Antares AVP1 Hardware user manual

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Because the maximum drive is limited to +12 dB, using the Tube Saturation
model requires the original signal to be at a level greater than -12 dB. If
this is not the case, you should adjust the Input Trim control (in the Setup
Menu) to increase the level of the sound. (Be certain that Input Level is
not increased so much as to cause digital distortion.) It may be necessary
to go back and forth between Warmth Amount and Input Trim a few
times to get exactly the effect you want.
NOTE: If your audio was recorded at an exceptionally low level, it may
be that even maximum Input Trim and maximum Warmth Amount will
still not result in a level high enough to generate distortion. In that
case, either re-record your audio at a higher level (if possible) or use an
available digital waveform editor to digitally increase the level (keeping
in mind that this may negatively affect the signal quality).
If you want to add tube warmth without otherwise affecting your sound,
set both the Source Mic and Modeled Mic to Bypass.
Mic Modeler On Button
When this button is lit, the Mic Modeler module is active. When it is not
lit, the module is bypassed. Pressing the button toggles its state. The Mic
Modeler On/Off function can also be controlled by MIDI and/or by a
footswitch.
AUTO-TUNE MODULE
Scale Page
You tell Auto-Tune exactly which notes you want to correct on the Scale
Page:
Ch:CC#DD#EFF#GG#AA#B
  :
This page allows you to specify the scale notes to which Auto-Tune tunes
the input sound.
The AVP comes with 25 preset scales: Chromatic, 12 diatonic major and 12
diatonic minor. To select a preset scale, use the cursor buttons to move to
the scale name field and select the desired scale.
In addition, you can customize any of the provided scales and save it as
part of your preset. To modify a scale, use the cursor buttons to move to
the desired scale note and set it to one of the following three states: 
						

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Tune (i.e., the note name appears in the display, but the field under the
note is blank): When the input is near a note set to Tune, Auto-Tune
will retune the input to that note.
Bypass (i.e., the note name appears in the display and an “*” appears in
the field under the note): When the input pitch is close to a note set to
Bypass, the output remains uncorrected.
Blank (i.e., the note name disappears from the display): A note set to
Blank will be omitted from the scale. For example, setting C#, D#, F#,
G#, A# to Blank causes a C Major scale to remain. In that case Auto-
Tune would always retune the input to the closest note of the C Major
scale.
As an example, the following settings result in a D Major scale with no
pitch corrections applied to F# and C#:
D : C#D  E F#G  A  B
Ma:  *      *
Why set Scale notes to “Blank”?
To understand why it is sometimes necessary to set even correct scale notes
to ”Blank,“ let’s look again at the example from Chapter 1.
10.0 10.5 11.0 D3
B2 C

3ORIGINAL
PERFORMANCE CORRECTED 
BY AVP 
						

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This phrase is in D Major and, if all the pitch errors were no greater than
about 49 cents, would work fine with a standard D Major scale (D, E, F# ,
G, A, B, C# ). However, the pitch error of three semitones at the end of the
last note is so large that with B and C# present in the Scale, as the pitch
fell, Auto-Tune would see first C# and then B as the target pitch and
therefore allow the error to remain. With C# and B removed from the
Scale, Auto-Tune continues to see D as the target pitch for the entire
duration of the note and therefore pulls the phrase up to the correct
pitch.
A NOTE ABOUT SCALE EDITS: While you remain in a preset, you can
make edits to multiple scales and the AVP will remember the edits and
allow you to switch between the edited scales (e.g., to evaluate the
effect of various scale settings on the correction of a particular perfor-
mance). However, if you select another preset without first saving the
first preset, all of your scale edits will be lost. Furthermore, since an AVP
preset includes only the scale selected at the time it was saved, be sure
your desired scale is selected before saving the preset, as any edits to
other scales will also be lost.
Speed Page
  Correction Speed
  (0 is fast):   7
The Speed control determines how rapidly pitch correction is applied to
the incoming sound. Values range from 0 to 25. A value of zero will cause
instantaneous changes from one note to another and will completely
suppress a vibrato and any purposeful expressive pitch variations (note
that any related volume changes will remain). This will result in what has
become known as the “Cher effect.”
Values from 6 to 10 are typical for vocals. Higher values allow more
vibrato and other interpretative pitch gestures, but will slow down the
rate at which pitch corrections are made.
Although the above suggestions can be used as starting points, finding
the correct Speed setting for a particular performance is largely a matter
of trial-and-error and depends on such attributes as song tempo, note
duration and vocal style, among others. 
						

