Antares Tube user manual

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Chapter 2: Introducing Tube
SOME BACKGROUND
When Antares introduced the ground-breaking Microphone Modeler plug-
in in 1999, we included a function designed to model the distortion that is
typical of a high-quality tube pre-amp. Mic Modeler was an immediate
success and went on to win Mix Magazine’s prestigious TEC Award for
Software Signal Processing. Along the way, virtually every reviewer com-
mented on how great the tube model sounded. We’ve even heard from
users who didn’t feel they needed...

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SO WHAT EXACTLY IS TUBE?
Tube is a multiformat plug-in that accurately models the sonic effects of
recording audio through a high quality analog tube preamplifier. It offers
the choice of two different tube models as well as a unique OmniTube
function that allows the application of the tube effect to the entire signal
(as opposed to only the transients, as is typically the case with a tube
preamp).
Tube’s extended parameter ranges have been designed to allow the
creation of a wide variety of sonic...

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Chapter 3: Tube Controls
This chapter is a reference for all of the controls used in the Tube interface.
T
INPUT AND OUTPUT
PLUGS
Tube can be instantiated
in either stereo or mono
versions. The I/O plugs
provide a graphical
indication of the type of
instantiation. I.e., a mono
version of Tube will have
one Input plug and one
Output plug. A stereo
version will have Left and
Right Input plugs and Left
and Right Output plugs. 

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TUBE SELECTOR
Tube includes two different tube models. The heavenly blue
tube models the subtle effects of a classic high-quality tube
preamp. Use this model to add warmth to vocals, acoustic
guitar, horns, strings, synth pads, in fact pretty much anything.
INPUT LEVEL
This control applies gain to the input signal before it’s
passed to the tube model. It is typically used to ensure
that the level of the input is high enough to exceed
the clipping level in the tube model. As a starting
point, adjust the...

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NOTE: Since the Drive control is capable of a maximum of 12dB of gain,
the input signal transients must be at least above -12dB to produce any
tube effect. If the input meter needle never enters the red segments of
the meter, no tube effect will be audible with even maximum Drive.
ANOTHER NOTE: Unless you are going for some special effect, you do
not want to have clipping at the input stage. This is not the “good”
clipping that happens in the tube model. Input clipping is that nasty
digital kind.
DRIVE...

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OMNITUBE
Without OmniTube engaged, Tube functions exactly like a tube preamp,
i.e., the regions of the input signal that exceed the clipping level (typically
transients) are affected and all other regions are passed with no change.
With OmniTube on, all regions of the input signal are subject to tube
distortion. To accomplish this, when you engage OmniTube a compressor is
inserted into the signal path after the Input Gain control and before the
tube model. The compressor is set to compress the signal...

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Chapter 4: Tube Tips
At its most basic level, Tube is designed to add an extremely accurate model
of a tube preamp’s sound to warm your digital tracks. But we have pur-
posely designed Tube to have a range of controls that allow you to push
well beyond that model. Here are a few other things to try:
•Pass your entire final mix through Tube. Instantiate a stereo version of
Tube (or more if you are mixing for surround) on your mix bus. Start
with a little blue tube with OmniTube off. Experiment with the...

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Index
A
amplification factor  9
Antares Audio Technologies  ii
attenuation  10
Authorizing Tube  2
B
blue tube  8, 11
C
Challenge/Response Authorization  2
contact information  ii, 3
Controls  7
Drive Amount  9
Input and Output Plugs  7
Input Level  8
OmniTube  10
Output Attenuation  10
Tube Selector  8
D
Drive Amount  9
G
gain  8
I
Input and Output Plugs  7
Input Level  8
Installing Tube  2
L
License Agreement  iii
M
Microphone Modeler  5
O
OmniTube  1, 10, 11
orange tube  8
Output Attenuation  10
S...