SPL TwinTube Processor User manual

SPL Analog Code ™ Plug-in

Manual

TwinTube Processor

Manual

TwinTube Processor
The Analog Code plug-in

Native Version (RTAS, AU and VST ): Order # 2920
TDM Version (includes RTAS, VST and AU) : Order # 2921

Manual Version 1.0 – 1 /2009

This user‘s guide contains a description of the product. It in no
way represents a guarantee of particular characteristics or results
of use. The information in this document has been carefully com­piled and verif ied and, unless otherwise stated or agreed upon,
correctly describes the product at the time of packaging with this
document.

Sound Performance Lab (SPL) continuously strives to improve its
products and reserves the right to modify the product described in
this manual at any time without prior notice. This document is the
proper ty of SPL and may not be copied or reproduced in any way, in
part or fully, without authorization by SPL electronics GmbH.

SPL electronics GmbH

Sohlweg 80, 41 372 Niederkruechten, Germany
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: sof [e-mail]
Website: spl.info

© 2009 SPL elec tronics GmbH. A ll rights reserved.

Code™, Transient Designer™, Vital izer™ and Atmos™ are tradem arks of SPL

electronics GmbH.

of t heir r espe ctiv e owne rs.

All other logos and brand names are registered trademarks

2

The SPL logo, The Analog

TwinTube Processor

Installation ....................................................... 4

MAC Installation, WINDOWS Installation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... . 4

Introduction ...................................................... 5

The Analog Code, TwinTube .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5

Control Elements ................................................. 7

Power LED, HAR. ON/SAT. ON, HARMONICS Control .. .. .. .. . 7

HARMONICS Switches, SATURATION Control . . .. .. .. .. .. ... . 8

Signal LED, Overload LED, Settings A, B, C, D . . .. .. .. .. .. ... . 9

Applications ...................................................... 10

Vocals, Acoustic Guitars . .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. . 1 0

Your Notes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. . 11

Content

TwinTube Processor

3

Installation

Thank you for your purchase of the TwinTube plug-in. The native
version includes licenses for systems supporting RTAS (Digidesign
ProTools), VST (i. e. Cubase, Nuendo, WaveLab, ...), and AU (Apple
Logic).

The ProTools TDM version includes licenses for systems supporting
TDM, RTAS, VST and AU plug-ins. Therefore, the native formats can
be installed additionally to the TDM version with the same license,
for example to support other audio softwares, too.

Your software is registered for the e-mail address and the iLok
account you have submitted with your purchase. Installation
procedures for both native and TDM versions are identical. The
number of installed instances is not limited.

MAC Installation

You may want to visit the download section of our website and
check for the latest version (spl.info/software/download) before
installation. Execute the TwinTube installer for MAC.

Please note: The native installer includes RTAS, AU & VST formats,
the TDM installer includes all formats. You can select one or more of
these formats during installation.

WINDOWS Installation

You may want to visit the download section of our website and
check for the latest version (spl.info/software/download) before
installation. Execute the TwinTube installer file (setup.exe).

Double-click the left mouse button to start the installation
procedure from CD-ROM or use the right mouse button and select
the “Save as ...” command to save the installer file on your hard
disk before starting the installation.

Please note: The native installer includes RTAS & VST formats, the
TDM installer includes all formats. You can select one or more of
these formats during installation.

4

TwinTube Processor

Introduction

The Analog Code

Since more than two decades, SPL of Germany is well-known as
manufacturer of handmade analog hardware processors.
Innovations like the Vitalizer® and Transient Designer® are ac­companied by a complete analog range from frontend to back­end and culminate in the Mastering Series with exemplary specs
thanks to SPL’s proprietary 120 V rails technolog y.

While SPL’s hardware has been fascinating audio professionals
from home studio owners to mastering engineers in the world’s
most famous facilities, there has been a continuing and ever grow­ing demand for digital (DAW) users to be able to enjoy this tech­nology. Our software design team now has managed to transfer
the class and excellence of our analog processors into the digital
domain. Latest methods for high-precision component modeling of
our analog designs now give us results beyond a pure mathemati­cal approach. The digital products are so amazingly close to their
analog equivalents that we call them The Analog Code plug-ins.

