The channel strip is divided into sections, each marked with a section header. Mix Channel and Audio Track channel strips have identical parameters. Here is a detailed rundown of the parameters and functions in each section.
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The Dynamics, EQ and Insert effect sections will by default process a channel signal in that order, i.e. the order of the sections as shown in the channel strip (from the top down). By using the buttons in this section, the signal path order can be changed internally.
Each channel strip has a powerful dynamics section featuring compression/limiting and gating/expansion. The upper part of the section (with a white background) is the compressor/limiter, and the lower part (gray background) is the gate/expander. The compressor and gate processing can be independently switched in or out of the circuit.
Compressors reduce dynamic range by evening out the difference between loud and quiet signals. This makes signal levels easier to balance, and can add punch and sustain to the sound.
The Main Mixer’s compressor/limiter is a flexible processor which has soft-knee (a gradual, smooth onset of compression) characteristics but can be switched to peak limiting, where levels above the set threshold are instantly reduced. The compressor also features automatic make-up gain.
Gating or expansion will attenuate signals below a set threshold; the opposite of compression. It can be used to reduce or eliminate unwanted background noise that may be present when there is no signal to mask it. Gating is also commonly used to reduce microphone “bleeding”, e.g. when recording a close-mic’ed drum kit you can use gating to silence the tom microphones when the toms aren’t being played to tighten up the sound, and for special effects like “keying” (see below).
Higher expansion ratios (10:1 and above) are referred to as noise gating, where the channel is completely silenced if the level drops below the set threshold.
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When this button (found in both the Input and EQ sections) is activated, the Low Pass and High Pass filters can be used to filter the channel sidechain signal before the dynamic processing.
The channel signal itself will not be directly affected by the filters, only the sidechain signal. The filtered sidechain signal is what triggers the dynamic processing, but the dynamic processing is applied to the channel signal. This allows you to use frequency sensitive compression.
By trimming low and/or high frequencies you can specify which frequency range should trigger the compressor or gate. A typical application of frequency sensitive compression is “de-essing” where harsh sibilants in vocal material are reduced or eliminated. This is done by filtering the Sidechain signal so that only high frequencies (“s” noises) will trigger the compressor.
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You can use external signals to trigger the Dynamics section. This is done by connecting an external signal output to the Sidechain inputs on the back of the Mix Channel or Audio Track rack device.
When a cable is connected to the Sidechain inputs the “KEY” button is activated automatically and the Dynamics section for the channel will now be “keyed” i.e. triggered by the external signal instead of the channel signal.
See “Using compression sidechaining” for a description of further uses of sidechaining.
The Gain Reduction CV out connector on the back of a Mix Channel or Audio Track rack device can be used to modulate other parameters with the amount of gain reduction applied by the compressor/gate. The gain reduction CV out can be used as an envelope follower as the CV follows the dynamics of the original signal.
This is a four-band EQ with parametric midrange controls and high and low frequency shelving bands. The EQ can be switched between two operating modes, each with slightly different curve characteristics. There is also a filter section with low pass and high pass filters.
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The EQ section can also be displayed and edited “visually”. This is done in the Spectrum EQ floating window. Besides the EQ functionality, the Spectrum EQ also features a spectrum analyzer which displays the audio frequency content of the selected mixer channel in real-time. Here is how you can work with the Spectrum EQ:
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Select “Show Spectrum EQ Window” from the Window menu (or press [F2]), or click the Spectrum EQ Window button on the desired channel strip (see “Spectrum EQ Window button”) or on the device in the rack:
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The Spectrum EQ window shows up and the (pre-Fader) frequency content of the currently selected mixer channel is displayed in gray during playback:
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If the “Follow Selection” checkbox is ticked, changing sequencer track, Mix Channel/Audio Track device in the rack, channel strip, or editing parameters on other channel strips will automatically change the Spectrum EQ Window focus to show the signal of the corresponding mixer channel.
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You can also activate the HPF and LPF Filters, E Mode, HF Bell mode and LF Bell mode for the selected mixer channel by ticking the corresponding checkboxes in the window. The pictures below shows how the different objects in the Spectrum EQ window correspond to the channel strip parameters:
Dragging sideways changes the frequency value and dragging vertically changes the gain (of the EQ points). As you edit the points, the corresponding channel strip parameter(s) are updated in real-time - and vice versa. The white line in the window shows the resulting EQ (and Filter, if activated) curve.
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When you hover over a point, its current values are displayed numerically in the Frequency, Gain and Q fields below the graph. The parameter’s (or section’s) name is also displayed at the bottom left in the window:
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Note that the Analyzer always shows the audio frequencies before the Fader section. This means that any Filter and/or EQ changes you make will affect the displayed frequency content. Also, if you use any Insert FX, these could also affect the frequency content.
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It is possible to record parameter automation in the sequencer by dragging the points around in the Spectrum EQ Window during recording. Just make sure you have created a sequencer track for the channel you want to automate. See “Parameter automation recording procedure” for more details.
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The channel strip Insert FX section allows you to load an Effect Combi patch, which can in turn contain any number of effects and other devices. Insert effect devices that belong to the patch are added to the Audio Track or Mix Channel device in the rack.
The main parts of this section are the assignable Rotary knobs and buttons. Combinator Effect patches in the Factory Sound Bank will have various parameters and switches assigned to these controls, and the labels will have names describing the parameter/function.
Insert effects process the whole channel signal, as opposed to Send effects where the effect balance is adjustable. Typical examples of when to use insert effects include compression, distortion and modulation effects such as chorus.
The Insert effects can be placed ahead of the Dynamics and EQ sections in the signal path - see “Signal Path section”.
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See “Insert FX” for descriptions of how to work with Insert effects.
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Send effects, which are global for all channels in the Main Mixer, are connected to the Master Section rack device. Up to 8 Send effects can be used simultaneously. For a description of how to use Send effects, see “Send FX”.
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The Fader section is used for controlling the level of the channel and its stereo placement in the mix. The section has the following parameters:
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On the back of the Programmer section of a Mix Channel or Audio Track device you will find CV inputs for the channel Level and Pan controls. These allow for automatic level and pan control from sources that output CV signals.
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The Edit Focus indicator - When you select a channel, the horizontal strip at the top of the Channel Header lights up red to indicate Edit Focus. The channel most recently clicked will have edit focus, regardless of how many channels are selected. When using [Ctrl](Win)-click or [Cmd](Mac)-click to deselect previously selected channels, edit focus will be on the most recently deselected channel.
Edit Focus also reflects the last selected track or Mix device, which is useful when moving between work areas because the channel with Edit Focus will always be in view in the Main Mixer. For example, if you select an ID8 track in the sequencer, the Mix channel to which it is connected will be scrolled into view in the Mixer, and will be given Edit Focus.
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When you are using the Spectrum EQ Window, and the “Follow Selection” box is ticked, the channel with Edit Focus is displayed in the window, see “The Spectrum EQ Window”.
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The Remote Base Channel indicator - To the left in the same horizontal strip area a small yellow arrow symbol can be shown. This is the Remote Base Channel indicator, which shows which channel is considered the first or base channel when using Remote Control - see “Setting the Remote Base Channel”.