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Correction Meter
This meter indicates, in real time, the amount of pitch correction being
applied to change the input pitch to the target pitch. The green LEDs
indicate that the input is flat and that positive correction is being applied.
Conversely, the yellow LEDs indicate that the input is sharp and that
negative correction is required.
Auto-Tune On Button
When this button is lit, the Auto-Tune module is active. When it is not
lit, the module is bypassed. Pressing the button toggles its state. The
Auto-Tune On/Off function can also be controlled by MIDI and/or by a
footswitch.
COMPRESSOR/GATE MODULE
Compressor Page
Th:-12dB
Ratio: 3.0:1 Gn:12dB
This page allows you to set the main compressor parameters. Use the
cursor buttons to move from field to field and the Data Knob to set each
parameter. For ease in setting the threshold, this page includes a display of
the incoming signal level and a graphic indication of the currently selected
threshold. The threshold must be set below the signal peaks for any
compression to occur.
Pressing the Comp. button again while the Compressor Page is displayed
will display the Gain Reduction Meter Page (see below). Continually
pressing the Comp. button will alternate between the two pages.
The ranges of the parameters are as follows:
Threshold:  -36dB - 0dB
Ratio: 1.0:1 - 99:1
Makeup Gain: 0dB  - 36dB
Compressor Attack Page
 Compressor Attack
       40ms 
						

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The Attack Time control adjusts the speed with which the compressor
responds to peaks in the input signal. The range of the control is from 0
milliseconds to 200 milliseconds.
NOTE: While using the compressor and the de-esser simultaneously, be
sure that the attack time of the compressor is long enough not to
interact with the de-esser.
Compressor Release Page
 Compressor Release
        200 ms
The Release Time control sets the time it takes for the compressor’s gain to
return to normal after the input level drops below the threshold. The
range of the control is from 0 milliseconds to 3,000 milliseconds.
Compressor Knee Page
Compressor Knee:  40
  (0 is hard)
The Knee control adjusts the sharpness of the transitions between
uncompressed and compressed signals. As a signal increases in level
through the threshold, the compressor will begin to apply gain reduction.
With a soft knee (100), that change in gain will be gradual and therefore
less noticeable.
The range of the control is from 0 (hard knee) to 100 (soft knee).
Gate Page
Th:-36dB
Gate Ratio:  1:20
This page allows you to set the main Gate parameters. Use the cursor
buttons to move from field to field and the Data Knob to set each param-
eter. For ease in setting the threshold, this page includes a display of the
incoming signal level and a graphic indication of the currently selected
threshold.  The threshold should be set just above the level of the signal
that you wish to gate. 
						

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Pressing the Gate button again while the Gate Page is displayed will
display the Gain Reduction Meter Page (see below).  Continually pressing
the Gate button will alternate between the two pages.
The ranges of the parameters are as follows:
Threshold:  -90dB - 0dB
Ratio: 1:1.0 - 1:99
Gain Reduction Meter Page
C/G:-20 -12 -6 -3  0
Pressing either the Comp. or Gate buttons while their respective pages are
displayed will display this high resolution gain reduction meter. The meter
displays the amount of gain reduction applied to the signal. When the
input signal is above the compression threshold or below the gate thresh-
old, the gain reduction meter will display the amount of compression or
gating being applied. Pressing the Comp. or Gate button again will return
to the appropriate page.
Gain Reduction Meter
The front panel gain reduction meter  is intended to provide a quick
indication of compressor and gate activity. For precise gain reduction
indication, refer to the Gain Reduction Meter Page described above. The
range of the meter is 15 dB.
Comp/Gate On Button
When this button is lit, the Comp/Gate module is active. When it is not lit,
the module is bypassed. Pressing the button toggles its state. The Comp/
Gate On/Off function can also be controlled by MIDI and/or by a
footswitch. 
						

