Introduction, Main features – MACKIE Stereo and Mono Side chain Compressor User Manual
Page 6

User’s Guide
6
Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressors for Tracktion
Introduction
Thank you for choosing Mackie software prod-
ucts for your computer-based audio recording 
system.
The Stereo and Mono Sidechain Compressor 
plug-ins come with Tracktion, our easy-to-use 
music production software application. When 
you install Tracktion, the plug-ins are automati-
cally installed in Tracktion's plug-ins folder.
Note:
These plug-ins only work with Tracktion,
and will not work with any other VST host ap-
plications you may have on your computer. 
Typically, these plug-ins are used as compres-
sors, so that's why we call them that. However, 
depending on the settings of the graphical in-
terface, they can act as compressors, limiters, 
expanders, or a combination of all three.
The Sidechain allows the compressor to take 
its cue from a separate input, and apply its ac-
tion to another. For example, a vocal track can 
drop the level of a music track (ducking), such 
as when an announcement is made over back-
ground music, or where your vocals are a bit 
lost in the mix.
The Sidechain Compressor can also take its 
trigger input from a copy (or EQ'd copy) of it-
self. For example, it can be used as a basic 
De-Esser, to compress the higher "Sssss" 
sounds, or you can apply compression to a 
guitar's mid or higher frequency range, leaving 
the lower-frequency range uncompressed.
The features of the Mono Sidechain Compres-
sor and the Stereo version are identical, so 
this manual applies to both plug-ins. The 
Mono version works for one key input and the 
main input, and the Stereo version works its 
magic for the key input and the stereo inputs, 
stereo.wav, or after another stereo plug-in.
Main Features
•
Stereo and mono compressor plug-in for 
Tracktion
• Key
Input
•
Key Solo engage/disengage
•
Full stereo (or mono) operation
•
Rather fetching graphic display
•
Node edit selector
•
Global enable button
•
Favorite settings can be saved as presets
•
Memories A and B for quick comparisons
•
Input, output, and gain reduction metering
• Release
control
• Attack
control
• Threshold
control
•
End point control
•
Input level control
•
Output level control
•
Compression Ratio readout
•
Soft clip threshold control and indicator
•
Soft clip engage/disengage
•
Gain makeup control
•
Auto gain makeup engage/disengage
•
Rugby ball infl ator
•
The imaginary audio friend you always 
wanted to come to life so everyone could 
see that you were just not imagining things
