Owner’s Manual
E-MU 0404 PCIe Digital Audio System Owner’s Manual © 2009 E-MU Systems All Rights Reserved Software Version: 2.
Table of Contents 1- Introduction ................................................................. 7 Welcome! ............................................................................................................................... 7 The System Includes: .......................................................................................................... 7 Notes, Tips and Warnings ......................................................................................................
New Session ..................................................................................................................... 20 Open Session .................................................................................................................... 21 Save Session ..................................................................................................................... 21 Session Settings ...............................................................................................
Core Effects Descriptions...................................................................................................... 51 1-Band Para EQ ................................................................................................................ 51 1-Band Shelf EQ ............................................................................................................... 51 3-Band EQ .............................................................................................................
Neg Compression ......................................................................................................... 82 Input Mode .................................................................................................................. 83 Example Settings .......................................................................................................... 84 Connections and EQ Settings .......................................................................................
1- Introduction Welcome! 1- Introduction Welcome! Thank you for purchasing the E-MU 0404 digital audio system. Your computer is about to be transformed into a professional quality audio processing workstation. We’ve designed your E-MU Digital Audio System to be logical, intuitive and above all, to provide you with pristine sound quality. This system offers unprecedented value by providing studio-quality, 24-bit/ 192kHz multi-channel recording and playback at an astounding price.
1- Introduction Notes, Tips and Warnings Notes, Tips and Warnings Items of special interest are presented in this document as notes, tips and warnings. Notes provide additional information related to the topic being discussed. Often, notes describe the interaction between the topic and some other aspect of the system. Tips describe applications for the topic under discussion.
2 - Installation Setting Up the Digital Audio System 2 - Installation Setting Up the Digital Audio System There are five basic steps to installing your E-MU system: 1. IMPORTANT - Remove any other sound cards you have in your computer. (Once you are sure that the E-MU card works properly, your old sound card can be reinstalled if desired. Bear in mind that depending on your computer system, multiple sound cards do not always work together.) 2. Install the 0404 PCIe card in your computer. Go there. 3.
2 - Installation Setting Up the Digital Audio System Safety First! • To avoid possible permanent damage to your hardware, make sure that all connections are made to the E-MU 0404 PCIe card with the host computer’s power off. Unplug the computer’s power cable to make sure that the computer is not in sleep mode. As you install hardware components, observe the following general precautions to avoid damage to your equipment and yourself. • Take care to avoid static damage to any components of your system.
2 - Installation Installing the E-MU 0404 PCIe Card Installing the E-MU 0404 PCIe Card Note: This installation is very simple, but if you are not familiar with the installation of computer peripherals and add-in boards, please contact your authorized E-MU Systems dealer or an approved computer service center to arrange for the installation. To install the 0404 PCIe card into your computer 1. Make sure that the power switch on your computer is off. IMPORTANT: Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet! 2.
2 - Installation Software Installation Software Installation Installing the E-MU 0404 Drivers The first time you restart your PC after installing the E-MU 0404 PCIe card, you will need to install the PatchMix DSP software and E-MU 0404 PCIe card drivers. Windows XP, Windows XP x64, Windows Vista, Windows Vista x64 The software is not compatible with other versions of Windows. 1. After you have installed your audio card, turn on your computer.
3 - PCIe Card & Interfaces The E-MU 0404 PCIe Card 3 - PCIe Card & Interfaces The E-MU 0404 PCIe Card The E-MU 0404 PCIe card contains E-MU’s powerful E-DSP chip which leaves more power free on your CPU for additional software plug-ins and other tasks. Bit depth is controlled by your recording or audio application. The 0404 PCIe card always sends and receives 24-bit audio. DB-9 & DB-15 Connectors Connects the analog and digital breakout cables to the 0404 PCIe card.
3 - PCIe Card & Interfaces The E-MU 0404 PCIe Card The inputs can be connected to any line level stereo signal from keyboards, CD-players, cassette decks, etc. Use 1/4” to RCA adapter cables to connect to consumer audio gear.
3 - PCIe Card & Interfaces The E-MU 0404 PCIe Card 0404 PCIe card can be connected to AES/EBU digital audio systems through the use of a cable adapter. See AES/EBU to S/PDIF Cable Adapter for details. The S/PDIF input and outputs are usable at the 44.1kHz, 48kHz and 96kHz sample rates. The word clock contained in the input data stream can be used as a word clock source. See Using External Clock.
