Waves Audio Renaissance Channel User Guide

Waves Renaissance Channel

Software Audio Processor

Users Guide.

Waves RenChannel software guide page 1 of 20

Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview.

Introducing Waves Renaissance Channel, a complete audio mixing chain
including an EQ, Gate, Compressor, and output section all in a single plug-in. All
processing is based on the acclaimed Renaissance EQ, Renaissance
Compressor and Renaissance VOX. Renaissance Channel features double
precision internal audio path and processing trough all the chain. Further
enhancements include separate side-chains for the Gate and Comp with
independent filters and source selectors, a flexible signal path, and In/Out
selectors for each processor. These features make Renaissance Channel go far
beyond what Renaissance EQ and Renaissance Comp or VOX can offer on their
own.

In the Renaissance Channel one of our goals was to make a long lasting
professional tool with no compromises on features or sound quality what so ever.
The whole internal audio path is in double precision 64bit FP or 48bit Fixed,
allowing for a convenient 18dB internal headroom, and eliminating the possibility
of internal clipping in the EQ or Compressor without loosing a single bit of
resolution in the 24bit audio output. Ready to complement your most critical
tracks, offering complete audio channel processing all the way to the channels’
“Rotation” and Fader, that also benefit from the internal double precision path,
and serve as an alternative to the host’s track Panner and Fader.

Renaissance Channel joins the Renaissance Line of the Waves Digital Audio
Processors. It presents the integration of our work so far and offers a multi-tool
package. The research that lead to these technologies involved studies of
existing equipment and collaboration with the pros to understand what’s essential
and practical. The Renaissance Channel comes to answer the call of many
appreciated users and to follow with our commitment to provide the best audio
processing we possibly can.

RENAISSANCE CHANNEL OVERVIEW

The Waves Renaissance Channel Plug-In consists of:

• EQ section with 4 band paragraphic EQ

• SideChain section with independent side chain filters and source selectors

for the Compressor and Gate.

• Dynamics section including a Gate, compressor/expander, and a clip­guard limiter.

• Router for switch the order of the EQ and Dynamics sections.

• Output section including Phase-Inversion, Rotation (Pan), Fader and VUs.

Each of the processors has a dedicated In/Out switch.
A single Frequency-Response graph is used for graphic display of the EQ and

both side chains.

Waves RenChannel software guide page 2 of 20

Color code:

The Renaissance Channel GUI uses a color code to help associate controls
with their respective processors:

EQ – Yellow
Compressor – Orange
Gate – Light Blue

EQ section:

The 4 band paragraphic EQ offers fully parametric and graphic controls.
Available filter types are:
Bell - ±18dB Boost/Cut with variable Q.
Lo/Hi Shelf –two flavors available 'analog' and 'resonant', with variable slope.
Lo/Hi Cut – 3'rd order 18dB/Oct filters with variable slope.

SideChain section:

The Compressor and Gate each has a dedicated Side Chain section allowing for
independent side chain control. The SideChain controls include:
Source – Side Chain Source may be independently selected from 'Internal',
'PreEQ', and 'External'
Filter - may be independently selected from 'Hi-Pass', Band-Pass, 'Low-Pass'
and 'Band-Reject', with variable frequency and bandwidth
Listen – Monitoring the Side Chain is possible by engaging the related 'Listen'
button.

Gate:

The Gate in the RenChannel is in the footsteps of the Renaissance VOX’s Gate.
It has threshold and floor controls. Attack and release are automatic and the gate
is not a brickwall gate but more like a hard downward expander so its sound is
fairly smooth in any settings and is best set by adjusting the threshold. The gate
has a dedicated side chain with a dedicated filter so the gain adjustment can be
triggered by a filtered portion of the audio or by an external source where
available.

Compressor:

The compressor in the RenChannel offers the choice of the Renaissance
Compressor or Renaissance VOX gain curves and the 4 classic controls
Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release. The sidechains’ dedicated filter may be
used for frequency dependant compression such as De-Essing or De-Popping.

Waves RenChannel software guide page 3 of 20

Clip Guard Limiter:

The Renaissance Channel Dynamics section has an output clip guard limiter to
perform limiting of the output stage in the case it exceeds 0dBfs. This eliminates
clipping as long as the Dynamics section is routed Post EQ. When the Dynamics
section is routed Pre EQ the output clip indicator will indicate how many dB’s of
clipping occurred at the output, and clicking it will automatically adjust the output
Gain fader to prevent this clipping.

