Focusrite d2™ and d3™ Version 7.
Copyright © 2007 Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the express written consent of Digidesign. AudioSuite, Avid, Avid DNA, Avid Xpress, Digidesign, Pro Tools, Pro Tools Academic, Pro Tools HD, Pro Tools LE, Pro Tools M-Powered, RTAS, and VENUE are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the US and other countries.
contents Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Contents of the Boxed Version of Your Plug-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Register Your Plug-ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix B. DSP Delays Incurred by TDM Plug-ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Focusrite D2 and D3 DSP Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
chapter 1 Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the Focusrite D2 or D3 plug-in for Pro Tools systems. Focusrite D2 is a high-quality digital equalizer plug-in, and Focusrite D3 is a high-quality dynamics processor plug-in. The Focusrite D2 and D3 plug-ins are TDM, RTAS®, and AudioSuite™ plug-ins that retain the look and sound of Focusrite’s renowned hardware units. The D2 and D3 plug-ins provide support for 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz sessions.
System Requirements To use Focusrite D2 or D3, you need the following: • An iLok USB Smart Key • An iLok.com account for managing iLok licenses ◆ One of the following: • A Digidesign-qualified Pro Tools system. • A Digidesign-qualified Pro Tools system and a third-party software application that supports the Digidesign TDM, RTAS, or AudioSuite plug-in standard. • A qualified Avid® Xpress®, Avid Xpress DV or Avid DNA™ system.
Conventions Used in This Guide All Digidesign guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands: : Convention Action File > Save Choose Save from the File menu Control+N Hold down the Control key and press the N key Control-click Hold down the Control key and click the mouse button Right-click Click with the right mouse button The following symbols are used to highlight important information: User Tips are helpful hints for getting the most from your Pro Tools system
4 Focusrite D2 and D3 Plug-ins Guide
chapter 2 Installation Installing Focusrite D2 or D3 When you open Pro Tools, you are prompted to authorize your new plug-in. Installers for your plug-ins can be downloaded from the DigiStore (www.digidesign.com) or can be found on the plug-in installer disc (included with boxed versions of plug-ins). Additionally, an installer may also be available on a Pro Tools software bundle installer disc.
This key can hold over 100 licenses for all of your iLok-enabled software. Once an iLok is authorized for a given piece of software, you can use the iLok to authorize that software on any computer. The iLok USB Smart Key is not supplied with your plug-in or software option. You can use the one included with certain Pro Tools systems (such as Pro Tools|HDseries systems), or purchase one separately. If you purchased a plug-in online at the DigiStore (www.digidesign.
Authorizing Plug-ins Using a License Card License Cards are specific to each plug-in or software option. You will receive the appropriate License Cards for the plug-ins that you purchase. License Cards have a small punch-out plastic chip called a GSM cutout. iLok with License Card The authorization steps in this section must be repeated for purchased plug-in. For additional information about iLok technology and authorizations, see the electronic PDF of the iLok Usage Guide.
Mac OS X To remove a plug-in: 1 Locate and open the Plug-ins folder on your Startup drive (Library/Application Support /Digidesign/Plug-ins). 2 Do one of the following: • Drag the plug-in to the Trash and empty the Trash. – or – • Drag the plug-in to the Plug-ins (Unused) folder.
chapter 3 Focusrite D2 Focusrite D2 is a high-quality digital equalizer plug-in for Pro Tools. Developed in cooperation with Focusrite, the D2 is based on the highly-acclaimed Red Range 2™ dual EQ, designed by Rupert Neve.
Adjusting Plug-in Parameters Editing Parameters Using a Computer Keyboard You can adjust plug-in controls by dragging the control’s slider or knob, or by typing a value into the control’s text box. Additionally, some plugins have switches that can be enabled by clicking on them. Some controls have text boxes that display the current value of the parameter. You can edit the numeric value of a parameter with your computer keyboard.
Editing Parameters Using a Scroll Wheel Some controls have text boxes that display the current value of the parameter. You can edit the numeric value of a parameter using a scroll wheel. Output Level Output Level allows you to adjust the overall output gain. The range of this control is from –18 dB to +12 dB. To change control values using a scroll wheel: 1 Click the text box corresponding to the con- trol that you want to adjust. Output Level wheel.
