McDSP Analog Channel

Analog Channel description:

Analog Channel gives the user complete control of analog gain staging (AC1), and analog tape and tape machines (AC2).

Analog Channel's AC1 is a "class A" gain stage - the premium amplification design in the analog world for audio production. AC1 gives control over many parameters previously unavailable to the common user. This flexibility allows for a number of ways to improve a mix. Pure digital tracks can suffer from harsh digital clipping. AC1 acts as a 'digital pre-amp' allowing even excessive amounts of gain without digital distortion. A drive control determines where the audio 'sits' in the saturation/compression region, and even the attack and release times of the distortion character are adjustable. And AC1 is the most efficient McDSP plug-In ever - up to 24 mono channels or 16 stereo channels on a single MIX dsp chip. Place it across the entire mix to create a custom analog console. The Analog Channel Emulator AC1 plug-In is an analog amplifier, or analog channel. Instead of allowing the user to drive signal levels into digital clipping at 0 dB, the AC1 plug-In provides gentle, continuous soft-limiting/compression (or saturation pending the attack/release times), at a signal level selected by the user. AC1 can be used as a fail-safe for preventing unwanted clipping, or as a creative tool to smooth/warm-up digital tracks and provide otherwise unavailable analog character to a digital system. Even the sound of large analog mixing consoles can be closely matched using the AC1 plug-In.

The Analog Channel Emulator AC2 plug-In is an emulator of the most popular analog tape machines (and tape mediums) known to the professional audio recording industry. Playback systems from Studer, Otari, MCI, Ampex, Sony, and Tascam are available in a single 'reproducer'. Modern and vintage tape formulations, IEC standards, and tape saturation release (not found on any other 'reproducer') round out the control section of the world's most flexible tape playback/recorder. Standard tape machine parameters such as bias, playback speed, and IEC1/2 equalization are provided. Control well beyond the limits of the 'reel-world' devices includes adjustable low frequency roll off and head bump - independent of playback speed. You can select from several playback head types, and even control the rate at which tape saturation is dis-engaged. And instead of frequency sweeps and test tones, the playback head and tape saturation responses are displayed in realtime - updated with every control change.

Operating System:

Analog Channel is compatible with both Mac OS 10.4.x and Windows XP.

Configurations:

Analog Channel is available in TDM, RTAS, and AudioSuite configurations.

Applications:

Pro Tools 7.x or higher is required for TDM, LE, and M-Powered systems. Additionally, a Third Party software application that supports the Digidesign TDM, RTAS, or AudioSuite plug-in Standard may be supported