3 - PCIe Card & Interfaces The E-MU 0404 PCIe Card 16 Creative Professional
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer PatchMix DSP 4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer PatchMix DSP The PatchMix DSP Mixer is a virtual console, which performs all of the functions of a typical hardware mixer and then adds a few new tricks of its own. PatchMix DSP greatly simplifies audio operations such as ASIO/WAVE routing, volume control, stereo panning, equalization, effect processing, effect send/return routing, main mix and monitor control, without getting in the way of your other software.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Overview of the Mixer Mixer Window The Mixer consists of four main sections. Application Toolbar Lets you manage sessions and show/hide the various views. Main Section Controls all the main levels, aux buses, and their inserts. This section also has a “TV” which shows parameters for the currently selected effect and the input/output patchbay. It also shows the session’s current sample rate and whether the Digital Audio System is set to internal or external clock.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer E-MU Icon in the Windows Taskbar E-MU Icon in the Windows Taskbar Right-clicking on the E-MU icon in the Windows taskbar calls up the following window. Right-Click Here Opens the PatchMix DSP Mixer. Calls the PatchMix DSP help system. Disables the splash screen that appears at boot-up. When unchecked, FX are not loaded until needed, resulting in faster computer boot.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer The Session The Session The current state of the PatchMix DSP mixer (fader settings, effects routings…everything!) can be saved as a Session. Whenever you create or modify a mixer setup, all you have to do is Save it to be able to recall it at a later time. Before you begin using PatchMix DSP, you need to set it up to be compatible with the other software applications you may be running. The most important consideration is your system sample rate.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer The Session You can now select one of the factory template sessions. The factory templates are preprogrammed with specific setups such as audio recording or mixing. The selector tabs categorize Template Sessions into three groups based on sample rate, 44.1k/48k, 88k/96k or 176k/192k.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer The Session Session Settings System Settings Pressing the Session Settings button on the toolbar brings up the System Settings window shown below. Click the tabs to select System or I/O options. The System Settings include the following choices: • Internal/External Clock Selects between internal or external clock source as the master clock source for the system • Sample Rate Selects the sample rate when using internal clock. Your choices are: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer The Session I/O Settings The 0404 PCIe card is optimized for signal levels of -10dBV (consumer standard) for the analog inputs and outputs. -10dBV levels are compatible with most consumer audio gear. Setting correct input and output levels is important! You can measure the level of an input by inserting a meter into the first effect location in the strip. Adjust your external equipment outputs for the optimum signal level. See “To Set the Input Levels of a Strip” for details.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Input Mixer Strips Input Mixer Strips PatchMix DSP Line Input Mixer Strips are mono. The WAVE and S/PDIF strips are stereo. Each input mixer strip can be divided into four basic sections. • Insert Section Effects, EQ, External/Host Sends and Returns can be inserted into the signal path. • Pan Controls This control positions the signal in the stereo sound field. • Aux Sends Used to send the signal to sidechain effects or create separate mixes.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Mixer Strip Creation PatchMix DSP is a dynamically configurable mixer. Each mixer session can contain an arbitrary number of channel strips up to a limit set by the number of available input sources and available DSP resources. You must create a strip for each mono or stereo audio input, and for each ASIO stream you wish to use in your software application.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation To Delete a Mixer Strip: 1. Click the top of the mixer strip you wish to delete. A red border appears around the strip, indicating that it is selected. 2. Click on the Delete Mixer Strip button or right-click and choose Delete, or use the Delete key on the PC keyboard. See Overview of the Mixer Multichannel WAVE Files The 0404 PCIe supports 2 channels of WAVE recording and 4 channels of multichannel WAVE playback.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Insert Section The Insert Section is next in line. PatchMix DSP effects can be selected from the Effects Palette and dropped into the insert locations. See “The Effects Palette”. Any number of effects can be inserted in series. The signal flow through the insert section is fromTop to Bottom. If a DSP effect is above a Send, the effect will be applied to that Send. If the DSP effect is placed below the Send, the send will be dry (no effects).
