MACKIE FinalMix VST - Manual (Page 18)

User’s Guide
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User’s Guide
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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 section.
Soft-Clip On and Threshold
The SOFT CLIP button activates a soft-clip limiter circuit. There is also a THRESHOLD
adjustment. These controls are located just to the right of the three small contour screens.
When the output of the dynamics section goes above this threshold, the soft-clip circuit kicks
in. This circuit starts adding analog-style distortion. This avoids the harsher sound of a
straight digital clip. The lower the threshold, the more analog-style distortion is added. If the
threshold is set too low, you hear this as a very crunchy distortion sound. It is best to keep
the threshold between –3 dB and –1 dB unless you are going for a special sound effect.
The soft-clip circuit has an indicator light, located between the SOFT CLIP button and the
THRESHOLD adjustment. This activates when the signal is above the soft-clip threshold.
The soft-clip circuit is the last thing in the signal processing chain. If you notice it become
active and wish to avoid any kind of distortion being added, you can merely back off the out-
put faders.
Noise Gate and Threshold
Final Mix also has a simple noise gate with a threshold adjustment. These controls are lo-
cated just to the right of the three small contour screens (GATING and THRESHOLD). The
noise gate threshold can go from 0 dBfs to –125 dBfs. The attack rate (when the gate opens)
is very fast. The release rate is very slow. This can be used as an effect to generate a very
slow, smooth fade out of a song. To do this, set the threshold at 0 dB with the noise gate
disabled. When you want to start the fade out, enable the noise gate and the fade out starts.
The fade out lasts about 5 seconds.
The noise gate is located post-dynamics but pre-output fader. That is, adjustments made in
the output fader do not affect the performance of the noise gate.