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DE-ESSER MODULE
De-esser Page
Th:-40dB
De-esser Ratio:2.0:1
This page allows you to set the main de-esser parameters. Use the cursor
buttons to move from field to field and the Data Knob to set each param-
eter. For ease in setting the threshold, this page includes a display of the
incoming high-pass signal level and a graphic indication of the currently
selected threshold. The threshold must be set below the signal peaks for
any de-essing to occur.
Pressing the De-Ess button again while the De-esser Page is displayed will
display the De-esser Gain Reduction Meter Page (see below). Continually
pressing the De-Ess button will alternate between the two pages.
The ranges of the parameters are as follows:
Threshold: -60dB - 0dB
Ratio: 1.0:1 - 99:1
NOTE: If you are using the Double Track function (see below), the de-
esser works on both the main and the double track.
De-esser Attack Page
   De-esser Attack
       15 ms
The Attack Time control adjusts the speed with which the de-esser’s
compressor element responds to peaks in the signal coming from the
highpass filter. The range of the control is from 0 milliseconds to 200
milliseconds.
De-esser Release Page
   De-esser Release
        200 ms 
						

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The Release Time control adjusts the time it takes the compressor
element’s gain to increase 6 dB after the signal coming from the highpass
filter drops below the threshold. The range of the control is from 0
milliseconds to 3000 milliseconds.
High Pass Frequency Page
  De-esser Highpass
 Frequency:  5402 Hz
The de-esser can be viewed as a compressor which is keyed by the output
of a high pass filter. When the filter passes a signal whose level is higher
than the compressor’s threshold, the compressor clamps down on the
signal. Since sibilants are primarily broad band noise above 5 KHz, the
filter is designed to pass these signals and attenuate low frequency signals
as much as possible.
The filter used in AVP’s de-esser is a two pole, 12dB/octave high pass
design which effectively distinguishes between sibilants and other vocal
sounds. The range of the control is from 2971 Hz to 20 kHz.
De-esser Gain Reduction Meter Page
DeS:-20 -12 -6 -3  0
Pressing the De-Ess button while the De-esser page is displayed will display
this high resolution gain reduction meter. The meter displays the amount
of de-essing of the signal. If the frequency and threshold controls are set
properly, the meter will display little gain reduction during vowel sounds
and soft consonants, and substantial gain reduction during sibilants.
Pressing the De-Ess button again will return to the De-esser page.
Gain Reduction Meter
The front panel de-esser gain reduction meter is intended to provide a
quick indication of de-esser activity. For precise gain reduction indication,
refer to the De-esser Gain Reduction Meter Page described above. The
range of the meter is 15dB. 
						

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De-esser On Button
When this button is lit, the De-esser module is active. When it is not lit, the
module is bypassed. Pressing the button toggles its state. The De-esser On/
Off function can also be controlled by MIDI and/or by a footswitch.
EQUALIZER/OUTPUT MODULE
EQ #1 Page
EQ1 Peaking
f: 7725 Q:2.4 Gn:+12
This page allows you to select the type and set the parameters of the first
of the AVP’s two bands of parametric equalization. Use the Data Knob to
select the type of equalization and then use the cursor buttons to move to
the various parameters available for that type.
The equalization types and their associated parameters are as follows:
EQ Off
EQ1 (off)
No equalization applied.
Low Shelf Filter
EQ1 Low Shelf
f: 1000 S:1.0 Gn: +6
The Low Shelf filter can be thought of as the world’s most flexible version
of the venerable “Bass” tone control familiar to users of radios, home
stereos and boom boxes.
The Low Shelf filter boosts or cuts all frequencies below cutoff frequency
“f” by the Gain (“Gn”) amount (in dB).  Additionally, you can vary the
slope (“S”) of the shelf from 2dB/octave (S=0.3) to 12dB/octave (S=2.0). 
						

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High Shelf Filter
EQ1 High Shelf
f:11039 S:1.5 Gn: +4
The High Shelf filter can be thought of as the world’s most flexible version
of the venerable “Treble” tone control familiar to users of radios, home
stereos and boom boxes.
The High Shelf filter boosts or cuts all frequencies above cutoff frequency
“f” by the Gain (“Gn”) amount (in dB). Additionally, you can vary the
slope (“S”) of the shelf from 2dB/octave (S=0.3) to 12dB/octave (S=2.0).
Peaking Filter
EQ1 Peaking
f:  884 Q:2.4 Gn:-10
This is the traditional fully parametric EQ.  The filter boosts or cuts the
signal at frequency “f” by the Gain (“Gn”) amount (in dB).  Additionally,
you can vary the bandwidth of the peak or dip with the “Q” control
(higher Q = narrower bandwidth).
Notch Filter
EQ1 Notch
f: 3775  Q:5.8
The Notch Filter passes all frequencies except for a band centered around
frequency “f,” which is sharply attenuated. The setting of the “Q” control
determines the width of the notch (higher Q = narrower notch).
Band Pass Filter
EQ1 Band Pass
f: 1277  Q:8.4