WAVES: ABBEY ROAD RS56 USER GUIDE

WAVES: ABBEY ROAD RS56 USER GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Intrductin... 3 1.1 Welcme... 3 1.2 Prduct Overview... 3 1.3 Abut the RS56... 3 1.4 Cmpnents... 3 Chapter 2 Interface and Cntrls... 5 2.1 Interface... 5 2.2 Cntrls... 6 Chapter 3 The WaveSystem... 9 3.1 The WaveSystem Tlbar... 9 3.2 Preset Handling... 9 3.3 Interface Cntrls... 12 3.4 Waves Preferences (Pr Tls nly)... 13 Abbey Rad Studis, Curve Bender and RS and their assciated lgs are trade marks f EMI (IP) Limited. 2

Chapter 1 Intrductin 1.1 Welcme Thank yu fr chsing Waves. In rder t get the mst ut f yur Waves prcessr, please take the time t read thrugh this manual. In cnjunctin, we als suggest yu becme familiar with www.wavesupprt.net. There yu will find an extensive Answer Base, the latest Tech Specs, detailed Installatin guides, new Sftware Updates, and current infrmatin n Authrizatin and Registratin. By signing up at www.wavesupprt.net, yu will receive persnalized infrmatin n yur registered prducts, reminders when updates are available, and infrmatin n yur authrizatin status. 1.2 Prduct Overview A passive equalizer with pwerful sund-shaping capabilities, the RS56 Universal Tne Cntrl was riginally intrduced in the early 1950s and used in Abbey Rad Studis t prepare recrdings fr the recrd-lathe, as part f the prcess we nw knw as mastering. Later, Abbey Rad s pp engineers began using the RS56 fr studi recrdings because f its abilities t dramatically manipulate sund unlike the basic treble and bass EQs fund n the mixing cnsles f the time. This earned it the nickname The Curve Bender. Waves and Abbey Rad Studis have faithfully recreated the unique magic f the RS56, using advanced circuit mdeling techniques based n the riginal schematics. Like its hardware predecessr, the passive EQ plugin features three bands with fur selectable center frequencies fr each and six different filter types, plus independent r linked cntrl ver the left and right channels. The result is an extrardinary equalizer that is as effective tday as it was when it was created ver half a century ag. 1.3 Abut the RS56 The RS56 is a passive EQ, meaning n amplificatin f any kind is used t create its filters. In fact, it can t even be plugged int a pwer scket. Passive EQs use high value capacitrs and inductrs t 3

achieve the desired filtering. This lack f amplificatin means passive equalizers can nly attenuate the signal, nt bst it. Therefre, bst-like frequency-shaping is achieved by attenuating the entire signal except the specified frequency. Fr example, t achieve a 6 db bst at 1 khz, a passive EQ attenuates the entire signal by 6 db apart frm 1 khz. The entire input signal is attenuated by the sum ttal amunt f pssible bst; in the case f the RS56 hardware, with three bands that can bst up t 10 db each, the verall signal attenuatin is 30 db. In mst cases, make-up gain is applied pstprcessing t bring the signal back up; at Abbey Rad Studis, make-up gain was applied using V72 amplifiers, as fund in the REDD.17 and REDD.37 cnsles. Created in the early 1950s by EMI engineer Mike Batchelr, the mnphnic Universal Tne Cntrl Type RS56 was the mst flexible equalizer f its time, and an influence n EQ designs fr years t cme. Later, the stere RS56-S was intrduced, which ffered independent linkable cntrls fr left and right channels. The RS56 is ne f thse rare, mythical pieces f equipment that nly the mst hardcre gear aficinads even knw abut. The riginal RS56 featured three bands (Bass, Treble and Tp) with fur selectable center frequencies fr each and six different filter types, prviding +/- 10 db f cut/bst in 2 db increments; the plugin ffers +/- 20 db f cut/bst, in 0.1 db increments. The RS56 is an extremely musical-sunding EQ; the center frequencies f its Bass and Treble bands are exactly ne ctave apart and, in the Tp range, half an ctave apart. The RS56 was used in Abbey Rad Studis frm 1951-1970 t put the finishing tuches n recrdings prir t disc-cutting. Hwever, due t the RS56 s ability t dramatically transfrm the sund f input surce material (as well as EMI s dedicatin t True Fidelity ), its studi use was initially restricted t fixing externally-recrded materials; the RS56 was deemed unnecessary fr recrdings made at Abbey Rad. Hwever, as time went n and experimentatin in the recrding studi became mre acceptable, the Beatles engineers were the first t be granted permissin t use the RS56 fr recrding and mixing. 1.4 Cmpnents WaveShell technlgy enables us t split Waves prcessrs int smaller plugins, which we call cmpnents. Having a chice f cmpnents fr a particular prcessr gives yu the flexibility t chse the cnfiguratin best suited t yur material. RS56 includes the fllwing cmpnents: RS56 Mn RS56 Stere 4

Chapter 2 Interface and Cntrls 2.1 Interface 1. Bass Band 2. Treble Band 3. Tp Band 4. Output (nt visible when cllapsed) 5. EQ Graph (nt visible when cllapsed) 5

