Plug-in Reference

12
The included effect plug-ins
EnvelopeShaper (Cubase only)
EnvelopeShaper can be used to cut or boost the gain of
the Attack and Release phase of the audio material. You
can either use the knobs or drag the breakpoints in the
graphic display to change parameter values. Be careful
with levels when boosting the gain and if needed reduce
the Output level to avoid clipping.
The following parameters are available:
Expander (Cubase only)
Expander reduces the output level in relation to the input
level for signals below the set threshold. This is useful,
when you want to enhance the dynamic range or reduce
the noise in quiet passages. You can either use the knobs
or drag the breakpoints in the graphic display to change
the Threshold and the Ratio parameter values.
The following parameters are available:
Parameter Description
Attack (-20–20dB) Changes the gain of the Attack phase of the signal.
Length (5–200ms) This determines the length of the Attack phase.
Release (-20–20dB) Changes the gain of the Release phase of the signal.
Output (-24–12dB) Sets the output level.
Parameter Description
Threshold
(-60–0dB)
This setting determines the level where expansion “kicks
in”. Signal levels below the set threshold are affected, but
signal levels above are not processed.
Ratio
(1:1–8:1)
Ratio determines the amount of gain boost applied to sig-
nals below the set threshold.
Soft Knee
(On/Off)
If this is off, signals below the threshold will be expanded
instantly according to the set ratio ("hard knee"). When Soft
Knee is activated, the onset of expansion will be more grad-
ual, producing a less drastic result.
Attack
(0.1–100ms)
This determines how fast Expander will respond to signals
below the set threshold. If the attack time is long, more of
the early part of the signal (attack) will pass through un-
processed.
Hold
(0–2000ms)
Sets the time the applied expansion will affect the signal
below the Threshold.
Release
(10–1000ms
or Auto mode)
Sets the amount of time it takes for the gain to return to its
original level when the signal exceeds the Threshold level. If
the “Auto” button is activated, Expander will automatically
find an optimal release setting that varies depending on the
audio material.
Analysis
(0–100)
(Pure Peak to
Pure RMS)
This parameter determines whether the input signal is anal-
ysed according to peak or RMS values (or a mixture of
both). A value of 0 is pure peak and 100 pure RMS. RMS
mode operates using the average power of the audio signal
as a basis, whereas Peak mode operates more on peak lev-
els. As a general guideline, RMS mode works better on ma-
terial with few transients such as vocals, and Peak mode
better for percussive material, with a lot of transient peaks.