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TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 INTRODUCTION TO MD3 Stereo Mastering Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 GETTING STARTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 GLOBAL PLUG-IN CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction TC Electronic is proud to introduce the MD3 Stereo package for Pro Tools. This package includes both our MD3 Multi-Band Dynamics and BrickWall Limiter algorithms, the finest stereo mastering tools from our award winning System 6000. MAIN FEATURES • • • • • Four band Parametric EQ (Dual Mono capability) Normalizer Three band Exp/Comp/Lim MS Encode/Decode Sample accurate BrickWall Limiter MD3 The MD3 plug-in features both Dual Mono and Stereo dynamics processing in three frequency bands.
The disadvantage is that some of the lower bits are lost in the 24 bit path to the algorithm. On the other hand, the same loss would happen when you would reduce the signal via an input level parameter. The The MD3 TDM version runs on Pro Tools|HD and Pro Tools|HD Accel hardware, including the Venue console, at sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 96kHz, with Pro Tools software 6.9 or higher.
FOCUS FIELDS You can place your own set of parameters in the 6 focus fields at the bottom of the plug-in. Making use of the focus fields can give you a better workflow, since you will not have to switch pages all the time to find the parameters that you work with. You can assign any parameter to the focus fields, and the focus fields are stored with the session as well as when you save your presets. ENGLISH To change the assignment: • Press the Assign button.
PARAMETER OVERVIEW The MD3 is a 3-band 2-Channel Dynamics processing algorithm.
Main Page Inlevel Left and Inlevel Right Range: Off to 0dB <-40dB: in 3dB steps >-40dB in 0.5dB steps Sets the Input level for the two Input channels Input Mode ENGLISH Range: Stereo, Dual Mono, MS Linked, MS Unlink. Selects the Input mode. Stereo In Stereo Mode the Expander/Compressor section of the algorithm uses one common SideChain for both Left and Right channels and the EQ section is linked. Please note that when coming from e.g.
Linked In the MS Linked mode the MS Encoder is activated and the Expander/Compressor section of the algorithm uses one common SideChain for both Left and Right channels. EQ is unlinked. MS Unlinked In the MS Unlinked mode the MS Encoder is activated and the Expander/Compressor section of the algorithm uses separate SideChains for the Left and Right Channels. EQ is unlinked.
EXPANDER/COMPRESSOR SETUP Lo Xover Range: Off, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63, 80Hz ......... 16kHz Sets the Cross-over frequency between the Lo and Mid Expander/Compressor bands for the two channels. Hi Xover Range: Off, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63, 80Hz ......... 16kHz Sets the Cross-over frequency between the Mid and the Hi Expander and Compressor bands for the two channels. NOTE : The Lo Xover value can not be higher than the Hi Xover.
EQ Page INTRODUCTION This digital EQ features a four-band parametric EQ with high- and low-pass filters switchable between Notch, Parametric, Shelving and Cut filters. The needle sharp notch filter has a range down to 0.01 octave and the shelving filters has a variable slope, ranging from gentle 3 dB/oct over 6 and 9 to 12dB/oct. Cut filters are switchable between 12dB/oct maximum flat amplitude (Butterworth) or flat group delay (Bessel) types.
TYPE SELECTOR • Press Type and use faders 1-4 to select filter types. Mid 1 and Mid 2 filters options: Parametric and Notch. Lo and Hi filter options:: Parametric, Notch, Shelve and Cut.
Freq Press Freq and use Faders 1 to 4 to adjust frequence for each of the four bands. Range Range Range Range - Lo band Mid1 band Mid2 band Hi band : : : : 20Hz 20Hz 20Hz 20Hz to to to to 20kHz 20kHz 20kHz 40kHz Gain Press Gain and use Faders 1 - 4 to adjust gain for each of the four EQ bands.
Normalizer When using the EQ section (located just before the Normalizer) the gain might have been increased or decreased. The Normalizer is used to optimize the gain before hitting the Expander/Compressor section. Trim Left and Trim Right Range: -6 to +18dB in 0.1dB steps Level parameter between the EQ and Exp/Comp section. When Input Mode is set to Stereo the parameters will be linked. Soft clip ENGLISH Range: +5dB; Off The Soft clipper is placed between the Normalizer and Exp/Comp section.
Expander Pressing Threshold, Range, Ratio, Attack and Release keys will immediately assign Lo, Mid, Hi and Master values for these parameters to Faders 1-4. Press the L/R key to see all parameters at the same time. Threshold parameters Range: -50dB to 0dB (in 0.5dB steps) When the signal drops below the set Threshold point the Expander is activated. Range Range: -40dB to 0dB in 0.5dB steps The Range parameter sets the Max attenuation relative to the Ref level setting.
