User’s Manual NF575 Flexible Noise Filtering McDOWELL SIGNAL PROCESSING, LLC
McDSP NF575 Noise Filter Plug-In Manual McDSP McDowell Signal Processing, LLC 1300 Crittenden Lane #401 Mountain View, CA 94043 Support Email: info@mcdsp.com Technical Support: help@mcdsp.com World Wide Web: www.mcdsp.
McDSP NF575 Special Thanks to: • Rob Barrett Jr., our #1 customer • All those folks who asked for a noise filter from McDSP from the entire McDSP development team. Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998-2008 McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company All Rights Reserved. The McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company’s NF575 Noise Filter Plug-In and corresponding User’s Manual is copyrighted and all rights are reserved.
Table of Contents McDSP NF575 Noise Filter Plug-In Manual McDSP License Agreement Getting Started with the NF575 System Requirements Installing the NF575 Plug-In Installation on Mac OS X Installation on Windows XP Installation on VENUE D-SHOW systems Authorizing your McDSP Plug-Ins Authorizing with a pre-programmed iLok Smart Key Authorizing with an iLok License Card Authorizing with iLok.
McDSP NF575 Using the NF575 Plug-In Basics High Pass Filter (HPF) Low Pass Filter (LPF) Band Stop Filter Band Pass Filter A Closer Look at the NF575 Plug-In Filter Slopes Notch Filter Soloing Notch Filter Linking Applications 60 Hz Buzz Removal Camera Shutter Noise Low Frequency Rumble Phasor Effects NF575 Plug-In Reference Guide NF575 Specifications DSP Delay DSP Usage HD and HD Accel DSP hardware Maximum Instantiation Counts at 48kHz Sample Rate Percentage of DSP used by one instantiation at 48kHz Sampl
McDSP License Agreement The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in accordance with the terms of the agreement. McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company License and Warranty: The software which accompanies this license (the “Software”) is the property of McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company or its licensers and is protected by copyright law.
McDSP Limited Warranty: McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company warrants that the media on which the Software is distributed will be free from defects. Your sole remedy in the event of a breach of this warranty will be that McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company will, at its option, replace any defective media.
Getting Started with the NF575 Each McDSP plug-in is delivered inside an installer application, and uses the Interlok copy protection software to authorize each plug-in. This section describes how to install and authorize a McDSP plug-in. General system requirements are also described. System Requirements McDSP HD, Native, and LE plug-ins are compatible with Pro Tools™ HD, HD Accel TDM systems, as well as Pro Tools™ LE and Pro Tools™ M-Powered host based systems. McDSP plug-ins support Mac OS 10.4.
Getting Started * Our XP test machines are chosen to follow the Digidesign recommended systems guide, which currently is the Dell Precision™ Workstation 670 with 2.79 GHz Xeon processor. All products are guaranteed to run on that system. Older Intel processors (i.e. Pentium III and predecessors) and AMD processors are not officially supported, although some users have had limited success with newer AMD processors (i.e. Dual Opteron 1.79 GHZ, Athlon 64 2.20 GHz, and Athlon 64 XP 3700).
Installing the NF575 Plug-In Installation on Mac OS X The NF575 plug-in Package includes this manual, ReadMe and Release Notes, a folder of presets for the NF575 plug-in, and the NF575 plug-in. Two copies of the NF575 Licensing Agreement are included - one in this pdf manual and a second as a separate text file. The NF575 plug-in manual requires that Adobe Acrobat reader (or similar .pdf reader) is installed.
Getting Started Re-installing the NF575 plug-in presets manually: In you wish to restore the factory default presets, it may be useful to know how to manually re-install only the presets. • Go to the ‘Plug-in Settings’ folder: • Root->Library->Application Support->Digidesign->Plug-in Settings • If Pro Tools™ has not already done so for you, create a folder called ‘NF575’. • Place a copy of the folder from the NF575 plug-in package called ‘Presets’ into the ‘NF575’ folder.
Installation on Windows XP The NF575 plug-in Package includes this manual, ReadMe and Release Notes, a folder of presets for the NF575 plug-in, and the NF575 plug-in. Two copies of the NF575 Licensing Agreement are included - one in this pdf manual and a second as a separate text file. The NF575 manual requires that Adobe Acrobat reader (or similar .pdf reader) is installed.