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Note: The Physical Output & Input option is “grayed-out” when using the default Session Reason: The 0404 Digital Audio System has only 4 physical inputs and 4 physical outputs. The Send/Return option is grayed-out because all the physical I/O resources available for send/ return have been used in this Session. If S/PDIF I/O is not being used elsewhere, it becomes available in the Send/Return list.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation To Add a Send/Return Insert: This type of insert send breaks the signal at the insert point and sends it out to the selected destination such as an external effect processor. A return source signal is also selected which returns the signal to the channel strip after processing. 1. Right-Click over the Insert section. A pop-up dialog box appears. 2. Select “Insert Send/Return” from the list of options. The following dialog box appears.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation The Direct Monitor Send/Return also allows the recording application to control volume and pan. Normally when using direct monitor recording you’ll want to control the volume and pan from the recording application. In this case, set the PatchMix DSP stereo pan controls hard left and right, mono pan controls to center, and the fader to 0dB. To Add an ASIO Direct Monitor Send/Return: 1. Right-Click over the Insert section. A pop-up dialog box appears. 2.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Level 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 --12dB Each bar of the meter equals 1dB. The yellow bars begin at -12dB below full scale. The insert meters are also useful to monitor incoming digital signals such as ASIO or S/PDIF to make sure the mixer is receiving a proper signal level. They’re also great for troubleshooting, since you can place them virtually anywhere in the mixer. To Insert a Meter 1. Right-Click on an Insert location of the mixer strip.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Making the Best Possible Recording Making a good digital recording is easier than ever thanks to the high resolution 24-bit A-D converters on your Digital Audio System. These converters are much more forgiving than the 12-bit or 16-bit converters of the past. Even so, to get the best performance possible, you'll need to follow a few basic guidelines.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Trim Pot Insert The Trim Pot Insert allows you to adjust the level of a signal in an insert location. The trim pot provides up to ±30dB of gain or attenuation and a phase inverter. The trim pot also has a builtin stereo peak meter after the control. Gain/Attenuation Phase Invert Meters You might use a trim pot to boost or attenuate a signal send or return from an external effect, or use it to drive an effect device.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Managing Your Inserts To Delete Effects from an Insert: 1. Right-Click over the Insert Effect you wish to delete. A yellow line around the insert location indicates that it is selected. A pop-up dialog box appears. 2. Select Delete Insert to remove the selected insert or select Delete All Inserts to remove all inserts. Tip: Select the Plug-in and press the Delete key to delete the plug-in from the strip. 3. The insert(s) are deleted from the insert chain.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Aux Section The Auxiliary Sends tap the signal from the channel strips and sum them together before sending the mix to the Auxiliary Effects section. In a traditional mixing console, aux sends are used to send part of the signal to outboard effect devices, then return the effected signal back into the mix using the effect returns.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Pre or Post Fader Aux Sends When you create a New Mixer Strip you have the option to place both Aux Sends after the channel volume fader and mute control or you can place them before the fader and mute. PostFader turns down the send level as you lower the volume of the strip. With Pre-Fader selected, you may still hear the effected signal returning from one of the Aux Buses with the volume fader turned down.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Mixer Strip Creation Level, Pan, Solo & Mute Controls Pan Controls Aux Send Amount Controls Level Control Mute & Solo Buttons Scribble Strip E-MU Digital Audio System The Pan control comes before the Level Control and Aux Sends in the signal flow. On stereo strips we use an unconventional pan section with two pan pots – one for the left part of the signal and one for the right part of the signal.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Main Section Main Section Physical/Host Select Buttons View Selection Buttons “TV” Screen Aux Insert Section Master Aux Send Amounts Main Insert Section Master Aux Return Amounts Sync & Sample Rate Indicators Monitor Controls Output Fader & Meters Session Name The main section contains all controls for controlling the main mix elements as well as a “TV screen” for viewing the parameters of the current selected insert.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Main Section TV Screen & Selectors The “TV screen” at the top of the main section is a multi-function display and control center for the input and output routings and effect controls. The three buttons at the top of the display select the current function of the display—Effect, Inputs or Outputs. Effect Select the Effect display view in the main section, then click on an Effect Insert to display the effect parameters.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Main Section Input Selecting the Input display view shows a graphic representation of the PatchMix DSP Mixer inputs. This screen is only a display unlike the Effects and Outputs screen, which allow you to make routing changes. Input routing changes are made by adding mixer strips. See Mixer Strip Creation. The input routings are divided into two categories: Physical Inputs and Host Inputs. Select either category by clicking on the Physical or Host button.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Main Section Auxiliary Effects & Returns The section immediately below the TV Screen is where you assign the Auxiliary Effects. In a traditional mixing console, auxiliary effects sends are used to send part of the signal to outboard effect devices, then return the effected signal back into the mix using the effect returns. This is called a sidechain routing because the aux signal takes a detour through the effects before being summed back into the main mix.
4 - The PatchMix DSP Mixer Main Section Output Section Main Output Level Fader Main Insert Section Sync/Sample Rate Indicators Monitor Mute Monitor Balance Output Level Meters Monitor Volume Main Inserts The main inserts allow you to apply effects to the main stereo signal coming out of the mixer (both mains and monitor). You might want to apply EQ or a compressor here.
5 - Effects Overview 5 - Effects Overview PatchMix DSP comes complete with a host of great core DSP effects including Compressors, Delays, Choruses, Flangers and Reverb. Each 32-bit effect has various parameters for editing, as well as factory presets. You can also create and save as many of your own effect presets as you wish. Since the effects are implemented in hardware, they don’t place any load on your host computer.
5 - Effects The Effects Palette To Select an Effect 1. Click the FX button to bring up the Effects Palette. The effect palette contains numerous folders containing effects presets. Click on any folder to open it. 2. Select the effect you wish to use by clicking on it with the left mouse button and while continuing to hold the mouse button, drag the effect into the desired location on the PatchMix DSP mixer screen and release the mouse button.
5 - Effects 88kHz, 96kHz, 176kHz & 192kHz Operation The Order of Effects PatchMix DSP allows you to record your tracks without effects (dry) and monitor with effects enabled (wet). It works like this: If the effect is inserted BEFORE the ASIO send in the signal path, it will get recorded; if the effect is inserted AFTER the ASIO send, it will not be recorded.
