Specifications

Focusrite D2 and D3 Plug-Ins Guide18
Output Level
Output Level adjusts the overall output gain. Be-
cause large amounts of compression can restrict
dynamic range, the Output Level knob is useful for
compensating for heavily compressed signals and
making up the resulting difference in level.
When you use the stereo version of the D3 plug-in,
this single knob controls the master output for both
channels. The range of this control is from –12 dB
of attenuation to +18 dB of gain.
External Key and Key Listen
The side-chain is the split-off signal used by a
plug-in’s detector to trigger dynamics processing.
External Key lets you designate an external source
(known as the key input) for the side-chain, while
Key Listen lets you monitor the key input.
Meters
The meters indicate gain reduction (the top meter)
and output level (the bottom meter). The Gain Re-
duction meter indicates the amount of gain reduc-
tion in dB. The Output Level meter indicates the
output signal level in dB.
In Stereo mode, two Output Level meters appear,
one for each channel. However, a single Gain Re-
duction meter is used for both channels, since the
D3’s RMS detector uses a composite control sig-
nal.
A red Clip Indicator appears to the right of the out-
put meter(s). Clicking on the Clip Indicator clears
it. Alt-clicking (Windows) or Option-clicking
(Mac) clears both channels when the plug-in is
used in stereo.
Metering indicators:
• Green indicates nominal levels.
• Yellow indicates pre-clipping at –6 below full
scale.
• Red indicates a full scale signal (clipping).
Output Level
External Key and Key Listen toggles
See “Using the Side-Chain Input in Focusrite
D3” on page 21 for detailed information on
external side-chain processing.
External Key
Key Listen
Meters
The plug-in window includes a Clip LED that
lights red to indicate plug-in clipping. The
plug-in Clip LED follows Pro Tools settings
for clip indication. (For more information,
see the
Pro Tools Reference Guide.)