L3-16 Multimaximizer™ User Manual
L3-16 User Guide 2
L3-16 User Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 WELCOME ................................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 PRODUCT OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................
L3-16 User Guide Chapter 1 – Introduction 1.1 Welcome Thank you for choosing Waves! In order to get the most out of your Waves processor, please take the time to read through this manual. In conjunction, we also suggest that you become familiar with www.wavesupport.net. There you will find an extensive Answer Base, the latest Tech Specs, detailed Installation guides, new Software Updates, and current information on Authorization and Registration. By signing up at wavesupport.
L3-16 User Guide 1.2 Product Overview The Waves L3-16 Multimaximizer is a 16-band auto-summing peak limiter, the fourth processor in Waves’ acclaimed L-Series of Ultramaximizers and Multimaximizers. Powered by an advanced version of the Waves PLMixer Peak Limiting Mixer engine, the L3-16 offers Gain and Priority controls arranged in a 6 band EQ-style interface with familiar parameters like frequency, Q, and filter-type.
L3-16 User Guide 1.3 Concepts and Terminology The Peak Limiting Mixer™ A traditional multiband limiter consists of a given number of limiters operating independently of each other, each set to a particular frequency range. The key to the L3-16’s power is its patent-pending Peak Limiting Mixer™ (PLMixer™) engine, which uses a single peak limiter to control all of its bands.
L3-16 User Guide The L3-16 Release Character System The L3-16 offers a wide range of sound qualities which are controlled using the release settings across its 16 bands. Like its predecessor the L3, the L3-16’s band release times are determined by Waves ARC™ Auto Release Control, which dynamically chooses the optimal release value for a wide range of inputs. The ARC system, like the human ear, analyzes and reacts to RMS and peak transients differently, resulting in increased RMS level with greater clarity.
L3-16 User Guide Chapter 2 – Quickstart Guide We recommend reading this manual to get the most out of the L3-16. However, for a quick start to setting up the L3-16 on your audio, follow these steps: 1. Insert the L3-16 Multimaximizer into your project, preferably as the last processor on the master buss with no subsequent gain adjustment. 2. Play your audio, selecting a section with a high RMS level. 3. Experiment with various presets from the “Load” pull-down menu. 4.
L3-16 User Guide Chapter 3 – Controls and Interface 3.1 Global Limiter Section This section consists of controls that globally affect all of the L3-16’s bands. Threshold/Input Meter - Range -30dB to 0dB - Default 0dB Threshold is probably the most important control of the L3-16, as it sets the global limiting threshold as the reference threshold for all 16 bands. Once set, any signal that goes above the threshold is limited, and gain is automatically made up by the same factor; i.e.
L3-16 User Guide The Threshold fader is located on the Input Meter, allowing easy adjustment with reference to input energy. Note that the Input Meter displays the signal level after the Paragraphic EQ processing to allow accurate Threshold setting. Below the Input Meter, you will find Waves standard peak indicators. Click the peak indicator field to reset.
L3-16 User Guide Vocal Priority 1 Vocal Priority 2 Bass Priority 1 Bass Priority 2 Hi-mid Suppressor 1 Hi-mid Suppressor 2 Lo-mid Suppressor Sub Suppressor L3 – Basic Profile L3 – Extreme Analog L3 – Semi Separated L3 – WideBand ARC L3 – WideBand Manual L3 – Warm & Cosy L3 – Loud & Proud L3 – Lean & Mean L3 – Low Level Loudness Separation - Range Low, Medium, High - Default Medium The Separation menu sets the Q for the multiband network crossover filters, determining the amount of overlap between bands.
L3-16 User Guide The interface consists of 6 Paragraphic bands with controls for Gain, Frequency, Q, and Priority. Gain and Priority can be adjusted independently, or together, using the Link control. These Paragraphic bands are superimposed over the 16 internal crossover bands. Each of the 6 Paragraphic bands can be controlled by direct numerical entry into value windows, or by using the graphic display band markers.
