User Manual

UAD Powered Plug-Ins Manual - 162 - Chapter 17: Neve 33609 Compressor
This complete pallet of sonic nuance, including the dynamic input response,
is captured in the UAD Neve 33609 model. The plug-in is calibrated inter-
nally so that 0dBFS at its input is equivalent to an input level of approximately
+26dBu on the 33609 hardware, where the coloring is more prominent. The
result is that a typical signal within a DAW will drive the UAD Neve 33609
into these “virtual” higher levels, resulting in fairly high amounts gain reduc-
tion.
Headroom Switch
The Headroom switch is provided to accommodate applications where high
amounts of gain reduction are not desired. Headroom simply lowers the in-
ternal operating level so that the plug-in is not “pushed” into gain reduction as
much.
Headroom can be set to 22db, 18db, or 14db. At 22dB, signals will push the
plug-in into gain reduction (and more non-linearity and “good” harmonic dis-
tortion) more easily. Set the switch to a lower value when less gain reduction
and color is desired.
The numbers on the switch indicate where 0dBFS falls relative to nominal
+4dBu. For example, with 22dB of headroom, 0dBFS corresponds to +4dBu
+ 22dB = 26dBu. With 18dB of headroom, 0dBFS corresponds to +4dBu +
18 db = 22dBu. The headroom selected will cause the plug-in to behave as
though it were a hardware 33609 connected to a nominal +4dBu interface
with the selected amount of headroom. Industry standards for most DAW in-
terfaces are +14dB and +18dB headroom. The +22dB setting approximates
some analog mixing environments, and allows the entire useful dynamic
range of the 33609 to be exercised.
The following settings are application guidelines for the Headroom switch:
22dB
Typical starting point for individual track inserts where maximum gain reduc-
tion is desired. This setting is equivalent to having a real hardware 33609
connected to a +4 interface with +22dB headroom.
18dB
Typical starting point for buses and groups where nominal gain reduction is
desired. This setting is equivalent to having a real hardware 33609 con-
nected to a +4 interface with +18dB headroom.