Attack Range: 0.3 to 100ms (Exponential) The Attack time is the time the Expander uses to release its gain reduction when the Input signal rises above the set Threshold point. Release Range: 20ms to 7sec. (Exponential) The Release time is the time the Expander uses to achieve the attenuation specified by the Ratio parameter when the signal drops below the set Threshold point. Meter Zoom Press to zoom on the range of the Gain Reduction meters.
Compressor Page Pressing Threshold, Gain, Ratio, Attack and Release keys will immediately assign Lo, Mid, Hi and Master values for these parameters to Faders 1-4. Press the L/R key to see all parameters at the same time. Threshold Range: -25dB to 20dB (in 0.5dB steps) Relates to the Ref.Level setting. General explanation - when the Input signal exceeds the Threshold value the Compressor starts to reduce the dynamic content of the signal according to the set Ratio.
Ratio Range: Off to Infinity Specifies the Ratio of the performed compression. Example: With a Ratio setting of 2:1 the compressor will reduce every 2dB above the Threshold point to only 1dB. Attack Range: 0.3 to 100ms The Attack time is the time the Compressor uses to reach the gain reduction specified by the Ratio parameter.
Output page FULL RANGE LIMITER Soft clip Range: -6dB to 0 dB in 1-dB-steps; +3dB; off. Soft clipper after the Compressor. Threshold is relative to 0dBFS - not to the Ref Level. Threshold Threshold is relative to 0dBFS - not to the Ref Level. Range: -12 to +3 dB -6 to + 3 in 0.1dB increments -12 to -6 in 0.5dB increments ENGLISH Release Range: 20ms to 7sec Release time for the Limiter.
Ceiling Range: 0 to -0,10dB in 0.01dB steps. Fine-tuning parameter setting the Ceiling for the Limiter. This parameter prevents the Output signal from ever exceeding the adjusted Threshold. It can be used to "hide" overloads to downstream equipment, but it does not remove the distortion associated with an over. TRIM LEVELS Trim L Range: 0 to -12dB in 0.1dB steps Left channel Output level trim after the Compressor and Output mode parameter (M/S) and before the Limiter section.
BRICKWALL LIMITER GETTING STARTED The BrickWall limiter cannot prevent destruction of dynamic range from happening at earlier stages in the production process, but it can get rid of the signals we know are going to get distorted in consumer CD players, radio processors or data reduction codecs. Precision in Level and Time Level meters are always upsampled in order to identify intersample and 0dBFS+ peaks on Inputs as well as Outputs.
Limiter Time constants The Limiter employs adaptive time constants to combat distortion at low frequencies while maintaining quick adoption to occasional peaks. A manual Release time can be set if the Auto Release key is turned off. We recommend using the Auto setting with Release set at Default. If quick recovery and loudness is an issue, move the Release setting in the Fast direction. Processing of very sensitive material might sound better with Release settings in the Slow direction.
Preset Management TC's comprehensive file based preset architecture makes archiving presets a simple process. This allows you to organize your presets the way you find most comfortable for your workflow, and to exchange presets with other users, no matter the platform or application. Presets are saved as discrete files on your hard drive. Once a preset is saved into the default location, it will automatically appear in the 'File' menu every time you use the plug-in.
DEFAULT PRESET LOCATIONS The following locations will describe where you can find the MD3 presets.
NOTE: For details regarding the export of presets from System 6000, please refer to your System 6000 and Icon Editor documentation. The generated SysEx/MIDI preset file needs to be placed in the default MD3 Preset folder (at the root level; sub-folders are not considered). The file needs to have either the extension ".syx" (for example: MyPresets.syx) or .mid for a MIDI file.
COMPARE SETTINGS WITH A/B MEM FUNCTION With the A/B compare function you can easily compare different parameter settings when you work with your music. You have two buttons: the "Mem" and the "A/B" button. When you start working with your preset, the A/B button is grayed out. This state indicates that the settings in both memory locations A and B are identical - so there is actually nothing to compare.
PARAMETER LOCK AT PRESET RECALL The parameter lock function allows you to lock the Dry Level, In Level and Out Level, from changing when you change preset. By using the parameter lock, you can easily browse through the extensive set of presets that comes with the MD3, without having to change the Dry Level, In Level or Out Level all the time. To lock a parameter, simply click on the small lock in the parameter field. To unlock it, click again.