L3-16 User Guide • • • • • • Click-horizontal drag changes frequency Control-click (PC)/Command-click (Mac) and drag constrains movement to the X or Y axis – vertical drag will lock frequency but allow gain change, and horizontal drag will lock gain but allow frequency change Alt-click (PC)/Option-click (Mac) and horizontal drag allows Q adjustment, and disables the vertical axis while held Double click on any band marker to toggle in or out Drag on any de-activated band marker to activate it Shift-click
L3-16 User Guide Gain/Priority Link The them. button allows simultaneous control of Gain and Priority retaining a constant offset between Freq - Range 16Hz to 20kHz - Default 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 The Freq control sets the frequency for each of the 6 Paragraphic bands. Q - Range 0.50 to 2.0 - Default 1.0 Adjusts Q for each of the 6 Paragraphic bands. The higher the Q setting, the narrower the range of frequencies that is affected.
L3-16 User Guide 3.3 IDR Section Quantize - Range 24, 22, 20, 18, 16 bit - Default 24 The Quantize control sets the target bit depth of the L3-16 output. Quantize is always active, so the output of the L3-16 will be quantized to a maximum of 24-bits even if you are in a floating point environment. Dither - Range Type 1, Type 2, None - Default Type 1 Type 1 is “purist” dithering, designed for no modulation noise at low levels.
L3-16 User Guide Chapter 4 – The WaveSystem 4.1 The WaveSystem Toolbar All Waves processors feature the WaveSystem toolbar which takes care of most administrative functions you will encounter while working with your Waves software. The features of the WaveSystem toolbar are the same on practically all Waves processors, so familiarity with its features will be helpful whichever processor you are using. Toolbar Functions Undo Redo Setup A/B Copy A->B Load Save ? Undoes the last performed action.
L3-16 User Guide Loading Presets and Setups Click-and-hold on the Load button to see the Load pop-up menu. The menu is divided into four sections. If a section is not currently available it will not appear in the Load pop-up menu. Open Preset File… Select to open any setup or preset file, whether from the Library or your own creations. ‘Filename.xps’: Displays any currently loaded Setup File and its presets. Factory Presets: Displays the default Factory Presets.
L3-16 User Guide 4. A confirmation box will appear, allowing you to cancel or ‘OK’ the deletion. A/B Comparison and Copying The Setup A/Setup B button may be clicked to compare two settings. If you load a preset in the Setup B position, this will not affect the preset loaded into the Setup A position, and vice-versa. If you want to slightly modify the settings in Setup A, you can copy them to Setup B by clicking on the Copy to B button, then alter Setup A and compare with the original Setup B.
L3-16 User Guide • Using key entry, double click on the button to open the value window, and directly enter the value from your keyboard. If you enter an out of range number, the button stays selected but remains at the current setting (system beeps? If system sounds are on?) Some processors have link buttons between a pair of value windows, allowing click-and-drag adjustment while retaining the offset between the controls. Faders Click on the fader itself or anywhere within the fader track.
L3-16 User Guide Additionally, the Mac has an option-TAB function for ‘down’ movement and shift-option-TAB for ‘up’ movement where applicable. If you have several Value Window Buttons selected, TAB functions will take you through the selected controls only.
L3-16 User Guide Appendix A – Controls List Control Threshold/Input Meter Out Ceiling/Output Meter Attenuation Meter Release Separation Release Character Priority Gain Freq Q Filter Type In/Out Quantize Dither Shaping Range -30dB to 0dB -30dB to 0dB -30dB to 0dB x0.1 to x10.
L3-16 User Guide Appendix B - IDR In Depth Dithering and Noise Shaping Dithering and Noise Shaping are two independent, complementary techniques that improve the perceived quality of digital audio after it has been re-quantized. Each technique is responsible for the improvement of a different subjective quality of the noise caused by re-quantization. Dithering alters the character of the quantization noise to more closely resemble analog hiss, rather than digital quantization noise.
L3-16 User Guide Type2 Type 2 is a narrow-band dither which adds a minimal the amount of noise. It delivers a noise level about 5dB lower than Type 1, while adding some low level distortion. (The distortion level is lower than when no dithering is applied.) IDR Noise Shaping Options As explained above, noise shaping shifts the noise to the frequency ranges where we hear it the least. The three Noise Shaping options provided by the IDR™ system differ in the amount of this shifting.