2.2 Cntrls In stere cmpnents, all EQ cntrls can be set independently fr the left and right channels. The RS56 utilizes six different types f filters: Lw End A lw shelf filter Blunt A very wide bell filter Med Blunt A mderately wide bell filter Med Sharp A mderately narrw bell filter Sharp A very narrw bell filter High End A high shelf filter The riginal unit ffers filter ranges f +/- 10 db in 2 db increments. T accmmdate tday s prcessing standards, Waves has extended the ranges t +/-20 db (cntinuus), while maintaining the exact characteristics f the riginal filters. Bass Decibels sets the amunt f lw frequency bst r cut. Range: +/- 20 db in 0.1 db increments Bass Width sets the shape f the filter. Range: Lw End, Blunt, Med Blunt, Med Sharp, Sharp, High End Bass Frequency sets the lw frequency cutff pint. Range: 32 Hz, 64 Hz, 128 Hz, 256 Hz Bass On/Off deactivates lw frequency prcessing. Range: On, Off Treble Decibels sets the amunt f midrange frequency bst r cut. Range: +/- 20 db in 0.1 db increments Treble Width sets the shape f the filter. Range: Lw End, Blunt, Med Blunt, Med Sharp, Sharp, High End Treble Frequency sets the midrange frequency cutff pint. Range: 512 Hz, 1024 Hz, 2048 Hz, 4096 Hz 6

Treble On/Off deactivates midrange frequency prcessing. Range: On, Off Tp Decibels sets the amunt f high frequency bst r cut. Range: +/- 20 db in 0.1 db increments Tp Width sets the shape f the filter. Range: Lw End, Blunt, Med Blunt, Med Sharp, Sharp, High End Tp Frequency sets the high frequency cutff pint. Range: 5800 Hz, 8192 Hz, 11600 Hz, 16400 Hz Tp On/Off deactivates high frequency prcessing. Range: On, Off Output Level In Stere and Du mdes, cntrls the left and right channel levels. This gain stage is at the utput f the plugin. In MS mde, the left knb cntrls the Mid channel and the right knb cntrls the Sides channel level. This gain stage is directly after the MS matrix encding. Range: -24 db +12 db Phase inverts the phase f the signal. Range: In, Out Mnitr cntrls the surce f the mnitr utput. (Stere cmpnent nly) Stere (ST) and Du mdes: L (left side nly) Mn (stere signal summed t mn) Stere R (right side nly) MS mde: Mid (left plus right) Mn (stere signal summed t mn) 7

Stere Sides (left minus right) EQ Mde selects stere prcessing mde. (Stere cmpnent nly) Stere relatively links the channels and applies the same prcessing t bth. Du unlinks the channels and ffers the ptin f applying different prcessing t each. MS applies an MS encding matrix n the input t the plugin. The signal enters the EQ fr separate prcessing t Mid and Side infrmatin, which is subsequently decded back t stere n the utput. Graph Range sets the range f the EQ graph. Range: 15 (+/- 15 db), 30 (+/- 30 db) VU Meters display utput VU readings. Range: -20 +3 db VU Level Calibratin sets the dbfs level which appears as 0 VU. Range: -24-8 dbfs 8

Chapter 3 The WaveSystem 3.1 The WaveSystem Tlbar All Waves plugins feature the WaveSystem tlbar which takes care f mst administrative functins yu will encunter while wrking with yur Waves sftware. The features f the WaveSystem tlbar are the same n practically all Waves plugins, s familiarity with its features will be helpful whichever plugin yu are using. Tlbar Functins Opens the plugin Abut bx Und Undes the last 32 actins Red Redes the last 32 undne actins Setup A/B Tggles between tw presets, useful fr cmparisn f parameter settings L/R Arrws Mve t the previus r next preset Cpy A B Cpies the current settings t the secnd preset register Lad Recalls presets frm file Save Saves presets in the Waves file frmats? Opens the PDF manual fr the plugin yu are using 3.2 Preset Handling Preset Types Factry Presets are permanent presets in the Lad menu. Factry presets cannt be verwritten r deleted. When applicable, different cmpnent plugins may have different factry presets. User Presets are yur favrite settings f the plugin saved as a preset in the Lad menu, under User Presets. User Presets can be verwritten and deleted. Setup Files may cntain mre than ne preset. Fr example, a single file can cntain all the presets fr a sessin. When yu pen a Setup File, all its setups becme part f yur Lad pp-up menu fr fast 9

access. This can be particularly useful with multiple instances f a plugin in a single sessin. By saving all the settings yu create int a single Setup File, they can all be quickly available fr every instance f that plugin. Lading Presets and Setups Click n the Lad buttn t see the Lad pp-up menu. The menu is divided int fur sectins. If a sectin is nt currently available it will nt appear in the Lad pp-up menu. Open Preset File Select t pen any setup r preset file, whether frm the Library r yur wn creatins. Filename.xps : Displays any currently laded Setup File and its presets. Factry Presets: Displays the default Factry Presets. User Presets: Displays any laded User Presets. Saving Presets and Setups Click n the Save buttn t see the Save pp-up menu. Fur ptins are available. If an ptin is nt currently available it will be grayed ut and inaccessible. Save t New File Select this t start a new Setup file. There are tw prmpts - first fr the setup filename, then fr the preset name. Yu must prvide a name fr bth the setup file and the preset. Click OK (ENTER) t cmplete the save. It is a gd idea t create a flder in which t save several setup files fr a prject. Save File Name Preset Name Overwrites the settings f the laded preset (whether a User Preset r a preset frm a Setup File) with the current settings. If a Setup File is currently laded, the name f the Setup File is displayed fllwed by the name f the preset itself. If a User Preset is laded, its name is displayed. 10

