4040 Retro Limiter Original Vintage Style Designs User Manual McDOWELL SIGNAL PROCESSING, LLC
McDSP 4040 Retro Limiter 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 4040 Retro Limiter Special Thanks to: • Rob Barrett Jr., our #1 customer • Customers who like innovation, not imitation. from the entire McDSP development team. Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998-2009 McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company All Rights Reserved. The McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company’s 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In and corresponding User’s Manual is copyrighted and all rights are reserved.
Table of Contents McDSP 4040 Retro Limiter ii Plug-In Manual McDSP License Agreement Getting Started with the 4040 Retro Limiter System Requirements Installing the 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In Installation on Mac OS X Installation on Windows XP and Vista 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 4040 Retro Limiter Compression Limiter A Closer Look at the 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In Peak Control Make it Good (Not Loud) Applications Drums Not Mastering Yes Mastering! 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In Reference Guide 4040 Retro Limiter Specifications DSP Delay DSP Usage HD and HD Accel DSP hardware Maximum Instantiation Counts at 48kHz Maximum Instantiation Counts at 96kHz Percentage of DSP used by one instantiation at 48kHz Percentage of DSP used by one instantiation at 96kHz mcdsp.
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 4040 Retro Limiter 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.
Getting Started * McDSP Windows 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 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In Installation on Mac OS X The 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in Package includes this manual, ReadMe and Release Notes, a folder of presets for the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in, and the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in. Two copies of the 4040 Retro Limiter Licensing Agreement are included - one in this pdf manual and a second as a separate text file. The 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in manual requires that Adobe Acrobat reader (or similar .pdf reader) is installed.
Getting Started Re-installing the 4040 Retro Limiter 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 ‘4040 Retro Limiter’.
Installation on Windows XP and Vista The 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in Package includes this manual, ReadMe and Release Notes, a folder of presets for the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in, and the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in. Two copies of the 4040 Retro Limiter Licensing Agreement are included - one in this pdf manual and a second as a separate text file. The 4040 Retro Limiter manual requires that Adobe Acrobat reader (or similar .pdf reader) is installed.
Getting Started Re-installing the 4040 Retro Limiter 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 ‘4040 Retro Limiter’.
Installation on VENUE D-SHOW systems The 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in Package for VENUE D-SHOW systems includes presets for the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in and the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in. The 4040 Retro Limiter 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/Vista version of the 4040 Retro Limiter Pro Tools plug-in installer on any available computer.
Getting Started • Select the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in and select ‘INSTALL.’ • If a previous version of the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in was already installed, it will be updated by the installer. 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.
4040 Retro Limiter The 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in, along with the rest of the McDSP Retro Pack plug-in product line, is an entirely new design based on more than a deacde of McDSP engineering experience. The Retro Pack plug-ins are highly stylized products (both visually and sonically), and through an elogant user interface, deliver a vintage gear experience.
McDSP 4040 Retro Limiter The Quick Start Tour: The 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In Start Pro Tools™ and Instantiate the 4040 Retro Limiter 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 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in. Note the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in will operate on master or regular audio tracks in mono or stereo versions.
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McDSP 4040 Retro Limiter Controls Limiter The 4040 Retro Limiter simple design relies on two basic controls to get maximal signal level with minimal distortion and a highly stylized vintage sound. • Ceiling - the maximum signal level • Gain - the amount of signal level boost, up to 36 dB Displays Meters The 4040 Retro Limiter Noise Filter has meters showing input signal output signal levels.
Control Linking There is no control linking capability in the 4040 Retro Limiter at this time. Automation All 4040 Retro Limiter Noise Filter controls are completely automatable. See the Digidesign™ Pro Tools™ Reference Guide, Automating Plug-Ins section. Presets: Using the Presets and Making Your Own The 4040 Retro Limiter Noise Filter preset library demonstrates the wide range of applications the 4040 Retro Limiter can be used.
McDSP 4040 Retro Limiter Using the 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In The 4040 Retro Limiter is a highly stylized limiter algorithm. The following sections cover basic operations of the 4040 Retro Limiter, provide a more in depth descript of some of the features of the 4040 Retro Limiter, and outline some applciations of the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in. Basics There are three types of EQs included in the 4040 Retro Limiter (high shelf, parametric, and low shelf), and two types of filters (high pass and low pass).
A Closer Look at the 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In Peak Control The Anti-Clip output stage topology alone in each Retro Pack plug-in makes is work putting across the master buss. However a useful (and colorful!) limiter is another way to attain control over signal peaks. The 4040 Retro Limiter offers the capability of a limiter - no signal levels above the selected maximum while maximizing levels - in a simple two knob interface.
McDSP 4040 Retro Limiter 4040 Retro Limiter Plug-In Reference Guide 4040 Retro Limiter Specifications Parameter Range Function ceiling -36 to 0 dB Output signal level maximum gain 0 to 36 dB Input signal level boost limiteR mcdsp.
DSP Delay The delay incurred by the 4040 Retro Limiter plug-in is 37 samples at a 48 kHz sample rate. It is approximately 0.775 msec. The 4040 Retro Limiter uses a small look ahead to minimize signal distortion while maximizing signal levels. DSP Usage HD and HD Accel DSP hardware The TDM versions of the 4040 Retro Limiter Noise Filter plug-in configurations use a varying amount of DSP resources for each 4040 Retro Limiter Noise Filter configuration. The table below is a listing of these DSP usages.
McDSP 4040 Retro Limiter Percentage of DSP used by one instantiation at 48kHz Configuration 4040 Retro Limiter Mono 4040 Retro Limiter Stereo % of DSP used on HD systems 18% 23% % of DSP used on HD Accel systems 9% 12% Percentage of DSP used by one instantiation at 96kHz Configuration 4040 Retro Limiter Mono 4040 Retro Limiter Stereo % of DSP used on HD systems 44% 54% % of DSP used on HD Accel systems 22% 27% Using the data provided in the above chart, the 4040 Retro Limiter (stereo) and
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