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 Overview
A series of four dynamic processor stereo plug-ins:
- Cakewalk Compressor/Gate
- Cakewalk Limiter
- Cakewalk Expander/Gate
- Cakewalk Dynamics Processor
Why spend hundreds of dollars for a single effects processor box, when you can have a
software-based dynamics processor at a fraction of the cost?
Cakewalk Audio FX 1 is a series of real-time audio processing plug-ins for Windows
95/98/NT 4.0. All Cakewalk Audio FX plug-ins are Microsoft DirectX- compatible, allowing
you to use them with any digital audio software that supports DirectX - including Home
Studio 7, Professional 7, and Pro Audio 8.
Cakewalk Audio FX 1 plug-ins use 32-bit, floating-point processing, providing you with
fast, precise, mono and stereo audio effects. Cakewalk Audio FX 1 can be used as real-time
effects during record or playback, or used to render audio tracks as off-line edits. So
you get maximum editing flexibility whether you're mixing tracks at home or in the studio.
Why DirectX Audio Plug-ins?
While many different audio plug-in platforms exist today, Microsoft DirectX is the true
open standard for audio plug-ins on the Windows platform. This means that you are not
limited to a single manufacturer's proprietary format. DirectX is supported by the
industry's leading manufacturers of digital audio software, giving you a wide range of
plug-ins and host programs from which to choose.
The Cakewalk Compressor/Gate
The Cakewalk Compressor/Gate keeps audio signals from getting too loud or soft. It acts
like an automatic volume control that keeps the volume from getting above or below a level
that you define. The result is that soft sounds seem louder, and the dynamic extremes are
smoothed out.
Compressors add punch to drum tracks and smooth out performances that have a wide
dynamic range, like those of vocals, bass and guitar. After recording, producers use
compressors to tighten up a final mix.
The Gate portion allows you to keep the Compressor from "pumping the noise
floor," or bringing unwanted low-level sounds into the audible range.
Sample applications:
"I recorded an electric guitar and when the guitarist isn't playing, I can hear
the noise of his amplifier. How can I remove this noise?"
The Cakewalk Compressor/Gate can remove this noise by being set to engage when the
guitar isn't playing.
"I play the tape of my song on my friend's stereo. Afterwards, when I play a tape
of my favorite band, it sounds so much bigger and louder than mine. Why?"
A compressor gives your mix that extra 'punch' which creates that full, professional
sound which all producers depend on. The Cakewalk Compressor/ Gate will give your
recordings the punch you're looking for.
"My music has parts that are too quiet and other parts that are too loud. How can
I smooth them out?"
The Cakewalk Compressor/Gate will automatically make the loud parts quieter and the
quiet parts louder, making the mix more consistent overall.
The Cakewalk Limiter
The Cakewalk Limiter prevents audio signals from exceeding a threshold that you define. A
common use for a limiter is to avoid distortion in the final mix. The Cakewalk Limiter has
a high "ratio" or gain reduction level.
Sample Applications:
"My mix sounds great, but when I play my song at a loud volume it distorts even
though the quiet sections sound fine."
The Cakewalk Limiter will prevent loud passages from distorting without affecting the
rest of the recording.
"When I apply certain effects in real-time, some tracks distort during loud
parts."
The role of the Cakewalk Limiter is to prevent your audio signals from exceeding a
certain level. By adding the Cakewalk Limiter to your Effects chain, you prevent this
problem.
The Cakewalk Expander/Gate
The Cakewalk Expander/Gate makes loud parts louder and quiet parts quieter by increasing
the dynamic range of the recording. The Cakewalk Expander has the opposite effect from the
Cakewalk Compressor.
Sample applications:
"How can I get rid of breaths and noises on my vocal track without spending hours
editing each one separately?"
By setting the gate portion of the Cakewalk Expander/Gate to "kick in" below
the signal level of the voice, the breaths and noises will be muted.
"I've mixed my song - but there's a hiss at the beginning (fade-in) and end
(fade-out). How can I remove this for a clean signal to my tape deck?"
You can configure the Cakewalk Expander/Gate to trigger at the fade-in and fade-out of
the song, automatically ensuring silence at the beginning and end.
The Cakewalk Dynamics Processor
The Cakewalk Dynamics Processor is a multi-purpose tool for controlling signal levels. It
combines all the functionality of the Cakewalk Limiter, Expander/Gate, and Compressor/Gate
in one integrated plug-in, and is intended for advanced users who prefer having all of the
Cakewalk Audio FX 1 dynamic processing capabilities accessible from a single editing
window.
System Requirements
- Windows 95/98: Pentium 120, 16 MB RAM, CD-ROM Drive
- Windows NT: Pentium 120, 32 MB RAM, CD-ROM Drive
Cakewalk Audio FX 1 will work with any DirectX-compatible host programs, including
Cakewalk Home Studio 6, Cakewalk Professional 6, and Cakewalk Pro Audio 6.
