIN REDUCTION EXP GATE EXPANDER RMS DETECT ATTACK PK SLOW ATTACK RELEASE THRESHOL...

Page 22: ...mpressor will start to act at the ratio set by the RATIO control This control also provides automatic make up gain so as you lower the threshold and introduce more compression the output level is increased maintaining a steady output level regardless of the amount of compression RELEASE Sets the time constant speed with which the compressor returns to normal gain settings once the signal has passe...

Page 23: ... attack time of 1 5ms per 40dB is selected The attack time is the time taken for the Expander Gate to recover once the signal level is above the threshold When gating signals with a steep rising edge such as drums a slow attack may effectively mask the initial Thwack so you should be aware of this when selecting the appropriate attack time HOLD Determines the time after the signal has decayed belo...

Page 24: ...the DYN S C switches in the respective sections The table below shows the sidechain source and processing for the various combinations of these Switch 1 Switch 2 SC Source Sidechain Processing order Dynamics Input EQ to Dyn S C Dynamics Input Equaliser Filters to Dyn S C Dynamics Input Filters EQ to Dyn S C Filters to Dyn S C Dynamics Input Equaliser Filters Switch 1 Switch 2 Processing Order Equa...

Page 25: ... compressor As it is available as either a stereo or mono plug in the bus compressor can be used for practically any application that requires superior compression Parameter Description Compression Meter Shows Gain Reduction THRESHOLD Continuously variable 20dB to 20dB ATTACK Six switchable ranges 0 1 0 3 1 3 10 and 30ms RATIO Three switchable ranges ranges 2 1 4 1 and 20 1 MAKE UP Level compensat...

Page 26: ... there is kept up to date by our support staff to make sure all information is accurate All information is available to you 24 7 If you can t find your answer or a solution to your issue you can submit a question via the site to our support staff for resolution URL http solid state logic en custhelp com 7 Duende PCIe Support ...

Page 27: ...he names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS AS IS AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CO...

Page 28: ...y of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means whether mechanical or electronic without the written permission of Solid State Logic Oxford OX5 1RU England As research and development is a continual process Solid State Logic reserves the right to change the features and specifications described herein without notice...

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