Waves Audio C360 Surround Compressor User Guide

Waves C360° SurroundComp

Software Audio Processor

User’s Guide

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Introduction and Overview

Introducing Waves C360°, a Surround Soft Knee Compressor for 5 or 5.1
channels. C360°’s controls are the same as those of the L360° and the functions
are similar, but the sound is different. It begins attenuating before the level
reaches the threshold and attenuates more as the level reaches and passes the
threshold. The output signal will not exceed the specified ceiling, so it also
functions as a limiter and keeps the sound from digital clipping.

C360° supports operation at sample rates up to 96kHz.

BRIEF OVERVIEW

C360’s Compressor has a look-ahead mechanism (using 64 samples of delay) to

anticipate levels approaching the threshold, so in fact, its Attack time is negative.
It also incorporates Waves ARC – Auto Release Control. This technology sets
the optimal program-sensitive release time for the applied gain attenuation.

The C360° allows linked dynamics processing for preserving the cross-channel
balance and phantom imaging. It allows flexible link modes to fit right in with the
preferred grouping scheme that you wish to follow, or the one you think sounds
best. This is done on a single 5 or 5.1 Insert without the need to split to Multiple
stereo and mono groups. You get all the options on the same multichannel insert.

HOW DOES C360° WORK?

C360° is a soft-knee compressor that has an auto-makeup scheme. However low
you set your threshold, the gain is made up automatically. We call this Peak
reference compression. The Out Ceiling in this case defines peak output, though
the actual peak output will probably be lower than the Ceiling.

Any dynamics processor essentially “rides” the track’s gain automatically
according to a set of rules. In this case, the track’s gain will be attenuated as the
sound gets louder, allowing the overall gain to be boosted by the same amount
that the threshold is lowered. The result is that the dynamic range is compressed:
the lower passages get louder and the louder passages are relatively softer.

For example, the following image shows the compression curve for a single
channel. The left image shows a linear ascending level from –inf. to full scale and
the right shows the compressor’s effect when set to a –12dB threshold.

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C360° is useful when you have low-gain 5.1 material that needs to be boosted or
material with extreme dynamics that need to be tightened.

C360° PLUG-IN COMPONENTS.

The C360° Surround Compressor consists of components for 5 or 5.1 (6)
Channel Inserts. When working on a surround mix in a DAW environment, the
C360° should be listed in the insert menus of any 5 or 5.1 tracks, auxiliary inputs
and master fader tracks.

LINKED FUNCTION OF C360°.

C360° supports flexible and versatile linked functionality. Parameter linking is
easily carried out by using global threshold and ceiling controls. Dynamic process
linking is subject to a user-selected Link Mode, where certain channels are linked
to a common sidechain.

Parameter linking is important for the general settings. In this case, the user can
use a master threshold or master ceiling control to specify the same threshold or
ceiling value for all audio channels, assuring a common general makeup or level
maximization value. For example, specifying a common –6dB threshold and a
0dB ceiling to all channels will result in a general uniform 6dB boost.

Another type of link can be described as linked dynamics processing. In this
case, we link several channels to a common process sidechain. All of the
channels linked to a common sidechain will get the same gain attenuation when
the level in any of them exceeds the specified threshold. This type of link is
critical for the preservation of the cross-channel balance and direction of
phantom images. For example, in a stereo image, if we apply different
attenuation to the Left and Right channels, the Stereo image symmetry appears
distorted. The C360° offers up to 3 sidechains, which equal to 3 stereo
compressors. The Dynamics process link is user selected in the Link Mode
control right under the 3 attenuation meters. A straightforward color code helps
you keep track of which channels are linked to which sidechain.

For a detailed description of the dynamic process link modes, see Chapter 3 –
Link Modes in C360°.

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