Solid State Logic DUENDE Mini User Guide

DDUUEENNDDEE M

User Guide

Miinnii

82S6MC080A

Contents

1. Introduction

2. System Requirements 2

Windows/PC 2

Apple Macintosh 2

3. Installation 3

Software & Hardware Installation (PC) 3

Software & Hardware Installation (Mac) 3

4. Operational Overview 4

4.1 Duende Mini Preferences/Control Panel 5

4.2 Launching a Duende Mini plug-in 6

4.3 DSP Resource Management 7

4.4 Guidelines for Plug-in Delay Compensation 8

5. Duende Mini 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. Upgrading your Duende Mini 21

7. Duende Mini Support 22

1. Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of Duende Mini – the SSL processing solution for your audio workstation. As you’re sat here reading this, the chances are that you have a pretty good understanding of who we are and our outstanding reputation in audio recording technology. How did we get here? Well, there were no great plans to make SSL into a major manufacturer of mixing consoles when it all started back in the seventies - the company began with nothing more than an enthusiasm for music and the concept of recording. Along the way that spirit, coupled with a passion for excellence in music recording tools, helped build a multi-million dollar international business. The SSL HQ may be a little bigger now than it was in the seventies, but passion and innovation still lies at its heart.

In 2005, we decided to embark on a technology project to figure out how we could take the processing power of a console and squeeze it into a 1U rack, so we could serve up the SSL sound to 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 come in a package that could integrate seamlessly with the most popular workstations… and so Duende was born.

Originally in a 19" rack format, now referred to as Duende Classic, there became a desire for a more portable unit - Duende Mini is our response to that demand.

Duende Mini offers complete integration into the most popular workstation environments with one simple FireWire cable connection. The different processing blocks appear as VST/AU/RTAS plug-ins – and include an authentic SSL channel strip with filters, E and G series EQ and dynamics processing. We hope you will enjoy mixing your music with Duende Mini.

For product news and software updates please register at www.solid-state-logic.com/duende.

2. System Requirements

Windows/PC

• Minimum of Intel Pentium IV 1GHz or equivalent

• 512 MB RAM (1GB recommended)

• Windows XP Service Pack 1 or higher

• 80MB of free Hard Disk space

• Approved VST or RTAS* compatible host application

• One available Firewire port (1394A / 400Mbit )

Please visit http://solid-state-logic.com/music/Duende for details on compatible cards

• 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)

Apple Macintosh

• Mac PowerPC G4/G5 or Intel 1GHz or higher

• 512MB RAM (1GB recommended)

• Mac OS X (Version 10.4.8 or higher)

• 60MB Hard Disk space

• Audio Units, VST or RTAS* compatible host application

• One available Firewire port (1394A / 400 Mbit)

Please visit http://solid-state-logic.com/music/Duende for details on compatible cards

• 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)

Plug-in formats

VST and RTAS* versions are provided for use under Windows XP on the PC platform

VST, AU and RTAS* formats are provided in a universal binary format for both Intel and PowerPC Macs

Many Duende Mini plug-ins will take one ‘slot’ at 44.1/48kHz in mono. Please see the Duende Mini manual for more information on DSP resource management.

* RTAS support is provided by the included FXpansion VST-RTAS wrapper: www.fxpansion.com

3. Installation

Software & Hardware Installation (PC)

1) Insert the Duende Mini installation CD in to your CD drive

2) Navigate to your CD drive

3) Launch the Duende Mini installer by double clicking the Duende Mini installer icon

4) Follow the installation instructions on the screen

5) Connect IEEE 1394 Firewire Cable

6) Connect Power to Duende Mini (if required)

7) Switch Duende Mini On

After the Duende Mini installer has installed all of the required software on your computer, click ‘Finish’ to quit the installer.

Please note that this document is intended to be read alongside the ‘Installation Guide’ provided with Duende Mini, alternatively you can download a copy from http://solid-state-logic.com/music/Duende

Software & Hardware Installation (Mac)

1) Ensure that both Duende Mini and your computer are powered down

2) Connect IEEE1394/Firewire

3) Connect Power to Duende Mini (if required)

4) Switch Computer On

5) Switch Duende Mini On

6) Insert the Duende Mini installation CD in to your CD drive

7) Click the Duende Mini icon to view the CD content

8) Launch the Duende Mini installer by double clicking the Duende Mini Installer icon

9) Follow the installation instructions on screen

After the Duende Mini installer has installed all of the required software on your computer, click ‘Finish Up’ to quit the installer.

4. Operational Overview

Once your Duende Mini hardware and software has been properly installed, Duende Mini plug-ins are accessed and used just like any host-based plug-in. You can run Duende Mini plug-ins simultaneously with your other host based plug-ins in any combination.

All Duende Mini plug-ins support up to 40bit 96kHz operation. Please note that Duende Mini plug-ins use twice as much DSP resources at 96kHz.

Duende Mini parameters are changed by dragging, rotating or clicking knobs and buttons, whose behavior varies slightly depending on which software is being used to host the plug-ins. Generally the further away the mouse pointer is from the knob, the more resolution is available 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' whilst dragging.

OS X:

To reset a knob to its default value hold 'Command + click' on that knob.

For very fine adjustment, hold 'SHIFT' whilst dragging.

Every Duende Mini plug-in parameter can be automated so long as parameter automation is supported by the host application. The method for recording and editing automation varies from host to host. For specific instructions on using automation with the host consult the host application documentation.

4.1 Duende Mini Preferences/Control Panel

Windows XP OS X

The Duende Mini Preferences/Control Panel shows information about your Duende Mini(s) such as serial number (Authentication ID), firmware version and driver version. It also displays DSP resource information and allows you to easily see how much DSP you 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 Mini 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 available and at 88.2 and 96kHz there are 16 slots available. A stereo version of a plug in will take up 2 slots.

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