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AM-55 / Sep 2015
A M - 5 5 G U I
Limiter Knee
Changes the knee of the limiter from soft to hard. When in HARD mode, the limiter
thresholds set in the controls of the Dynamic Display menu are absolute, limiting will
begin at the control settings. When in
SOFT, gain reduction beginning to
take place 3dB below a band’s actual
threshold setting with limiting gradually
getting harder as it reaches threshold.
In the soft mode, limiting is more obvi-
ous but the audio can also be smoother,
especially on voice. In the hard mode,
limiting is less noticeable but some peaky material may
induce clipping faster.
Bass Clipper Threshold
Sets the threshold level of the bass enhancer and clipper if the option is
selected. The range is -6dB to 0dB. Normal settings are around -3 to -2dB.
Lower numbers (towards -6dB) will lead to more bass clipping and more
controlled bass. Higher numbers (towards 0) will lead to less bass clipping
and more control of bass by the main clipper.
Enable
Turns ON and OFF the bass enhancer and clipper. The bass enhancer
and clipper can help to manage bass as a separate function of the main
clipper. This allows the end user to tailor bass a bit more freely without
causing IM distortion in the main clipper. When the bass clipper is off,
bass is treated exclusively in the main clipper only.
Bass Style 2
By default, the bass enhancer is set to Style 1, which is suitable for most formats.
If you desire bass that is fatter and more prominent, try Bass Style 2 which widens the
enhancer in front of the bass clipper for a more “full sound”.
Filter Shape
The Filter Shape
control switches in one of three types of low pass filters for Bass
Tools. The style of filter selected can impact the sound of bass.
The Broad
filter shape allows for a very full bass sound. Some bass products are let
out into the “main mix” (frequencies above where the Bass Tools frequency control is
set) and the broad filter has a texture that is reminiscent of bass enhancers in older digital
processors with the control of a modern limiter/clipper design.
The Medium
filter shape is what previous versions of AirAura bass management
used and is also found in the VBMS bass enhancement systems found in our other audio
processors. The Medium
filter shape gives bass some more “heft” without letting as much
of the bass products out of the enhancer into the main mix.
The Tight
filter shape keeps virtually all bass harmonics out of the main mix. It is
also the lightest sounding of the three and the bass has a very controlled texture.
