Related Manuals for Mackie Stereo and Mono Side chain Compressor
Summary of Contents for Mackie Stereo and Mono Side chain Compressor
- Page 1 U S E R ’ S G U I D E Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressor plug-ins For Tracktion 2...
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Page 2: Mackie Software License
Technologies’ entire liability and your exclusive remedy will be the replacement of the defective disk when it is returned postage prepaid to LOUD Technologies at the address below or a Mackie authorized representative with a copy of the purchase receipt. LOUD Technologies will have no responsibility to replace a disk damaged by accident, abuse or misapplication. - Page 3 RECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN IN- FORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY LOUD TECHNOLOGIES OR A MACKIE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL CREATE A WAR- RANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE...
- Page 4 Note: Visit our website at www.mackie.com to obtain the latest manuals and downloads for all your Mackie products. “Mackie” and the “Running Man” fi gure are trademarks or registered trademarks of LOUD Tech- nologies Inc. VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. All other brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby ac- knowledged.
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Page 5: Table Of Contents
Contents Mackie Software License-------------------------2 Introduction ----------------------------------------6 Main Features -------------------------------------- 6 A brief word about Compressors--------------- 7 Standard vs. Sidechain Compressors ---------- 7 Adding the Sidechain Compressor in Tracktion --------------------------------------------8 Setting up a new Rack Filter--------------------- 8 Example 1: Compressor triggering from... -
Page 6: Introduction
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Introduction Thank you for choosing Mackie software prod- ucts for your computer-based audio recording system. The Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressor plug-ins come with Tracktion, our easy-to-use music production software application. When you install Tracktion, the plug-ins are automati- cally installed in Tracktion's plug-ins folder. -
Page 7: A Brief Word About Compressors
A brief word about Compressors As an example of how to use a compressor, supposing you have a track with a wide dynamic range. This may have some exquisitely detailed and quiet passages, played before breaking into the fi nal crescendo of Heavy Metal fi... -
Page 8: Adding The Sidechain Compressor In Tracktion
Choose the fi lter you wish to add to the track from this list. The Sidechain Compressors and other plug-ins are available in the "Mackie Plugins" folder of this drop down menu. User’s Guide Setting up a new Rack Filter... -
Page 9: Example 1: Compressor Triggering From Another Track
Example 1: Compressor triggering from another track Suppose you want to use the Sidechain Compressor as a "ducker," i.e., to reduce a music program when you make an announcement. We can set up the Sidechain Compressor to take its Key Input from a vocal track, and its main inputs from a music track. -
Page 10: Setting Up The Main Input
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Setting up the Main Input 6. Add a new fi lter to track 5 (for example), but do not choose the Sidechain Compressor. Instead, choose the Rack Filter you just set up in step 1. Note: the Rack Filter is the same unit for both track 1 and track 5, and not two separate units. -
Page 11: Adding An Eq To The Key Input
Adding an EQ to the Key Input (an optional and fun thing to do) 13. Add a new fi lter inside the rack fi lter (instead of to the right of the tracks), and choose an EQ. 14. Then click on the Key Input connecting line and use the mouse to hook the EQ in-line. -
Page 12: Example 2: Compressor Triggering From The Same Track
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Example 2: Compressor triggering from the same track Tracktion's wonderful rack fi lter system lets you make the key input the same as your main input. One application for this, is to make a De-Esser to get rid of high "Ssss" sounds on vocal tracks. Dedicated De-Essers have more fi... - Page 13 4. Connect the left and right outputs of the EQ to the Key Input of the compressor. 5. Adjust the EQ to boost the higher frequencies where the "S" sounds lurk. A bit like this (although this is a more extreme example): 6.
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Page 14: Using The Eq To Drop Off The Lows
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Using the EQ to drop off the lows There is another useful and common application for a Sidechain Compressor: If you have a Guitar track, and you do not want the low frequencies compressed, you can place an EQ in the Key Input to roll off the lows. -
Page 15: Sidechain Compressor Features
Sidechain Compressor Features Contour Edit Screen The Main Screen is made up of two sections: • Global Controls • Compressor Controls and Contour Edit Screen The Global Controls section includes the Lock and Hide buttons, Preset up/down buttons, Pre- set title window, Active, Menu, and Mem A/B buttons. -
Page 16: Global Controls
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Global Controls Lock If this is pressed, the compressor's interface will not disappear when you select other items or areas in Tracktion. Hide This hides the compressor interface from view, and is useful if you have previously selected "Lock."... -
Page 17: The Contour Edit Screen
The Contour Edit Screen -48 -42 -36 -30 -24 -18 -12 INPUT LEVEL dB This interactive graph does not show the ac- tual input or output signals dancing across the screen. It shows the contour we can apply to the compressor to make it work as we want it to. -
Page 18: Compression Ratio
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Compression Ratio The compression ratio compares the change in input level with the change in output level. From the graph on the previous page, the input range from 0 dB to the threshold is –30 dB. From the graph, this input range is compressed into an output range of –12 dB, and the ratio is 30/12 (= 2.5/1). -
Page 19: Soft Clip On And Threshold
Soft Clip On and Threshold The Soft Clip switch activates a soft-clip limiter circuit. There is also a threshold slider. When the output level goes above this threshold, the soft-clip circuit kicks in. This circuit starts add- ing analog-style distortion, which rounds off transient peaks, and avoids the harsher sound of a straight digital clip. -
Page 20: Reduction Meter
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Reduction Meter The reduction meter along the right edge of the screen shows the overall reduction in output level due to the compressor operation. If you are using expansion, then there will be an in- crease in output level. -
Page 21: Examples
Examples Expansion The red diagonal line added to the graph below, represents unity gain (i.e., the output signal is the same level as the input signal). Contours which are steeper than this, like the segment between T and node 1, represent expansion, those not as steep, compression. -
Page 22: Hard Knee And Soft Knee Compression
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Hard Knee and Soft Knee Compression The terms hard and soft do not refer to sound, but rather the way that the compressor reacts to incoming signals. The difference is somewhat subtle to hear, but is more apparent at higher compression ratios. -
Page 23: Specifi Cations
Contact our Technical Support staff at 1-800-898-3211, Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm PST. After hours, please visit www.mackie.com and look under Support, or email us at techmail@mackie.com. -
Page 24: Appendix: Using Compressors
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Appendix: Using Compressors Compression has become such an integral part of mixing, that we thought an appendix might be called for. Dynamic Range To use a compressor effectively, it’s important to understand the concept of dynamic range. Dynamic range is the difference between the loudest and quietest signal levels passing through the system chain. -
Page 25: Stereo Or "Program" Compressors
level, we’ve made the vocal track louder in the mix without reaching a volume at any point that will cause distortion. To do this requires a very fast compressor or limiter, but it’s a good ex- ample of the principle. Since to most listeners, louder equals better, another use for compression is to make a mix sound louder. -
Page 26: Working The Knobs
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion Working the Knobs Lowering the threshold while keeping the compression ratio fi xed reduces the maximum output level, since you’re compressing over a larger portion of the dynamic range of the in- put signal. By keeping the threshold fi xed but increasing the compression ratio, you’ll reduce the output level by compressing only the loud- est signals. -
Page 27: User Presets
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion User’s Guide... - Page 28 16220 Wood-Red Road NE • Woodinville, WA 98072 • USA United States and Canada: 800.898.3211 Europe, Asia, Central and South America: 425.487.4333 Middle East and Africa: 31.20.654.4000 Fax: 425.487.4337 • www.mackie.com E-mail: sales@mackie.com...