Getting Started Re-installing the NF575 plug-in presets manually: In you wish to restore the factory default presets, it may be useful to know how to manually re-install only the presets. • Go to the Plug-In Settings folder: • C:\Program Files\Common Files\Digidesign\DAE\Plug-In Settings\ • If Pro Tools™ has not already done so for you, create a folder called ‘NF575’. • Place a copy of the folder from the NF575 plug-in package called ‘Presets’ into the ‘NF575’ folder.
Installation on VENUE D-SHOW systems The NF575 plug-in Package for VENUE D-SHOW systems includes presets for the NF575 plug-in and the NF575 plug-in. The NF575 Licensing Agreement is displayed when installing the product on D-SHOW. The pdf manual can be obtained by running the Mac OS X or Windows XP version of the NF575 Pro Tools plug-in installer on any available computer.
Getting Started Important note for FilterBank HD and CompressorBank HD on VENUE D-SHOW consoles: The first time you instantiate either of these plugins, a dialog box will appear asking you to choose a user interface preference. Choose the Knobs interfaces, as some of the Slider interfaces are too large for the VENUE display.
Authorizing your McDSP Plug-Ins Authorizing with a pre-programmed iLok Smart Key McDSP bundles such as the Emerald Pack come with a pre-programmed iLok Smart Key. Simply insert the iLok into any available USB port on your computer. The iLok’s indicator light will illuminate when the iLok has a proper connection. The Plug-Ins included in the bundle require no further authorization steps. As with any iLok on your system it is recommended that your iLok be registered and synchronized with iLok.
Authorizing Your McDSP Plug-Ins Authorizing a McDSP Plug-In from a License Card with the Authorization Wizard: The Authorization Wizard is used to install an authorization from a License Card to the iLok USB Smart Key. To use the Authorization Wizard for the Plug-In you purchase, perform the following steps: • Insert your iLok USB Smart Key into an available USB port.
• Once the Plug-In is personalized, click the ‘Next’ button to continue. • Check the ‘Use License Card’ box and press the ‘Next’ button (figure 2.3). Note: Although the Authorization Wizard may appear to allow authorization by challenge/ response, that method is currently NOT SUPPORTED McDSP Plug-Ins. • Separate the small punch-out iLok License Chip (the removable metal and plastic tab) from the License Card by pushing the cutout up and out with your thumb. Do not force your finger downward.
Authorizing Your McDSP Plug-Ins • Once the authorization is installed on the iLok USB Smart Key, a dialog is displayed prompting the user to register their iLok USB Smart Key at the www.ilok. com website. The iLok.com website was created to allow users to manage the software authorizations on their iLok USB Smart Key. THIS STEP IS NOT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE AUTHORIZATION OF MCDSP SOFTWARE. The registration of the iLok USB Smart Key to an iLok. com account can be bypassed by clearing the checkbox.
Authorizing with iLok.com Required for demo, upgrade, and replacement authorizations only iLok.com can be accessed from any Macintosh or PC with an Internet connection. You can do this at home, a friend’s, or at the office as long as there is an internet connection to access iLok.com--note that you don’t have to use your ProTools system computer! You simply use this computer to connect to iLok.com and transfer authorizations to your iLok Smart Key.
Authorizing Your McDSP Plug-Ins The next page will display the pending licenses available for download. This page will also display the name of the Plug-In, its manufacturer, the type of authorization (demo, Not For Resale, or License), the date the authorization was deposited, and the date when the authorization will no longer be available for download from the server. Before any transfer of authorizations can take place, you must synchonize your iLok Smart Key with iLok. com.
If you wish to go back into your account and visually confirm the transaction for yourself, select “View iLoks” Then select the iLok you had the authorizations transferred to. That’s it! Dont forget to logout and move the iLok Smart Key to your ProTools System if you are using another computer for Internet access. Also, you may need to install a different version of the Plug-In if you are upgrading or replacing. Transferring Authorizations with iLok.
Authorizing Your McDSP Plug-Ins Registering your McDSP Plug-In To register your McDSP Plug-In, fill out and return the product registration card enclosed with the boxed Plug-In package by mail or fax 707-220-0994. Registering your product entitles you to future upgrades and advance information from McDSP. Each individual product must be registered (even if you have multiple copies), and the product must be registered to an individual, not an entity.
NF575 Noise Filter The NF575 is the most precise noise filter available for any digital audio workstation. The NF575 Noise Filter is a high-resolution filter set designed to remove a wide variety of noise types from audio. Accurate high pass and low pass filters reduce low frequency rumble and high frequency hiss. Selectable slopes of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 dB/Oct and frequency control range covering the entire audible spectrum make the NF575 filters extremely flexible.