Save t File Name As Put int Preset Menu As Saves the current settings as a new preset int the Setup file that is pen (if ne is nt pen, the ptin is grayed ut). Yu will be prmpted t give the preset a name. Save the current settings int a User Preset that will always be in yur Lad menu (until deleted). Yu will be prmpted t give this preset a name. User Presets are stred in the plugin s preference file. Deleting Presets Yu may delete User Presets and presets within a Setup File. Factry Presets and Setup Library files cannt be deleted r verwritten. 1. Hld the Cmmand (Mac)/Cntrl (PC) key dwn. 2. Click-and-hld the Lad buttn t see the pp-up menu. 3. While still hlding the Cmmand/Cntrl key, select the preset r setup t delete. 4. A cnfirmatin bx will appear, allwing yu t cancel r OK the deletin. A/B Cmparisn and Cpying The Setup A/Setup B buttn may be clicked t cmpare tw settings. If yu lad a preset in the Setup B psitin, this will nt affect the preset laded int the Setup A psitin, and vice-versa. If yu want t slightly mdify the settings in Setup A, yu can cpy them t Setup B by clicking n the Cpy t B buttn, then alter Setup A and cmpare with the riginal Setup B. The name f the current setup will be shwn in the title bar (n platfrms which supprt it), and will switch as yu change frm Setup A t Setup B. Nte: an asterisk will be added t the preset name when a change is made t the preset. 11

3.3 Interface Cntrls Cntrls can be in ne f three states: 1. Nt Selected where the cntrl is nt the target f any user entry 2. Selected where the cntrl is the target f muse cntrl entry nly 3. Selected and Active where the cntrl is the target fr bth muse and keybard entry Tggle Buttns Tggle buttns display the state f a cntrl, and allw switching between tw r mre states. Singleclick t change the cntrl s state. Sme tggle buttns have a text display which updates with the current setting, and thers (bypass, sl, r mnitring tggles) illuminate when the cntrl is active. Sme plugins have link buttns between a pair f tggle buttns, allwing click-and-drag adjustment while retaining the ffset between the cntrls. Value Windw Buttns Value windws display the value f a cntrl and allw click-and-drag adjustment, r direct cntrl via the keybard. Using the muse, click-and-drag n the value windw t adjust. Sme value windws supprt left/right, sme up/dwn (as yu hver ver a buttn, arrws will appear t let yu knw which directin f mvement that buttn supprts). Yu may als use yur muse-wheel t adjust parameter values. Using the arrw keys, click nce with muse t select the buttn, and then use up/dwn left/right (depending n the directin supprted by that buttn) t mve in the smallest incremental steps acrss the buttn s range (hlding dwn the arrw keys will mve faster thrugh the range). Using key entry, duble click n the buttn t pen the value windw, and directly enter the value frm yur keybard. If yu enter an ut f range number, the buttn stays selected but remains at the current setting. (System beeps if system sunds are n.) Sme plugins have link buttns between a pair f value windws, allwing click-and-drag adjustment while retaining the ffset between the cntrls. 12

Sliders Click r scrll the muse-wheel n the slider itself r anywhere within the sliders track. The numerical value f the slider settings is displayed in a hver windw abve the slider path. Hver Bx Hvering bxes will appear and display the cntrl value when hvering with the muse ver the cntrl. Multiple Cntrl Selectin One f the mst pwerful features f the WaveSystem is the ability t select and adjust multiple cntrls simultaneusly. Using the muse, drag-select the desired grup f buttns r graphic cntrls by clicking and hlding at a pint utside the cntrls, and frming a rectangle that includes the cntrls yu wish t adjust. Alternatively, press and hld Shift while clicking the muse n any cntrl yu wish t link. This methd is useful when yu want t select tw r mre cntrls that are nt adjacent t ne anther. TAB Functins TAB mves the selected status t the next cntrl, with shift-tab mving in the reverse directin. Additinally, the Mac has an ptin-tab functin fr dwn mvement and shift-ptin-tab fr up mvement where applicable. If yu have several Value Windw Buttns selected, TAB functins will take yu thrugh the selected cntrls nly. Hitting Esc r Return will return the 'fcus' t the DAW applicatin. 3.4 Waves Preferences (Pr Tls nly) When launching Pr Tls, hld Shift t view the Waves plugin Preferences windw. The fllwing ptins are available: Dn't use AudiSuite plugins Dn t use RTAS plugins Rescan all plugins HUI cntrl surface supprt (lw reslutin) Enable single-click text entry 13