5 - Effects 88kHz, 96kHz, 176kHz & 192kHz Operation Importing and Exporting Core FX Presets and FX Insert Chains These utilities make it easy to import or export your FX Presets and FX Insert Chains. You can share presets with your friends or download new presets from the Internet. To Import Core FX Presets This option imports complete folders of Core FX presets into the E-MU PatchMix DSP folder (normally located here: “C:\Program Files\Creative Professional\E-MU PatchMix DSP\Core Effects”).
5 - Effects FX Edit Screen FX Edit Screen Click on an FX Insert to display the parameters for that effect. If an insert effect is not selected, the FX display will read “No Insert”. Most effects have a wet/dry mix parameter to control the ratio of effect-to-plain signal. The wet/ dry setting is stored with the FX preset. The effect parameters vary with the type of effect.
5 - Effects FX Edit Screen Method #2 1. Right-click over the Insert Effect you want to Solo (in the Insert section). A pop-up menu appears. 2. Select “Solo Insert” from the list of options. The other Insert Effect names in the strip will “gray-out” to indicate that they are bypassed. To Bypass ALL All the inserts in a strip can be bypassed with a single command. 1. Right-click over any Effect in the Insert section. A pop-up menu appears. 2. Select “Bypass All Inserts” from the list of options.
5 - Effects FX Edit Screen To Delete a User Preset 1. Select the user preset you wish to delete from the user preset menu. 2. Click on the Edit button. A pop-up menu appears. 3. Select Delete. A pop-up dialog box appears asking you to confirm your action. 4. Click OK to delete the preset or No or Cancel to cancel the operation. To Rename a User Preset 1. Select the user preset you wish to rename from the user preset menu. 2. Click on the Edit button. A pop-up menu appears. 3. Select Rename.
5 - Effects List of Core Effects List of Core Effects Stereo Reverb Rotary Mono Delay 250 Lite Reverb Phase Shifter Mono Delay 500 RFX Compressor Frequency Shifter Mono Delay 750 Compressor Auto-Wah Mono Delay 1500 Reshaper Vocal Morpher Mono Delay 3000 Gate 1-Band Para EQ Stereo Delay 100 Leveling Amp 1-Band Shelf EQ Stereo Delay 250 Chorus 3-Band EQ Stereo Delay 550 Flanger 4-Band EQ Stereo Delay 750 Distortion Multimode EQ Stereo Delay 1500 Speaker Sim Mono Delay 100 DSP
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Core Effects Descriptions 1-Band Para EQ This single band parametric equalizer is useful when you just want to boost or cut a single range of frequencies. For example, if you just want to brighten up the lead vocal a bit, you might choose this EQ. This EQ offers up to ±15dB cut or boost. +15dB Boost Width Gain + Cut -15dB Center Frequency Parameter Description Gain Sets the amount of cut (-) or boost (+) of the selected frequency band.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions 3-Band EQ This versatile equalizer provides two shelving filters at the high and low ends of the frequency range and a fully parametric band in the center. Up to ±24 dB of boost or cut is provided for each band. Low Shelf High Shelf Corner Freq. Boost + Cut +24dB Gain Mid Band - Corner Freq. Note: The Wet/Dry Mix control on an equalizer should normally be set to 100% wet or unpredictable results may occur.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions 4-Band EQ This 4-band equalizer provides two shelving filters at the high and low ends of the frequency range and two fully parametric bands in the center. Up to ±24 dB of boost or cut is provided for each band. Note: The Wet/Dry Mix control on an equalizer should normally be set to 100% wet or unpredictable results may occur. For more information on setting up a parametric EQ, see page 52.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Auto-Wah This effect creates the sound of a guitar wah-wah pedal. The “Wah” filter sweep is automatically triggered from the amplitude envelope of the input sound. Auto-wah works well with percussive sounds such as guitar or bass. The Auto-Wah is a bandpass filter whose frequency can be swept up or down by an envelope follower, which extracts the volume contour of the input signal.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions the illusion of multiple sound sources is created. A slight amount of feedback serves to increase the effect. A very slow LFO rate is usually best for a realistic effect, but a faster LFO rate can also be useful with minimal LFO depth (.2). Since this is a stereo chorus, an LFO phase parameter is included which can be used to widen the stereo image. Parameter Description Delay Sets the length of the delay. Range: 0ms to 20ms.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions If the signal level falls below the Threshold, no processing will take place. Signals exceeding the Threshold will have gain reduction applied as set by the ratio control. This important control allows you to dial in the range of amplitudes you want to tame. For example, if you’re trying to trim off just the loudest peaks, set the threshold so the gain reduction meter only shows compression during these peaks.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameter Description Pre-Delay Allows the use of slower attack times without missing signal peaks. Range: 0ms to 3 ms Input Meter Allows you to monitor the strength of the input signal. Gain Reduction Meter Shows the amount of gain reduction being applied. Distortion Most audio processors aim to provide low distortion, but not this one! The sole purpose of this effect is to add distortion, and lots of it.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions A low frequency oscillator is included to slowly change the delay time. This creates a rich, sweeping effect as the notches move up and down across the frequency range. The amount of feedback deepens the notches, intensifying the effect. You can invert the feedback signal by choosing a negative feedback value. Inverting the feedback signal creates peaks in the notch filter and deepens the effect.