Output Section:

To complete the basic channel needs, the output section includes a Rotation pan
pot (stereo and mono-to-stereo versions), phase inversion toggle, Fader (-40 to
+40dB), and output VUs.. For Stereo inputs the rotation pan pot will work
different then most balance pan pots as it will rotate the complete stereo image
45° left or right.

Freq Response

Graph

EQ Section

Router

Side Chain

Section

Output

Section

Dynamics

Section

Waves RenChannel software guide page 4 of 20

Chapter 2: Using Renaissance Channel.

QUICK START

This Quick Start section describes a recommended workflow for working with
Renaissance Channel. The easiest way to start is usually by selecting a preset
and then adjusting it to the actual context. Remember that the WaveSystem
offers the user the option to create a set of “User Presets” which will be shown in
the Load menu of the plug-in under any host application. The settings can also
be saved into a setup file for exchange with the plug-in on other computers
through other host applications. For more information read the WaveSystem
guide.

Step 1 – Set the EQ to focus the desired frequency ranges that complement and
emphasize the track’s important audio signal. The high band is set to a high shelf
by default. On the EQ graph Grab its blue “Grab marker” with the mouse and
drag it upwards to brighten the sound or downwards to dull the sound. Grab Left
to sweep down the frequency scale or right to sweep up to the super highs. You
will hear the EQ change in real time as you drag the band marker around. When
you hear something you like. Stop and fine adjust your setting using the text box
controls with the Arrow keys to move 1 step at a time. Do the same with the other
bands until you feel good about the track’s EQ.

Step 2 –Raise the GATE threshold to shut out insignificant low level audio in the
track. To find a good point look at the gates blue energy meter for a point where
the track has the lowest significant signal that needs to pass through the gate
and set the gate threshold arrow just below that point. You may also look for a
section that’s generally low and mostly reveals the noise floor, set the Gate
threshold just slightly above that point. Judge your settings by ear.

Step 3 - Set the compressor threshold to just below the average peak. Adjust the
Ratio to 2:1.Here gain attenuation should be introduced whenever the energy
approaches the threshold or passes it, as result taking the threshold downwards
causes a decrease in loudness which is compensated by makeup gain in the
output gain control. Set the attack time shorter for better peak control or longer
for more punch as desired. Set reference Release time shorter for more loudness
or longer for more smoothness.

Step 4 - Use the Gain to make-up for the lost level. As a rule of thumb you should
adjust the gain by the reversed threshold value and then moderate it to whatever
sounds good and not distorted.

Waves RenChannel software guide page 5 of 20

In a Multi Track project it is recommended to redo these steps in order to further
fine tune the settings in relation to the other tracks until you feel satisfied with the
results.

A note on Renaissance Channel Headroom structure:

One of the design goals of the Renaissance Channel was to prevent any internal
clipping, so that clipping may only occur at the final output, where it is visible on
the VUs, and can be eliminated by lowering a single control – the Renaissance
Channel fader. To achieve this, the Renaissance Channel was designed with
18dB of internal headroom, allowing for extreme EQ and compressor settings
without internal clipping. The double precision audio path made it possible to
achieve this without any reduction of signal quality at the final 24-bits output.
What all this means is that at the output of the EQ, and at the input of the
Dynamics section, internal signal level can reach +18dB. This is why the range of
the Energy meters and Thresholds in the Renaissance Channel Dynamics
section range up to +18dB.
Of course any signal above 0dBFS should be reduced before going out to the
host mixer bus (otherwise it will be clipped), this is done in one of two ways:

If the Dynamics section is PostEQ, and feeds the output, the built in Clip Guard
Limiter will limit the output back to 0dBFS. In such a case the limiting light will
indicate the amount of limiting Taking place –
Black means no limiting is Taking place.
Yellow means a small amount of limiting is Taking place, which is OK and
probably inaudible.
Red means too much limiting is Taking place, which is probably audible, and the
Fader should be reduced.

If the Dynamics section is PreEQ, and the EQ is feeding the output, the output
clip indicator will show how many dBs of clipping are Taking place, clicking it will
automatically reduce the Fader by exactly this amount.

For a better understanding of each component and what it can do for your sound
read this chapter through.

Waves RenChannel software guide page 6 of 20