Waves Audio Primary Source Expander User Guide

Primary Source Expander User Guide

1

Introduction*

The Waves Primary Source Expander (PSE) is a tool that helps you to reduce stage noise and increase gain before feedback

without distorting the tonality of your source. PSE is valuable to sound engineers in live shows as well as in the studio. When

mixing live material, use PSE to reduce extraneous noises without losing the natural ambience of your location.

At the heart of this tool is a precision expander, tailored especially for melodic sources such as vocals, strings, woodwinds,

brasses, guitars, and more. PSE works like a fader that lowers a channel's level when the source goes below a certain threshold.

Both threshold and attenuation are user-defined. This simple but effective tool has only a few controls, which for the most part you

can “set and forget” for your channel.

Basic Operation

Think of the PSE as a very smooth expander: Its most important controls are Threshold, which establishes a certain level threshold

for your source (for example a vocal), and Range, which sets the amount of gain reduction to be applied when the source is below

that threshold. Release Time is set according to the nature of the source.

In this example we’re using Primary Source Expander on a vocal track, but it just as easily could be a speaker or an instrument.

1. Insert PSE on the desired channel.

2. Raise the Threshold fader so that the side chain input meter is solidly blue during sung phrases. Between phrases the meter

should drop to orange. Use the + and - Threshold buttons to fine-tune the Threshold point.

Primary Source Expander User Guide

2

3. Set the Range to around -6 dB, meaning that when the singer doesn't sing (between phrases), the level can be reduced by

up to -6 db.

4. Release should initially be set to SLOW to avoid cutting off the ends of words.

5. Pay attention to whether it seamlessly reduces the level. If everything sounds smooth you can increase the Range slowly,

up to -12 dB, to maximize feedback and noise reduction, but be gentle to achieve natural results.

6. Play with the Release radio buttons to match the source signal. More “legato” sounds will need the SLOW mode, while

“staccato” sounds will work better with the FAST release time.

Side chain options can be used to further improve gain reduction between phrases and reduce sensitivity to feedback.

Primary Source Expander User Guide

3

Primary Source Expander Controls and Displays

Primary Source Expander User Guide

4

Dynamics Section

THRESHOLD

Determines at what level PSE begins to lower the volume. The side chain input meter is orange when the source audio level is

below the Threshold value (left), and blue when above it (right). When the audio level is above the Threshold, the audio is not

affected at all. Use the + and - Threshold momentary toggles to fine tune the Threshold setting by 1 dB per click.

Range: -60–0 dB

RANGE

Determines how much the level is reduced when the input signal falls below the Threshold. The Range meter is red and shows

how much the audio level is lowered, in dB. The reduction level never goes below the Range control value. Use + and - Range

momentary toggles to fine tune the Range position by 1 dB per click.

Range: -60–0 dB