TwinTube

The TwinTube module is the first combination of two essential tube
effects in a single processor, that is, saturation effects along with
harmonics processing. Both stages work separately from each
other and are based on individual processing stages. The effects
can therefore not only be applied both individually or separately,
but also in common.

Saturation effects are generated through the tube being pushed to
and beyond its normal operating limits. In contrast to semiconduc­tors, a tube thus pushed to such levels does not clip from a certain
level, approaching more gradually its level limits and thereby pro­ducing its typical tonal result, which in audio signal processing can
have such often profitable aural effects. >

TwinTube Processor

5

Introduction

On one hand (and depending on the amount applied), from subtle
to extensive harmonic distortion and on the other hand, a com­paction of the sonic event, that is, a limiting effect that exhibits a
pleasant, rounded or sof t sound. Acoustically and also in its range
of applications this can be compared very well with tape saturation
effects. Harmonic distortion and limiting are the generally known,
“classic” tube effects, which are today cornerstones of sound
processing.

But other less known and potentially important effects are a tube’s
ability for improving presence and spacial qualities through its
processing of specific regions of the overtone series. In the analog
original of the TwinTube Processor, a special circuit comes into play
for overtone/harmonic processing that involves a combined coil/
condenser system working in conjunction with the tube. The con­trol reacts dynamically to the audio signal and thereby processes
both overtones as well as a signal’s phase structure.

The processing of the phase structure influences the moments
of acoustic perception and occurs in microsecond time divisions
– it has to do nothing with the cancellations one associates with
180-degree signal shif ts. A decisive factor in resultant tonal qual­ity is the alignment of level relationships in the overtone spectrum.
Such overtone “enrichment” does not operate on the generator
principle of exciters (wherein distortion is added to the original
signal). The TwinTube harmonics control effects a rather a more
equalized over tone structure resulting in a sound which in ef­fect appears much more in the foreground, but without doing so
through extreme level changes. Thus, for example, a voice appears
immediate apart from the overall mixture, “sitting” clearly outlined
in the mix’s foreground.

Each SPL plug-in provides the settings feature to save four differ­ent sets of adjustments. Much faster than the usual saving and re­calling of presets, the last settings are stored automatically and
can be recalled by just one click. The settings can also be included
into the automation of an audio software to apply different sets of
parameters to specific par ts of a song.

6

TwinTube Processor

TwinTube Processor

7

Control Elements

Mouse Wheel Control

All SPL Analog Code plug-ins support mouse wheel control for
rotary controls and faders. Place the mouse cursor over a rotary
control or fader and move the wheel or scroll ball of your mouse
to adjust the control or fader. Hold the CTRL (Windows) or APPLE/
COMMAND key while moving the wheel or scroll ball for fine adjust­ments with higher control resolution.

Power LED

With a click on the POWER LED you can turn the
TwinTube on or off. The switch settings of HAR. ON and SAT. ON are
stored so that the previous state is recalled when the TwinTube is
activated with the POWER LED switch function. The POWER LED is
illuminated when the plug-in is activated.

HAR. ON/SAT. ON

Activating HAR. ON engages the HARMONICS control. Likewise
you engage SATURATION with the switch SAT. ON. When turned
on, these switches illuminate. One of the both processing stages
can be applied therefore respectively separately. Similarly you can
process the signal with both stages at the same time.

HARMONICS Control

With the HARMONICS Control you can adjust the overtone
processing intensity. The level range of a chosen center
frequency (see “HARMONICS Switches” on page 8) lies
between 0 and 15 dB. Overtones are marked also as “Harmonics”.
The HARMONICS control results in an enrichment of the overtone
range for a chosen fundamental tone (see “Introduction” on page
5 and 6). The tonal result is an intensification of the presence that
produces a fresher, silky and more brilliant aural image. Similarly,
the signal’s spatial qualities gain intensity.