Metering: • Green = nominal levels. • Yellow = pre-clipping at –6 below full scale signal. • Red = full scale signal (clipping). 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 DigiRack Plug-ins Guide.) The Cartesian Graph The Cartesian Graph displays a visual representation of the current EQ settings.
Low-Shelf Filter High-Mid Peak Filter The Low-Shelf Filter provides two rotary controls: The upper rotary control adjusts the corner frequency, variable from 33 Hz to 460 Hz. The lower rotary control adjusts the filter’s amplitude gain or attenuation. Amplitude range is ±15 dB from unity. The High-Mid Peak Filter provides three rotary controls. The upper rotary control adjusts the center frequency, variable from 120 Hz to 18 kHz.
Low-Pass Filter The 18 dB/octave Low-Pass Filter provides a rotary control for adjusting the filter’s corner cutoff frequency, variable from 100 Hz to 18 kHz. Using D2 in Stereo Because Focusrite D2 has a single set of Filter parameter knobs, when it is used in stereo, you must select which channel, left or right, you want to edit. Use the Left Channel, Right Channel, and Link buttons to do this. These controls only appear when D2 is used in stereo.
Link Button Selecting the Link button allows you adjust parameters for both channels simultaneously. By default, Link mode is enabled so that you can easily maintain parity between the parameter settings for both channels. You can also use Link mode to help you maintain a relative offset between parameters settings on the two channels. Maintaining an offset: 1 Deselect the Link button. 2 Select the desired channel button, left or right, and adjust the parameters for that channel.
16 Focusrite D2 and D3 Plug-ins Guide
chapter 4 Focusrite D3 Focusrite D3 is a high-quality dynamics processor plug-in for Pro Tools. Developed in cooperation with Focusrite, the D3 is based on the highly acclaimed Red Range 3™ dual mono/stereo compressor & limiter designed by Rupert Neve. Focusrite D3 Configurations There are two configurations of the real-time TDM Focusrite D3 plug-in: ◆ Compressor+Limiter. This configuration allows you to use both the compressor and the limiter at the same time.
To enable the limiter: 1 Disable the compressor by Start key-clicking (Windows) or Control-clicking (Mac) its icon. 1-millisecond attack time. As such, the D3 is not a “brick wall” limiter, but limits the overall dynamic range of signals in a sonically-pleasing way. 2 Click the Limiter icon. Like the Compressor, the Limiter is activated when the signal exceeds the user-selected threshold. The Limiter then compresses any signal above the selected threshold down to the threshold limit that you have set.
Adjusting Plug-in Parameters Editing Parameters Using a Computer Keyboard You can adjust plug-in controls by dragging the control’s slider or knob, or by typing a value into the control’s text box. Additionally, some plugins have switches that can be enabled by clicking on them. Some controls have text boxes that display the current value of the parameter. You can edit the numeric value of a parameter with your computer keyboard.
Editing Parameters Using a Scroll Wheel Some controls have text boxes that display the current value of the parameter. You can edit the numeric value of a parameter using a scroll wheel. To change control values using a scroll wheel: 1 Click the text box corresponding to the con- trol that you want to adjust. 2 To increase a value, scroll up with the scroll wheel. To decrease a value, scroll down with the scroll wheel. Output Level Output Level adjusts the overall output gain.
Meters The meters indicate gain reduction (the top meter) and output level (the bottom meter). The Gain Reduction meter indicates the amount of gain reduction 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 Reduction meter is used for both channels, since the D3’s RMS detector uses a composite control signal. A red Clip Indicator appears to the right of the output meter(s).
To disable the compressor: ■ Start key-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac) the icon. When the compressor is disabled, the icon is black. To re-enable the compressor: Threshold Threshold sets the threshold level. Signals that exceed this level will be compressed. Signals that are below it will be unaffected. The range of this control is from 0 dB to –48 dB. A setting of 0 dB is equivalent to no compression. ■ Click the icon. When the compressor is enabled, the icon is white.
