Metric Halo ChannelStrip 2 User Manual
ChannelStrip User Guide
ChannelStrip v
January 12, 2004
5 Donovan Drive
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
tel (845) 223-6112 • fax (603) 250-2451 • Toll Free (888) 638-4527
http://www.mhlabs.com • email: support@mhlabs.com
Copyright © 1999-2004, Metric Halo Distribution, Inc.
ersion 2.0
Metric Halo
ChannelStrip User Guide
Quick Installation Guide
Congratulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
What is ChannelStrip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Operating the Strip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Control Knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Toggle Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Fader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Filter type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Sidechain Routing Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Compressor character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Graphs disclosure control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Peak Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Gain reduction meter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Peak, RMS, VU output meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
EQ Transfer Function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Dynamics Knee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Global Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Working with Pro Tools™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Plug-in Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Key Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
The Processing – A Detailed Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Input Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Gate/Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Theory of operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Gate Enable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Threshold control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Attack control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Release control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ChannelStrip User Guide
Using the Sidechain Key input w/selectable filter . . . . . . 21
Sidechain Routing Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Filter type button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Filter enable button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Filter band boost/cut control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Filter band frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Filter bandwidth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Compressor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Theory of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Audio Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Compressor Enable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Post EQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Auto Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Manual make-up gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Compressor Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Threshold control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Ratio Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Attack control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Release control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Using the Sidechain Key input w/selectable filter . . . . . . 30
Sidechain Routing Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Filter type button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Filter enable button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Filter band boost/cut control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Filter band frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Filter bandwidth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Equalizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Theory of operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
ChannelStrip User Guide
Master Enable button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Filter type button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Filter enable button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Filter band boost/cut control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Filter band frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Filter bandwidth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Controlling the EQ with the Transfer Function . . . . . . . 38
EQ output gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Delay Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Service and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
ChannelStrip Installation Guide
Quick Installation Guide
Installing and registering y
step process.
1. Insert the installation media into your computer.
Double-click the “CSTDMInstaller” application on the CD.
After a few seconds an installer dialog will appear:
Enter the serial number that is printed on the serial number sticker which is
found either on the CD sleeve or on the inside cover of your ChannelStrip
manual.
2. Under normal circumstances the installer will automatically locate the
proper destination for your plug-in software. Unless you have a special rea
son to install your ChannelStrip software in a different location, use the
default location provided by the installer.
our Metric Halo software product is a simple 7
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If you need to install the software in a custom location, click the “Select
Destination Directory…” button to choose the software installation loca
tion. A folder selection dialog box will appear (next page):
1
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ChannelStrip Installation Guide
Na
vigate until you have selected the appropriate folder to contain the software and then click the “Open” button at the bottom of the dialog. The
folder selection dialog box will close
3. Now click the “Install” button in the Installer dialog. Installation will
require about 1 minute.
4. Congratulations! Your software is now installed. The installer has provided a temporary license so that you can get started immediately. You will
need to register the software with Metric Halo within 12 days to get the
authorization code to convert the license to a permanent one.
You can now use your software immediately (even before it is authorized)!
The software will inform you once each time you start Pro Tools that the
license is temporary and will tell you the amount of time that remains on
license before it will expire.
5. In order to permanently authorize your software you will have to obtain
an authorization code from Metric Halo. To permanently authorize your
new ChannelStrip plug-in, use the “Authorizer(CS)” application included in
the same folder as the installer.
2
ChannelStrip Installation Guide
After a few seconds the follo
number of hard disks attached to your machine, it may take some time for
the dialog to appear… this is normal):
Click the Authorize button and complete the registration dialog box to personalize your copy of ChannelStrip and generate a challenge code (software
ID) that you will send to Metric Halo.
wing dialog box will appear (if you have a
(continued)
3
ChannelStrip Installation Guide
6.
There are three methods by which you can obtain an authorization code
from Metric Halo:
(1) [Pr
eferred] Click the “Send request via the Web” button in the dialog above.
Your request will be processed by our authorization server and your authoriza
tion code will be emailed to you instantly.
(2) Click the “Send Request via Email” button in the dialog above. Your registration information will be copied to the clipboard and a new email message will be
created for you automatically. Paste the information into the body of the mes
sage and send it to Metric Halo. Please do not edit the contents of the message.
We will send you the authorization code via email. Please allow up to three business days to receive your authorization code using this method.
(3) Call (845) 223-6112 and register over the phone.
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7.
After you have received your authorization code, type it into the “Authorization Code” box in the authorization dialog. If the code is correct, the
“Authorize” button will become enabled. If the button does not enable,
check your typing. Click on the “Authorize” button to convert your license
to a permanent one.
That’s it! Enjoy using ChannelStrip!
4
ChannelStrip User Guide
Congratulations
T
hank you for purchasing ChannelStrip. You have just transformed your Digital Audio Workstation into a world class
mixing console. ChannelStrip provides all of the critical
channel processing features you would expect to find on a
top-of-the-line mixing console in a single mono or stereo
plug-in. ChannelStrip combines stunning sound quality with
a convenient interface designed to allow you to control all
critical channel processes interactively and simultaneously -
just like you would on a real console!
What is ChannelStrip
ChannelStrip is a plug-in for digital audio w
which provides the essential basic channel processing found
in the channel strip of a modern mixing console.
