1.3 Concepts and Terminology
Analog Console Summing
Ever since the dawn of the digital audio revolution, engineers the world over have tried
to replicate the sound of analog summing, in the box. Many top engineers add an analog
hardware console or summing box to their setup, and route multitrack audio from the
DAW to the analog device, and back again as stereo, in order to get analog summing
coloration.
With that in mind, Waves began exploring the mysteries of analog summing with the
help of Mark ‘Spike’ Stent, who generously lent us his SSL 4000G desk. Our research
suggested that its individual channel preamps, working together with one another in
conjunction with the master buss preamp, are responsible for its indefinable yet highly
desirable sound. Furthermore, we concluded that perceived depth and image—what
we’ve come to know as ‘non-linearity’—are the result of minor differences in frequency
response, harmonic distortion and noise between the channels.
Analog Character
Analog devices produce electrical artifacts that affect frequency response, add
harmonics, cause signal clipping and increase noise. These artifacts, which sound
engineers often consider the ‘character’ of a particular device, result from a combination
of factors such as component grade, technology type (i.e., vacuum tubes vs. transistors),
power supply specifications, equipment casing and other variables. Waves modeled
these artifacts for each individual console channel.
Frequency Response
Depending on the circuit, input signal frequency response varies. Some circuits cut
frequencies; others boost them. This behavior is part of the overall device character, and
should not be confused with user-adjustable EQ.
Harmonics (THD/Total Harmonic Distortion)
THD is low-level distortion based on the levels of the odd and even harmonics of an
input signal, usually at a level much lower than the fundamental level. Normally, each
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