User Guide

harmonic is at a lower level than its predecessor, creating a
natural decay. THD balance
and decay are circuit dependent, and thus differ from device to device.
Clipping
Clipping is h
igh-level distortion that adds harmonics to the input signal at a level that is
very close to the fundamental level, with each harmonic remaining at a level close to its
predecessor. Clipping occurs when a device such as a preamp is fed with a signal too
strong for it to handle, and the device ‘chops’ the waveform to fit its power limitations.
For example, when a sine wave is driven hot into a preamp, it almost becomes a square
wave.
Noise
Noise occur
s in analog devices due to the interaction between the power supply and the
device’s electrical and magnetic shielding properties, resulting in random low level
signals. The noise level defines the dynamic depth of the usable signal, what we call
Signal-to-Noise Ratio or SNR. For example, in a 16-bit audio file, the noise level is -95
dBFS, which translates into 95 dB of depth. In an analog console, where noise is set at
about -80 dBu and the clipping point is 20 dBu, the depth is 100 dB.
Session Setup
Since analo
g console coloration is created by the console’s individual channel and buss
amplifiers, the NLS includes both Channel and Buss components. To faithfully reproduce
the DAW to analog console (and back again) signal chain and workflow, we recommend
using the NLS in one of two following session setup configurations.
1. As a virtual summing box or summing console: The NLS Channel is inserted on the
last insert
of the DAW audio tracks, like a direct out routed to an analog console. Th
e
NLS Buss is placed on t
he first insert of the master track (or any other buss), just as t
he
stereo return would be routed from the analog console back to the DAW.
2. To simula
te console preamp coloration: The NLS Channel is placed on the first in
sert
of your DAW audio tra
cks, and the NLS Buss can then be inserted at a
ny point on the
buss or master track.
Waves NLS
User Guide
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