TC electronic Fabrik C Owner's Manual

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Fabrik C

TC Support Interactive

The TC Support Interactive website www.tcsupport.tc is an online support and
information center. At the site you can find answers to specific questions regarding TC
software and hardware. All known issues are stored in a database searchable by
product, category, keywords, or phrases. Under the section "My Stuff" you can login to
check the status of your questions, download materials such as product manuals,
software updates and new presets.
This site has been specifically designed to meet the needs of our users. We constantly
update the database and you will find the site to be a huge resource of information.
Browse through Q&A's and discover new aspects of your TC product.
If you can't find an answer online, you have the option of submitting a question to our
technical support staff who will then reply to you by e-mail. The TC Support Team is
on constant alert to help you in any way they can.

Contact Details

Alternatively, you may contact the TC Electronic distributor in your area, or write to:

TC ELECTRONIC A/S
Customer Support
Sindalsvej 34
Risskov DK-8240
Denmark

USA:
TC Electronic, Inc.
5706 Corsa Avenue, Suite 107
Westlake Village, CA 91362
www.tcelectronic.com

© BY TC ELECTRONIC A/S 2006. ALL PRODUCT AND COMPANY NAMES ARE
TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. VST IS A TRADEMARK OF
STEINBERG AG, AUDIO UNITS IS A TRADEMARK OF APPLE COMPUTER, INC. ALL
SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED. TC ELECTRONIC IS A TC GROUP COMPANY.

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Table of Contents

Contact & Support Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Table Of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

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

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Full-band or 3-band compression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Signal Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

EQ Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Filter Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Compression 3-band mode :

Source page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Gain page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Compression page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Level page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Compression Full-band mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Parameter adjust - compression pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

The Limiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

De-Esser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Preset Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

A/B Compare function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

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Fabrik C

System Requirements

Mac

Desktop, iBook or PowerBook
G4 or G5, 733MHz or better
MacOS 10.3.6 or higher
512 MB Ram or more

PC

Desktop or laptop
Pentium 4, 1.4 GHz or better
Windows XP or higher
512 MB Ram or more

Works with all PowerCore devices

VST, Audio Units or RTAS*) compatible application such as Logic, Nuendo, Live or
Digital Performer

*) RTAS (Pro Tools) is supported via the VST to RTAS adapter from FXpansion (optional).

More info on www.tcsupport.tc.

Getting Started

Scroll Wheel Support

If you are using a host application that supports this feature, all parameters support
scrolling on both Windows XP and Mac OS X. Simply place the mouse over a
parameter value field and use the Scroll Wheel to increment/decrement the associated
parameter-value.

Key Commands

In most host applications, Plug-Ins support keyboard commands for certain functions.
The following key commands are available for all Plug-In parameters:

Key Commands in Mac OS

Fine Adjust = Apple
Reset To Default = Alt
Context Key = Control + Mouse Button

Key Commands In Windows

Fine Adjust = Alt
Reset To Default = Shift & Control
Contextual Menu = Right Mouse Button

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Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your Fabrik C plug-in. Fabrik C is based on the
innovative Meta Intuitive Navigation Technology (MINT™) that redefines the way you
use professional audio plug-ins for professional results. We have integrated a simple
yet highly effective and intuitive approach to working with audio, and the result is a
user-interface with few handles that are effective but simple to use. Often people
think that if you want to create professional results the process has to be tedious and
complex – we don’t agree. The Fabrik plug-ins introduce a new way of working with
audio, and they build on proven and award-winning TC technology, ensuring the
highest level of audio quality.

Fabrik C is a full-blown channel strip plug-in with EQ, De-Esser, 3-band Compressor
and Limiter in one single plug-in. With MINT™ you have total control of all the
parameters, using only a few dedicated knobs. The EQ section is a 4-band parametric
EQ with high/low-pass filters – choose between 4 different filter types. Based on no­nonsense design, the De-Esser is controlled using on a single fader.
With a built in 3-band intelligent compression technique the Compressor is not just
one of the best compressors available, - it also gives you the means to avoid bad side
effects compared to traditional compression. Combined with the Limiter the
compression section can be used in a musical way without worrying about overshoots.

With MINT™ you don’t need to read a lengthy manual to get going
– just use your ears.

Main features

• Novel UI design – built-in MINT™ (Meta Intuitive Navigation Technology)

• Three main sections with TC technology: EQ, de-esser and compressor

• Intuitive and easy control over dedicated parameters – Instant gratification

• 4-band parametric EQ

• Scalable de-esser

• 3-band/full band compressor

• Limiter

• Control many parameters with few knobs

• Based on proven and award winning TC Technology

• Windows XP and Mac OS X support

• VST, AU and RTAS* support

• 24/96 supported

• 48 bit double precision

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Fabrik C

Overview

Full-band or 3-band compression?

Fabrik C includes both a 3-band and a Full-band compression mode. As Fabrik C is a
plug-in that is designed to be used on single sources and not as a dedicated
mastering tool you might wonder how the 3-band mode applies.
An overall “rule of thumb” is that if you are working with a source that has a wide
frequency range with large peaks in specific frequency areas, you are most likely best
off using the 3-band mode. If on the other hand you’re working with audio that is
within a small frequency area, such as e.g. a trumpet section or background vocals,
you can with great advantage use the Full-band mode.

Let us look at a few specific application scenarios to give you an idea of what can be
achieved with the different compression styles.

3-band compression on Bass

If you were to do a 3-band compression on a bass, this would allow the higher
frequencies to pass through, while adding compression to lower frequencies. What this
gives you is better control and longer sustain, and a more punchy bass with all the
overtones intact.