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions preserves the harmonic relationships of the signal and so is better suited to creating “musical” harmonies. This isn’t to say that the frequency shifter can’t be used musically. Small intervals of frequency shifting (1 Hz and below) can produce a wonderful, lush chorusing or phasing effect. For bizarre frequency shifting effects, simply crank up the frequency knob. Frequencies can be shifted up or down by any specified amount from .1 Hz to 24 kHz.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Post Gain Amplifies the signal after it has been compressed to bring up the volume. Lite Reverb Reverberation is a simulation of a natural space such as a room or hall. The Lite Reverb algorithm is designed to simulate various rooms and reverberation plates while using fewer DSP resources than the Stereo Reverb. Up to five Lite Reverbs can be used at once. Decay time defines the time it takes for the reflected sound from the room to decay or die away.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameter Description Early Reflections Sets the volume of the initial wall reflections. Range: 0% to 100% Reverberance Sets the amount of scattering of the early reflections and the reverberation cloud. Range: 0% to 100% Mono Delays - 100, 250, 500, 750, 1500, 3000 A delay line makes a copy of the incoming audio, holds it in memory, then plays it back after a predetermined time.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameter Description High Freq. Rolloff Damps high frequencies in the feedback path. Range: 0% to 100% Phase Shifter A phase shifter produces a fixed number of peaks and notches in the audio spectrum which can be swept up and down in frequency with a low frequency oscillator (LFO). This creates a swirly, ethereal sound with harmonically rich sound sources of a type of pitch shift with simpler sounds.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameter Description Speed Switches between slow or fast rotor speeds with acceleration and deceleration as the speed changes. Speaker Simulator The Speaker Simulator provides realistic guitar speaker responses and is designed for use with guitar, bass or synthesizer. Twelve popular guitar amp speaker cabinets are modeled. There is only one parameter on this effect. Just select the speaker you want and listen.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameter Description Left Delay Time Sets the length of the delay for the left channel in milliseconds. Right Delay Time Sets the length of the delay for the right channel in milliseconds. Delay Time (L & R) Stereo Delay 100 Stereo Delay 250 Stereo Delay 550 Stereo Delay 750 Stereo Delay 1500 (.01ms.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Stereo Reverb Reverberation is a simulation of a natural space such as a room or hall. The stereo reverb algorithm is designed to simulate various halls, rooms and reverberation plates. Decay time defines the time it takes for the reflected sound from the room to decay or die away. The diagram below shows a generalized reverberation envelope. Early Reflections Late Reverb Time After a short pre-delay period, the echoes from the closest walls or ceiling are heard.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Vocal Morpher This unique effect allows you to select two vocal phonemes and morph between them using an LFO. Phonemes are the consonants and vowels we use in articulating speech sounds and these sounds are very distinctive and evocative. 30 different phonemes are available and these can be shifted up or down in pitch for even more effects. To use the Vocal Morpher, you just select Phoneme A and Phoneme B from the list of thirty.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Gate This stereo noise gate is useful both for background noise reduction applications and also for special effects. The gate uses an envelope follower and threshold detector to turn on its output when the input signal is above the turn-on threshold, and shut down its output when the signal falls below the shut-off threshold.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameters Threshold When the input signal rises above the level set by the Threshold parameter, the Gate is triggered to turn on and go from its maximum gain reduction level up to 0dB gain. The turnon threshold is adjustable anywhere between -70dB and 0dB (below the PatchMix nominal operating point of -12dBFS.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Level Meter This meter represents the input signal level in dB, and is in fact the output of the Gate's envelope follower. Since the envelope follower is driven by the greater of the left or right channel, this monophonic meter represents the greater of the two input signals. Gain Reduction Meter This meter shows the value in dB of the gate control signal which is used to boost or attenuate the input signal.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions 0 dB Threshold Release Threshold Original Waveform 0 dB Sustain Level Release Level Attack Time Decay Time Hold Release Time Time Reshaped Waveform Attack, Decay and Release times are all adjustable, and the shape of each of these segments is selectable between exponential, linear, or logarithmic. An additional Hold Time can be used to extend the Sustain phase past the point where the signal has passed the Release Threshold.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameter Description Attack Time This parameter controls the time, in milliseconds, that is required during the Attack phase for the gain rise from its quiescent Release Level to unity gain, or 0dB. Decay Time This parameter controls the time, in milliseconds, that is required for the gain to fall from 0dB down to the attenuated Sustain Level. Note that if the Sustain Level is set to 0dB this decay time becomes simply a delay before entering the Sustain phase.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameter Description Release Curve This parameter selects gain curves exactly as for the Attack Curve parameter, except that the selected curves apply to both the Decay and Release phases of the ADSR. Multimode EQ The Multimode EQ is a flexible stereo filter that is capable of implementing a range of powerful filter topologies. It is useful both for utility EQ applications and also for special effects.