Release Release controls how long it takes for the compressor to be fully deactivated after the input signal drops below the threshold level. In general, this setting should be longer than the attack time and long enough that if signal levels repeatedly rise above the threshold, they cause gain reduction only once. If the release time is too long, a loud section of the audio material could cause gain reduction that persists through a soft section. The range of this control is from 25 milliseconds to 2.
To bypass the limiter: Click the icon a second time. When the limiter is bypassed, the icon is grey. ■ If you are using the Compressor/Limiter plug-in, which allows you to use either the compressor or the limiter (but not both simultaneously), you must disable one module by Start key-clicking the icon (Windows) or Control-clicking it (Mac) before you can enable the other. Limit LED When lit, the Limit LED indicates that limiting is being applied. When unlit, limiting is not being applied.
Using a Key Input for External Side-Chain Processing To use a key input to trigger dynamics processing: 1 Click the Key Input selector and select the in- put or bus carrying the audio from the reference track or external audio source. Selecting a key input 2 Click External Key to activate external side- chain processing. 3 To listen to the key input that will be used to control side-chain processing, click Key Listen to enable it. 4 Begin playback.
26 Focusrite D2 and D3 Plug-ins Guide
appendix a DSP Requirements The number of TDM plug-ins you can use at one time depends on how much DSP power is available in your system. Since the TDM hardware on Pro Tools cards provide dedicated DSP for plugins, plug-in performance isn’t limited by CPU processing power. The DSP tables in this appendix show the theoretical number of instances of each plug-in that can be powered by a single DSP chip on Pro Tools|HD cards. DSP usage differs according to card type.
Focusrite DSP Requirements The Focusrite plug-ins have the following DSP requirements: HD Accel Card Table 2. Maximum instances of real-time TDM plug-ins per DSP chip for an HD Accel card at different sample rates (mono and stereo) Sample Rate: Plug-in 28 44.1/48 kHz 88.2/96 kHz 174.6/192 kHz Compatible DSP Chips per HD Accel Card Mono Stereo Mono Stereo Mono Stereo Focusrite d2 v2.
HD Core and HD Process Cards Table 3. Maximum instances of real-time TDM plug-ins per DSP chip for an HD Core or HD Process card, at different sample rates (mono and stereo) Sample Rate: Plug-in 44.1/48 kHz 88.2/96 kHz Compatible DSP Chips per HD Core or HD Process Card 174.
30 Focusrite D2 and D3 Plug-ins Guide
appendix b DSP Delays Incurred by TDM Plug-ins Virtually all TDM plug-ins incur some amount of signal delay. If you are working with mono tracks, or are processing all channels with the same plug-in, the signal delays are not long enough to be significant and should not be a concern. This signal delay is significant only if you use a plug-in on one channel of a stereo or multichannel signal but not the others, since this can cause the channels to be slightly out of phase.
Focusrite D2 and D3 DSP Delay ≈ Table 3.
index Numerics D 1-2 Band EQ 9 4-Band EQ 9 6-Band EQ 9 D2 configurations 9 filters 12 High-Mid Peak Filter 13 High-Pass Filter 12 High-Shelf Filter 13 input controls 11 Low-Mid Peak Filter 13 Low-Shelf Filter 13 meters 11 A Activation Code 6 adjusting plug-in parameters computer keyboard 10, 19 keyboard shortcuts 10, 19 mouse 10, 19 scroll wheel 11, 20 toggling switches 11, 20 Attack parameter 22 authorizing plug-ins 6, 7 Auto Release button 23 B boxed version 1 brick wall limiter 18 C Cartesian Grap
F P Focusrite D2 9 Focusrite D3 17 compressor 18 limiter 18 package contents 1 plug-ins adjusting parameters 10, 19 authorizing 6 registration 2 G Gain Reduction meter 21 guide conventions 3 HD-series cards DSP delays 31 help 3 Ratio parameter 22 registration 2 removing plug-ins Windows 7 Right Channel button 14 RMS detector 18 I S Input Level parameter 11 inserting plug-ins on a track 27 internal side-chain processing 24 scroll wheel adjusting plug-in parameters 11, 20 side-chain processing 18, 2
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