Processing functions include:
•
Input level control
• Expander/Gate with filtered sidechain
• Compressor with filtered sidechain
• 6 band Parametric EQ
• Phase Invert
• Channel delay
• Advanced metering
ChannelStrip w
1.
To sound mind-numbingly good.
2. To be flexible and easy to use.
3. To be as DSP efficient as possible while maintaining
stunning sound quality.
as designed with three primary goals in mind:
orkstations
5
ChannelStrip User Guide
Figur
e 1: The ChannelStrip Plug-in Window
6
ChannelStrip User Guide
Operating the Strip
As with most c
copies of controls that are all operated in a similar manner.
The ChannelStrip user interface uses a few different control
elements to control all of the processing. These elements are:
Contr
Contr
continuous parameters of a process. Examples of these
types of parameters include: Attack time, Release Time,
Threshold, etc. You can change the value of each knob in a number
of different ways. Click and drag the knob to change the value continuously. Dragging up or to the right will increase the value, while
dragging down or to the left will decrease the value. If you hold
down the <command> key when you click, you will be able to
adjust the value with finer precision. If you hold the <option> key
when you click, the knob will reset to its default value.
Click on the number (readout) of the knob to pop up a text entry
field that allows you to type in a number directly. The popup will
remain active until you dismiss it by clicking somewhere else or hitting the <return>, <enter>, <tab>, or <command>–<period> keys.
Hit <return> or <enter> to confirm the value and dismiss the
popup. Hit the <tab> key to confirm the value and pop up an entry
field for the next control (<command>–<tab> will pop up the entry
field for the previous control). Hit <command>–<period> to dismiss the popup and cancel the change.
When you enter a number into the pop up entry, you can use a
couple of abbreviations: “k” multiplies the number by 1000 and “m”
divides the number by 1000. So if you want to enter 16,500 Hz you
can just type 16.5k.
T
oggle Button
T
oggle buttons are simple on/off switches. They light up
when they are on and are dark when they are off. You tog
gle the state of the button by clicking on it. These buttons
hannel strips, ChannelStrip provides many
ol Knob
ol Knobs are used to control the value of various
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7
ChannelStrip User Guide
ar
e used to enable processor sections and to switch the order of
processing within ChannelStrip.
F
ader
The fader is some
used in the interface for ChannelStrip. It works in much
the same fashion as the control knobs. Instead of drag
ging up/right or down/left to change the value, you
directly drag the fader knob. The other “tricks”
described for the knobs also work with the fader. The
fader is used to control the output gain of the EQ sec
tion of ChannelStrip. This controls a high-precision 56bit gain stage that maintains the full precision of the 48bit EQ algorithm provided by ChannelStrip.
Filter type
Each fi
lter band in the strip (6 EQ bands and 2 Side-chain bands) has
a filter type control that allows you to choose the shape of the filter
applied by that band. Each band provides 6 different types of filter
shapes: Peaking/Parametric, Low Cut, High Cut, Low Shelf, High
Shelf, and Bandpass. You can select from these types via two different methods. Each time you click on the Filter Type control, the
band will switch to the next type in the list (and wrap to the beginning when you hit the end of the list). If you click and hold the
mouse button, a pop-up menu listing all of the types will appear
after about 1/4 of a second. You can select the type directly from
this popup menu. If you want to access the menu without having to
wait, hold down the <command> key when you click.
Sidechain Routing Switch
Each sidechain r
to the sidechain input of its associated gate or compressor. By
default, the level detectors in the dynamics processors key off of the
signal that they are processing. Under some circumstance, you may
want to use a different signal to open the gate or compress the sig
nal. Pro Tools allows you to specify an input or bus as the source for
ChannelStrip’s sidechain input. The Sidechain routing switches allow
what unique in that only one fader is
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outing switch allows you to control the signal sent
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8
ChannelStrip User Guide
y
ou to choose the input to the level detector from the sidechain
(key) input or the signal being processed. To toggle the state, click
the Sidechain routing switch.
Compr
The compr
pressor section. It functions identically to the Filter Type control,
except there are only three choices: Smooth, Warm and Fast. See
the section on the compressor for more information.
Gra
The Gra
and hide ChannelStrip’s display graphs. This allows you to maximize
screen real-estate while still providing details on the processing
when they are needed. Click on this control to toggle the visibility
of the graphs. ChannelStrip will automatically make the plug-in window smaller when you hide the graphs.
essor character
essor character controls the time constants of the com-
phs disclosure control
phs disclosure control allows you to show
ChannelStrip also uses a number of standard visual represen
tations to give you feedback about what is happening within
the processor. These elements are:
P
eak Meter
ChannelStrip pr
reading meter at the input stage
of each processing block. The meter uses the fast PPM standard for
decay time (0.9 seconds per 20 dB) and the digital PPM standard
legend for calibration. On the dynamics sections (gate and compressor) an orange triangle is visible on top of the meter and indicates
the current detector level. For the dynamics sections the processor
threshold is indicated by the green arrow above the input peak
meter. This green arrow can be manipulated directly with the
mouse. The top segment of the meter (above 0dB) is used as a clip
indicator and is illuminated red if the input section of the processor
detects an over. The clip light remains illuminated until you click on
ovides a peak-
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