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Parameters While the Multimode EQ has many parameters applicable to the various possible configurations of channels and filters, it selectively enables or hides parameters depending on their applicability to the current configuration. As a result, not all of the parameters listed below appear on-screen at the same time.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Highpass -> Lowpass In this mode, the Lowpass and Highpass filters are connected in series and both sets of Lowpass and Highpass parameters are exposed and independently editable to create the overall filter response. The maximum rolloff slope of each filter is limited to 24dB/octave in this mode. In Highpass -> Lowpass mode, the effect does not place any limitations on the Frequency parameters of one filter relative to the other.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions However, when the Highpass Freq parameter is lower than the Lowpass Freq parameter, the combined filter response is basically flat, since the passbands of each filter combine to admit the entire spectrum. An exception occurs when there is resonance added to the filters - you'll hear the resonant peaks as increased gain above the otherwise flat spectral response.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions RFX Compressor The RFX Compressor is a full-featured stereo compressor effect which features the standard parameters available on most compressors as well as a collection of additional advanced parameters that are useful for more sophisticated applications and special effects: • Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release w/gain metering • Auto-makeup gain • Adjustable soft knee • Adjustable lookahead/delay • Noise gate (downward expander) • Compressor “tail” expansion • Prog
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions unusually large range of -60dB to +60dB in order to renormalize the compressor's output for the next stage of the signal path. The wide dynamic range of the RFX Compressor aside, it's generally a good idea to maintain the hottest signal levels possible without clipping at the input to any audio processor. Parameters Threshold Threshold sets the input signal level above which dynamic range compression takes place.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Gain Sets the compressor's output gain in dB, from +60dB boost to-60dB cut. This control follows all of the other elements in the compressor's signal path, so positive gain boost can be used to make up for the gain reduction normally applied to signals above the compression threshold. Alternatively, negative gain cut can be used to make up for the gain increase that is applied to signals below the threshold in Soft Knee mode.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Soft Knee (Varying the Soft Knee Threshold) 0dB Threshold: -20dB Ratio = 4:1 -20dB Knee Threshold -10dB Threshold -20dB Threshold -30dB -80dB This diagram shows the effect of varying the Soft Knee Threshold. Compression is 1:1 (no compression) at the Knee Threshold and smoothly transforms into the selected compression ratio at the Compression Threshold. The upward arrow shows the additional gain added to signals below the Threshold.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Gate This parameter enables automatic gain reduction on signals that fall from 1 to 120dB below the Threshold point (or Soft Knee threshold, if enabled.) This can act effectively as a “noise gate” on low-level signals that have been boosted by the action of the Gain or Soft Knee parameters. The gating action follows a somewhat soft-kneed contour of its own so that turn-on and turnoff at the gate threshold is not too abrupt.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions peaks, retaining the “punch” and “bite” of signal attacks while subsequently compressing the sustained portions of the sound. In general, both positive and negative values of this parameter are useful for applications where the normal envelope of a signal is being creatively manipulated to achieve special effects. Auto-Release This parameter causes the effective Release time to be extended automatically based on the dynamics of the input signal.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Max Compression This parameter is used to limit the amount of gain reduction that the compressor can apply. The limit is set as a maximum number of dB of gain reduction, from 3dB to UNLIMITED. Max. Compression 0dB Max. Comp. = 6dB Max. Comp. = 15dB -30dB Max. Comp. = 24dB Threshold: -30dB Ratio = 4:1 -80dB This feature emulates the phenomenon of the compression “tail” found in the gain curves of some classic analog compressor/limiters.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions At just past 1:INFINITE, the setting of 1:-100 causes input signals approaching 0dB to be only slightly decreased below -30dB. In contrast, the compression ratio of 1:-1 causes a 2dB gain reduction for each 1dB of additional input signal level, resulting in an output signal level that is folded down over the Threshold. Input Mode The Input Mode parameter allows the compressor signal path and sidechain to be driven in common or by separate inputs.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Example Settings Here we have provided a few examples to show the varied uses of this useful tool. Bear in mind that these examples are simply starting points and that you will undoubtedly need to fine tune the parameters to fit the program material and to suit your own taste. Increase Drum Punch: Adjust the Threshold control to control the amount of compression. • Threshold: Adjust so that all hits are being compressed.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Vocal Compression/Spoken Word: This setup compresses the entire dynamic range of the vocal. Whenever there is a signal present, there is some compression taking place. • Threshold: Adjust so that the first bar of the meter comes on even on soft passages. • Ratio: 2:1 • Attack: 0.1 msec • Release: 100 msec • Gain: Set to compensate for lost gain. • Soft Knee: Off • Gate: Off • Comp. Lookahead: 0 msec • Auto-release: Off • Max.