McDSP NF575 The Quick Start Tour: The NF575 Plug-In Start Pro Tools™ and Instantiate the NF575 plug-In • Launch Pro Tools™ and Open a Pro Tools™ Session. • Verify the Display-> Mix Window Shows->Inserts View option is checked. • In one of the inserts of a stereo master fader, select the NF575 plug-in. Note the NF575 plug-in will operate on master or regular audio tracks in mono or stereo versions.
Filter Response Plot Main - input level adjustment HPF - high pass filter control section Page 22 Input and Output Meters Notch Filters (1-5) - band stop filter control section Main - output level adjustment LPF - low pass filter control section
McDSP NF575 Controls Main The Main section controls input and output levels, along with phase control over the output stage. • In - input signal level adjustment (-24 to +24 dB) • Out - output signal level adjustment (-24 to +24 dB) HPF (High Pass Filter) The HPF section controls affect filter frequency and slope. The high pass filter is useful for removing low rumble, vocal/dialog track plosives, and other low frequency noise.
LPF (Low Pass Filter) The LPF section controls affect filter frequency and slope. The low pass filter is useful for removing background hiss, wind, and other high frequency noise. • Freq - low pass filter frequency • Q - filter slope (6 to 36 dB/Oct) Displays Meters The NF575 Noise Filter has meters showing input signal output signal levels. These meters are useful for confimring the amount of unwanted noise being filtered (removed).
McDSP NF575 • Click on the text box to highlight the numeric value and then use the arrow keys to increase or decrease the numeric value, or • Use the
Using the NF575 Plug-In The NF575 Noise Filter is a specially design set of algorithms used to remove noise (but not music!) from the audio signal. The following sections cover basic operations of the algorithms in the NF575 Noise Filter, provide a more in depth description of some of the features of the NF575, and outline some applications of the NF575 plug-in. Basics Filters can be broken down into 4 general categories - high pass, low pass, band stop (notch), and band pass.
McDSP NF575 Band Stop Filter Band stop filters, or notch filters, are designed to remove a specified amount of signal at exactly the selected frequency. Band stop (notch) filters have a slope, or Q control, that determines the width of the actual notch shape. A Q of 1.0 is about one frequency octave. A Q of 12.0 is about 1/12 a frequency octave, or one semi-tone. At the exact selected frequency of the band stop (notch) filter the signal reduction is maximum.
A Closer Look at the NF575 Plug-In Filter Slopes Although there are several filtering options available for the Pro Tools™ platform, few, if any, have the precision of the NF575 Noise Filter. Not only designed for the ultimate in filtering accuracy, the high pass and low pass filters included in the NF575 have slopes up to 36dB/Oct. Because of the steepness of the NF575 Noise Filter high pass and low pass filters, even greater amounts of noise reduction are possible.
McDSP NF575 Applications 60 Hz Buzz Removal Cyclical noise like AC power hum is all too common in audio production. While a simple notch filter may remove some of this kind of noise, there are often several harmonics of noise that require multiple notch filters, often with varying amounts of reduction. The NF575 notch filters are extremely narrow and linkable, so the removal of cyclical (and harmonic) noise is possible, without affecting the desired audio.
NF575 Plug-In Reference Guide NF575 Specifications Parameter Range Function IN -24 to +24 dB Input signal level adjustment OUT -24 to +24 dB Output signal level adjustment PHASE ON / OFF Inverts the phase of the audio waveform HPF - (High pass filter) Q -6dB / Oct to -36dB / Oct High pass filter steepness FREQ 20Hz to 20kHz High pass filter frequency below which signal levels are reduced LPF - (Low Pass Filter) Q -6dB / Oct to -36dB / Oct Low pass filter steepness FREQ 20Hz to 20kHz L
McDSP NF575 DSP Delay The delay incurred by any of the NF575 plug-in configurations is 3 (THREE) samples on HD systems. This is the absolute minimum number of delay samples a TDM plug-in can have. The McDSP plug-ins are designed in this manner to provide the user with the closest analog mixing console experience possible (analog inserts such as EQ and compression do not cause a processing delay when inserted into a track).
Percentage of DSP used by one instantiation at 48kHz Sample Rate Configuration NF575 Mono NF575 Stereo % of DSP used on HD systems 18% 36% % of DSP used on HD Accel systems 9% 18% Using the data provided in the above chart, the NF575 (stereo) and NF575 (stereo) plug-in configurations can share the same DSP. The NF575 Noise Filter supports some higher sample rates (88.2 kHz and 96 kHz). For 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz operation the dsp usage is roughly doubled (2x).
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