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U S E R ’ S G U I D E
™
Final Mix VST
For Tracktion
Plug-in for Software Audio Recording Applications
By Acuma Labs
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Mackie Software License Please read this license carefully before using the accompanying Software. By downloading and using the Software, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this license. Software as used herein means all computer code (both source and object) including, but not limited to, all interfaces, navigational devices, search engines, databases, menus, menu structures or arrangements, drivers, development tools, icons, operational instructions, scripts, commands, and syntax
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8. Disclaimer of Warranty on Software. You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of the Software is at your sole risk. The Software and related documentation are provided “AS IS” and without warranty of any kind. LOUD TECHNOLOGIES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTIC- ULAR PURPOSE OR USE. LOUD TECHNOLOGIES DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOFTWARE WILL M
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Iconography This icon will lead you to some further explanations of features and practical tips. This icon marks information that is very important, so please make sure you have a read. This icon does not appear in this guide. Note: Visit our website at www.mackie.com to obtain the latest manuals and downloads for all your Mackie products. “Mackie” and the “Running Man” figure are trademarks or registered trademarks of LOUD Technologies Inc. VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologie
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Contents Mackie Software License------------------------------------------- 2 Iconography ----------------------------------------------------------4 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------6 About Final Mix --------------------------------------------------------6 Main Features ----------------------------------------------------------7 Using Final Mix -------------------------------------------------------8 Front Panel Overview------------------------------------
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Introduction Thank you for choosing Mackie software products for your computer-based audio recording system. This version of Mackie's Final Mix stereo mastering plug-in comes with the PC ver- sion of Tracktion, our easy-to-use music production software application. When you install Tracktion on your PC, Final Mix is automatically installed in Tracktion's plug-ins folder. Note: This version of Final Mix only works with Tracktion, and will not work with any other VST host applications you may h
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Main Features • Stereo mastering plug-in solution for the PC version of Tracktion • 6-band pre-dynamics parametric equalizer • 3-band dynamics processor • 6-band post-dynamics parametric equalizer • Soft-Clip feature to provide peak overload protection • DC removal filter • Noise gate • Integrated on-screen help (click on the question mark button) • Dynamics auto make-up gain • Individual key selector for each dynamics band • Graphical user-definable dynamics band contours • Linking of dynamics
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Using Final Mix Front Panel Overview You can think of Final Mix as being broken into three basic blocks: EQ, Dynamics, and Glob- al. The dynamics and equalizer blocks have alternate pop-up screens that can be accessed for detailed editing. Pre/Post Parametric Equalizers (Six Band) Dynamics Crossover/Key Global Controls Pre/Post Parametric Equalizers Block (see page 9) The parametric equalizer block is comprised of two separate six-band parametric equal- izers. One is pre-dynamics processing an
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the threshold and ratio, as well as a desired knee. It is a view of the overall ‘shape’ or con- tour of exactly what the compressor is going to do your signal. You can even draw in regions of expansion. From this screen you can also enable or disable the band’s auto make-up gain. Band View displays the edit screen of a selected band along with numeric windows that display makeup gain, attack, and release values. For more information see the "Dynamics Processing" section, later in this manual
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The EQ screen defaults to EQ EDIT PRE ON when Final Mix is initially activated. EQ EDIT PRE ON is also indicated by the letters (PRE) that are highlighted on the background screen. EQ Editing Six nodes (balls) are displayed for each of the Pre and Post EQ curves. Each node on a se- lected curve offers independent gain, frequency and Q control. To adjust EQ curves, simply drag individual bands (nodes) by grabbing a ball with your left mouse button. Move it up and down to adjust the gain or to
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DC offset is noise that may be present within your signal but typically is not audible by it- self. Why would you want to remove it? It can damage speakers by offsetting the "resting" position of the cone. It can also require extra energy to reproduce, robbing an amplifier of power that could be used to reproduce the music. EQ Bands On/Off The six EQ BANDS ON/OFF buttons correspond to the six red nodes (balls) found on both the Pre and Post EQ screens. You can enable or disable each of the b
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Typically, the dynamics processor is used as a compressor. However, depending on the set- tings it can act as a compressor, limiter, or expander, or even a combination of all three. Having three dynamic processors acting separately on each band can give you great flexibil- ity while mastering. For instance, you don’t have to worry about your bass causing your lead vocal to get compressed. All bands can be compressed individually, resulting in a tighter, punchier overall sound. Each dynamics p
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Key Gain The Key Gain Control ranges from –15 dB to +15 dB. This gain control is not the same as the compressor make-up gain, which is found in the contour screen (and beside the three small contour graphs). Instead, this control adjusts the gain of the signal that is sent to the key level detector. This is used in conjunction with the key bandwidth to determine when the dy- namics processor acts on the signal. You can use this, for instance, to drive the control signal to the compressor a
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Contour Edit Screen Contour Edit screen Note: The Dynamics Contour Edit screen is accessed by double-clicking on any of the three bands found at the bottom of the main Final Mix screen. Overview The Contour Edit Screen allows you to have very powerful control over the heart of Final Mix. Double-clicking on any of the three dynamics overview screens brings up this more de- tailed screen. The overview screens are found at the bottom of the main screen. The graph you see when first accessing thi
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Expansion occurs when the amplitude of the output increases faster than the amplitude of the input. Compression, on the other hand, occurs when the amplitude of the output in- creases slower than the amplitude of the input. Final Mix allows expansion or compression above the threshold. Expansion can be used to increase the volume of quiet passages and bring a little bit more "life" into a performance. Note that each individual segment can be set as either a compressor, an expander, or both.
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In general, the attack time should be much faster than the release time to get pleasing results. If the attack time is set too quickly, you hear something resembling clipping on at- tacks, especially with low-frequency signals. Leaving the attack a little bit longer also allows more of the ‘snap’ of the attacks to pass through the compressor. Setting a release time too fast can result in ‘buzzing’, especially on low notes. This occurs because the compressor gain is actually following indivi
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Nodes can be added to the contour graph by right-clicking the mouse on the contour graph. Right-clicking on the graph where there is no node adds a node, up to a maximum of 4. Right-clicking on a node removes it. You can also add or remove nodes by scrolling through the NODE selector window and toggling the Node Enable IN button. Right-click to add a node Node Selector Node Enable Note: The four numbered nodes must always appear in order from left to right. A consequence of this is that you
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Other Controls in the Dynamics Section Active This engages or disengages all of the compressors. Note: The dynamics processor for each band can be individually enabled or disabled using the IN button immediately below the key/crossover graph. Reset RESET DYNAMICS will reset the Dynamics section to its factory default settings. Link All When engaged, this button allows you to edit all three bands of dynamics at once. Changes don't take place until you move a parameter within the dynamics secti
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Global Controls Block The Global Controls Block is shown below. This includes the minimize and preset up/down buttons, the preset title window, the ACTIVE, MENU, and MEM A/B buttons. The global controls also include INPUT and OUTPUT faders and meters, and fader LINK buttons. Main Global Controls screen Help Screen (?) Pressing the help (?) button brings up a handy quick reference screen to assist you in using Final Mix. It offers a signal path block diagram, definitions, and editing t
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Preset Toggle Buttons The preset up/down arrow buttons enable you to scroll up or down through either the factory or user presets. These toggle buttons are located just to the left of the Preset window. Preset Title Window The Preset Title window displays the currently selected preset. This window is located at the top of the control bar. Click on it to access the pull-down menu where you can choose be- tween factory or user presets. Memory A/Memory B The Mem A and Mem B buttons temporarily s