5 - Effects Core Effects Descriptions Creating a De-esser: A de-esser reduces the sibilance or “sss” sound in a vocal part. The sidechain feature of the RFX Compressor makes it possible to create a effective de-esser using the compressor and an external highpass filter or graphic EQ. The idea is to boost the high frequency content going to the sidechain (R input) so that the compressor will turn down the volume in the presence of sibilance.
5 - Effects E-MU PowerFX E-MU PowerFX The hardware-accelerated effects of t w you to use PatchMix DSP effects from within Cubase, Sonar, or other host application with minimal load on your CPU. Note: PowerFX is not supported in Vista. While many users are abble to use E-MU PowerFX under Vista with little or no problems, we are unable to offer support to those using PowerFX with Windows Vista. E-MU PowerFX are not available at the 96kHz or 192kHz sample rates.
5 - Effects E-MU PowerFX Parameter Description Preset Editing Click here to Save, Delete, Rename or Overwrite a User Preset. See the “User Preset Section” for more information Preferences The Preferences menu allows you to: • Toggle the Tooltips On or Off • Extra Buffers - Check this box if excessive stuttering occurs when using E-MU PowerFX in your VST Host application. This box should be checked when using Fruity Loops.
5 - Effects E-MU PowerFX Automating E-MU PowerFX E-MU PowerFX can be automated in Cubase LE (or other recording host) just like any other VST effect. When “Write Automation” is activated in Cubase, control changes made in the PowerFX window during playback will be recorded on a special “Automation Subtrack”. When “Automation Read” is activated, the recorded control changes will be played back. Steinberg Cubasis does not have the control automation feature.
5 - Effects E-MU PowerFX E-MU PowerFX Compatibility Chart Application Name Compatible? Note Render Extra Buffers Steinberg Cubase VST 5.
5 - Effects Rendering Audio with E-MU PowerFX Rendering Audio with E-MU PowerFX Rendering (sometimes called Export) is a mixdown process performed by the host application, which creates a new digital audio file from a multitrack song. Rendering allows a virtually unlimited number of VST effects to be used because the audio processing is performed out of realtime. E-MU PowerFX and the PatchMix DSP effects are strictly realtime processes.
5 - Effects E-MU VST E-Wire E-MU VST E-Wire E-Wire is a special VST/ASIO Bridge which allows you to route digital audio via ASIO to PatchMix and back again. E-Wire VST incorporates smart time alignment technology that automatically compensates for system latencies and ensures proper synchronization of audio throughout the VST chain. In addition, E-Wire also allows you to insert outboard audio gear into the VST environment.
5 - Effects E-MU VST E-Wire To Setup and use E-Wire: Setup PatchMix DSP 1. Open PatchMix DSP application. 2. Insert an ASIO Input mixer strip into PatchMix DSP. (Alternately, you can select “New Session”, select “E-Wire Example” and skip to step 6.) 3. Mute the strip or turn the Fader all the way down. 4. Insert an ASIO Send plug-in into one of the inserts on your ASIO strip. 5. Name your ASIO strip as an E-Wire strip. 6. Insert the desired PatchMix DSP effects into slots above the ASIO Send. 7.
5 - Effects E-MU VST E-Wire Currently automatic delay compensation is supported by the Steinberg 2.0 family (Nuendo 2.x, Cubase SX 2.0, Cubase LE 2.0,), Magix Samplitude 7.x, and Sonar (using the Cakewalk VST adapter 4.4.1), but not by Steinberg Cubase VST 5.1 and Cubasis. The E-Delay Compensator utility plug-in is used to manually compensate for the transfer delay for hosts that DO NOT support plug-in delay compensation.
5 - Effects E-MU VST E-Wire E-Delay Units Parameter The Units value in the E-Delay dialog box should be set for the number of times you send ASIO down to the PatchMix DSP mixer and back in a single track. A single PowerFX insert chain with any number of effects only requires one delay unit because there was only one trip to the hardware and back. If you use two Cubasis inserts in series on a track both using PowerFX or E-Wire, you would set the number parameter to 2 on all other audio tracks.
5 - Effects E-MU VST E-Wire 96 Creative Professional
6 - Appendix Getting in Sync 6 - Appendix Getting in Sync Whenever you connect external digital audio devices together, you need to be aware of how they are synchronized to each other. Simply connecting digital out to digital in doesn’t guarantee that two digital devices are synced, even if audio is being passed. Unless you have set one to be the Master and the other a Slave, they are probably NOT synchronized and the quality of your audio will suffer.