Technical Specifications
General Specifications
| Plug-in architecture |
DirectX |
| Recommended System Requirements |
Windows 95/98: P120, 16MB Window NT (4.0 or higher): P120,
32MB
Video Display: 256 colors/ 640x480 resolution |
| Internal Processing Specifications |
16 and 32 Bit Floating Point calculations, 96 dB S/N |
| Real-time Processing Supported |
Yes |
| Audio Formats supported |
Dependent on DirectX-compatible host application |
| Internal Maximum Audio Frequency Response |
20 Hz to 22 kHz, approximately. (Actual frequency response
will be determined by sampling rate and hardware analog-to-digital converters.) |
| User-definable Presets |
Yes |
| Maximum number of presets |
Unlimited |
| Storage space required for installation |
10 MB |
Compressor/Gate
| Compression Ratio |
1:1 to 100:1, 0.1 dB increments, 96 dB maximum compression |
| Compression Threshold Range |
-95.9 to -0.1 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Compression/Expansion characteristics |
Normal, Soft-Knee |
| Expansion/Gate Ratio |
1:1 to 100:1, 0.1 dB increments, 96 dB maximum expansion |
| Expansion/Gate Threshold Range |
-95.9 to -0.1 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Attack time |
0.1 ms to 20.0 ms, 0.1 ms increments |
| Release time |
50.0 ms to 3000.0 ms, 0.1 ms increments |
| Output Gain Range |
-24 dB to +24 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Detection Types |
RMS, Average |
| Stereo Capability |
Yes |
| Stereo Coupling |
Independent Stereo Detection (Largest absolute sample from
either channel determines the effect applied equally to both channels) |
| Sidechain capability |
Yes |
| Controls |
- Compression Ratio knob
- Compressor Threshold knob
- Expansion Ratio knob
- Expansion Threshold knob
- Attack Time knob
- Release Time knob
- Output Gain knob
- Soft Knee selector button
- Reset button
- Detection Algorithm buttons (Average/RMS)
- Stereo Interaction buttons (Maximum/Sidechain)
- Bypass Button
- Save Preset button
- Delete Preset button
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| Displays |
- Transfer characteristic graph
- 8 segment input meter
- 8 segment gain reduction meter
- Preset Name pulldown menu
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Expander/Gate
| Expansion/Gate Ratio |
0.1:1 to 100:1, 0.1 dB increments, 96 dB maximum expansion |
| Expansion/Gate Threshold Range |
-95.9 to -0.0 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Expansion characteristics |
Normal, Soft-Knee |
| Attack time |
0.1 ms to 20.0 ms, 0.1 ms increments |
| Release time |
50.0 ms to 3000.0 ms, 0.1 ms increments |
| Output Gain Range |
-24 dB to +24 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Detection Types |
Peak, RMS, Average |
| Stereo capability |
Yes |
| Stereo Coupling |
Independent Stereo Detection (Largest absolute sample from
either channel determines the effect applied equally to both channels) |
| Sidechain capability |
Yes |
| Controls |
- Expansion Ratio knob
- Expansion Threshold knob
- Attack Time knob
- Release Time knob
- Output Gain knob
- Soft Knee selector button (on/off)
- Reset button
- Detection Algorithm buttons (Average/Peak/RMS)
- Stereo Interaction buttons (Maximum/Sidechain)
- Bypass Button
- Save Preset button
- Delete Preset button
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| Displays |
- Transfer characteristic graph
- 8 segment input meter
- 8 segment gain reduction meter
- Preset Name pulldown menu
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Limiter
| Limiter Ratio |
40.0:1 |
| Limiter Threshold Range |
-38.4 to -0.1 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Attack time |
0.0 ms |
| Release time |
10.0 ms |
| Output Gain Range |
-24 dB to +24 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Detection Type |
Peak |
| Stereo capability |
Yes |
| Stereo Coupling |
Independent Stereo Detection (Largest absolute sample from
either channel determines the effect applied equally to both channels) |
| Sidechain capability |
Yes |
| Controls |
- Limiter Threshold knob
- Output Gain knob
- Reset button
- Detection Algorithm buttons (Average/RMS)
- Stereo Interaction buttons (Maximum/Sidechain)
- Bypass Button
- Save Preset button
- Delete Preset button
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| Displays |
- 8 segment input meter
- 8 segment gain reduction meter
- Preset Name pulldown menu
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Dynamics Processor
| Compression Ratio |
1:1 to 100:1, 0.1 dB increments, 96 dB maximum compression |
| Compression Threshold Range |
-95.9 to -0.1 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Compression/Expansion characteristics |
Normal, Soft-Knee |
| Expansion/Gate Ratio |
0.1:1 to 100:1, 0.1 dB increments, 96 dB maximum expansion |
| Expansion/Gate Threshold Range |
-95.9 to -0.1 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Attack time |
0.1 ms to 20.0 ms, 0.1 ms increments |
| Release time |
50.0 ms to 3000.0 ms, 0.1 ms increments |
| Output Gain Range |
-24 dB to +24 dB, 0.1 dB increments |
| Detection Types |
Peak, RMS, Average |
| Stereo capability |
Yes |
| Stereo Coupling |
Independent Stereo Detection (Largest absolute sample from
either channel determines the effect applied equally to both channels) |
| Sidechain capability |
Yes |
| Controls |
- Compression Ratio knob
- Compressor Threshold knob
- Expansion Ratio knob
- Expansion Threshold knob
- Attack Time knob
- Release Time knob
- Output Gain knob
- Soft Knee selector button
- Reset button
- Detection Algorithm buttons (Average/Peak/RMS)
- Stereo Interaction buttons (Maximum/Sidechain)
- Bypass Button
- Save Preset button
- Delete Preset button
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| Displays |
- Transfer characteristic graph
- 8 segment input meter
- 8 segment gain reduction meter
- Preset Name pulldown menu
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