8

TwinTube Processor

Control Elements

HARMONICS Switches

With the HARMONICS switches you choose the fre-

quency range of the fundamental tone area that should
be processed with the HARMONICS control. There are four avail­able frequency ranges. For reasons of space, we have rounded fre­quency values for the front lettering.

Filter 1:
Center Frequency: 9,8 kHz, Bandwidth: 9.6 kHz, Max. Gain: +15 dB

Filter 2:
Center Frequency: 6.6 kHz, Bandwidth: 5 kHz, Max. Gain: +15 dB

Filter 3:
Center Frequency: 2.8 kHz, Bandwidth: 9 kHz, Max. Gain: +15 dB

Filter 4:
Center Frequency: 1.9 kHz, Bandwidth: 4.7 kHz, Max Gain: +15 dB

The frequency ranges are based upon our experiences and test
series to offer ideal processing ranges for a wide variety of instru­ments (and vocals of course). You may find further information
under „Applications” on page 10.

SATURATION Control

As the name implies, the SATURATION control deter-

mines the degree of the tube saturation. At the most

extreme level this SATURATION control output level

may increase the overall output level by approximately

6 dB.

The SATURATION control offers a wide range of effects intensity
from most subtle to brutal harmonic distortion. Aside from har­monic tube distortion, the accompanying tube limiting effect
should also be considered. For further details on the saturation
effect refer to the “Introduction” on page 5 and 6.

TwinTube Processor

9

Signal LED

The SIG. LED indicates that an audio signal reaches the input. In
the analog world this LED helps the operator especially in complex
setups to determine immediately whether the TwinTube actually
receives any signal. In the digital domain it simply tells you that the
channel where you inserted the plug contains a signal that is loud
enough to ensure correct processing.

Overload LED

The OVL LED indicates internal clipping. Wether the clipping is
audible or not depends on the kind of audio material you are pro­cessing. Nevertheless it should be avoided that the OVL LED illumi­nates. Reduce the input level or processing values if the OVL-LEDs
keeps flashing.

Settings A, B, C, D

The settings feature allows to store four different sets
of adjustments (A , B, C, D). Much faster than with the
usual save and recall preset dialogs, the respective current setting
is stored automatically when you switch to another setting – to re­call previous settings by just one click.

For example, leaving setting A (by calling another setting) stores
the current parameter setting under A, calling B restores the last
adjustment made under B.

Settings A, B, C, D can also be included into the automation of host
applications to apply different sets of parameters to different parts
of a song.

Control Elements

Applications

Here we refer to only two significant examples, of course with­out suggesting completeness. We would like to simplify starting
with the TwinTube by sharing some thoughts and experiences.
The effects and results described here can be applied to many
other instruments—nothing should keep you away from using the
TwinTube without restriction.

Vocals

Optimizing vocal tracks is a highlight among the processing appli­cations of the TwinTube. Often further EQing is not necessary any­more in order to lift a voice from a mix and get it up front. A recom­mendation for female voices: HARMONICS switch to 6, HARMONICS
control to about 2 o’clock, SATURATION to about 12 o’clock.

With these settings the described effect should be clearly audible
and from here individual tracks can be optimized. With female
voices we suggest trying HARMONICS switch settings 6 and 10
while switching between 2, 3, and 6 with male voices.

Acoustic Guitars

The success in treating e-guitars depends on previous recording
and processing gear and techniques—if tube amps and further
effects were already applied, it is hard to foresee how much the
TwinTube can contribute when optimizing or designing a sound.

In contrast to e-guitars, there is a huge potential in processing
acoustical guitar tracks. Picking sounds can be intensified, in gen­eral tube saturation and limiting can improve loudness and con­denses the sound. Presence is emphasized and the instrument cuts
through a mix much better without raising levels too much. A well
chosen amount of harmonic distortion always adds some rough­ness which may often be a nice touch in several playing styles.

10

TwinTube Processor

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Your Notes

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TwinTube Processor

11

SPL – Sound Performance Lab

Sohlweg 80, 41372 Niederkrüchten, Germany

Fon: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

E-Mail: sof [e-mail], Website: spl.info

TwinTube

The Analog Code™ Plug-in

Manual