6 - Appendix Useful Information Useful Information AES/EBU to S/PDIF Cable Adapter This simple adapter cable allows you to receive AES/EBU digital audio via the S/PDIF input on the E-MU 0404 PCIe card. This cable may also work to connect S/PDIF out from the 0404 digital breakout cable to the AES/EBU input of other digital equipment. From AES/EBU Device 1 2 N.C.
6 - Appendix Technical Specifications Technical Specifications GENERAL Sample Rates 44.1 kHz. 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz and 192kHz derived from internal crystals. (No sample rate conversion is performed.) Externally supplied clock from S/PDIF. Bit Depth 16-bit or 24-bit (depending on the setting of your recording or audio application) Hardware DSP 100MIPs custom audio DSP.
6 - Appendix Technical Specifications DIGITAL I/O S/PDIF • 2 in/2 out coaxial (transformer coupled output) • 2 in/2 out optical • AES/EBU or S/PDIF (switchable under software control) MIDI 1 in, 1 out (16 MIDI channels) SYNCHRONIZATION Internal Crystal Sync: 44.1kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz • S/PDIF (optical or coaxial) SRSync SourceRMS jitter in picoseconds RMS JITTER @ 44.1K 44.1 Internal Crystal 596ps (Measured via Audio Precision 2) 44.
6 - Appendix Internet References Internet References The internet contains vast resources for the computer musician. A few useful sites are listed here, but there are plenty more. Check it out. Software Updates, Tips & Tutorials.................http://www.emu.com Setting up a PC for Digital Audio .....................http://www.musicxp.net MIDI Basics........................................................Search for “MIDI Basics” (many sites) MIDI & Audio Recording..................................
6 - Appendix Internet References 102 Creative Professional
Index Numerics Index Numerics 1-Band Para EQ 51 1-Band Shelf EQ 51 3-Band EQ 52 4-Band EQ 53 88kHz, 96kHz, 176kHz & 192kHz Operation 45 A A-D, D-A Converters, used in 0404 99 ADSR, reshaper effect 70 Advanced Parameters, RFX compressor 78 AES/EBU to S/PDIF Adapter 98 Ambience Reduction, using reshaper effect 69 Appearance, improving 98 ASIO direct monitor 29 send 27 Attack curve, reshaper 71 threshold, reshaper 70 Attack, compressor 56 Auto Makeup, RFX compressor 78 Auto Volume Pedal, using reshaper effe
Index F auto wah 54 chorus 54 compressor 55 create new folder 45 descriptions 51 disabled at high sample rates 45 distortion 57 edit 44 flanger 57 frequency shifter 58 gate 67 leveling amp 59 list of 50 lite reverb 60 mono delay 3000 61 multimode eq 72 order of 45 overview 43 palette 43 phase shifter 62 placing into an insert location 27 preset create new 48 delete 49 overwrite 49 rename 49 recording 45 reshaper 69 RFX compressor 76 rotary 62 selecting 44 stereo reverb 65 using in VST host application 87 v
Index L L Label, scribble strip 37 Latency, monitoring without 29 Level Fader 37 Level Meter, gate effect 69 Level, setting proper input 31, 32 Leveling Amp 59 LFO flanger 58 phase shifter 62 vocal morpher 66 Limiter 56 Limiting Peaks 84 Lite Reverb 60 Lookahead gate effect 68 reshaper effect 71 RFX compressor 80 Low Frequency Damping 65 Low Frequency Decay Factor 60 Lowpass Filter 73 M Main bus 38 inserts 42 output fader 42 section 38 Master clock 97 return level 38 send level 38 Master Volume Control 42
Index R Playing CDs 25 Post Gain, leveling amp 59 PowerFX 87 Pre-Delay, compressor 56 Pre-Fader Aux Sends 38 Preset create new 48 delete 49 overwrite effects 49 rename effects 49 select user 48 Punch Enhancement reshaper effect 69 using gate effect 67 Punch Reducer, using reshaper effect 69 R Rack Mounting, Audio Dock 12 Ratio, compressor 56 Ratio, RFX compressor 77 Record Dry, Monitor Wet 27 Recording Effects or Recording Dry 28, 45 Recording with PatchMix effects 27 Recording, how to make a good one 32
Index U U User Preset, effect 48 V Vista, PowerFX under 87 Vocal Morpher 66 Volume Control 24 W Wah-Wah 54 WAVE Strips 25 WDM multichannel 25 recording & playback behavior 49 WDM/KS 26 Weight, of card 100 Wet/Dry Mix, effects 47 Windows Media Player 25 Windows Taskbar, E-MU icon 19 Z Zero-Latency Monitoring 29 E-MU Digital Audio System 107
Index Z 108 Creative Professional
