Creative Emu 1820m Manual

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
E-MU Digital Audio System81
Parameters
Threshold
When the input signal rises above the level set by the Threshold parameter, the Gate is 
triggered to turn on and go from its maximum gain reduction level up to 0dB gain. The 
turn-on threshold is adjustable anywhere between -70dB and 0dB (below the PatchMix 
nominal operating point of -12dBFS.)
One of the keys to the smooth operation of the Gate is that the input Threshold level 
that turns on the Gate is always...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
82Creative Professional
Level Meter
This meter represents the input signal level in dB, and is in fact the output of the Gates 
envelope follower. Since the envelope follower is driven by the greater of the left or right 
channel, this monophonic meter represents the greater of the two input signals.
Gain Reduction Meter
This meter shows the value in dB of the gate control signal which is used to boost or 
attenuate the input signal. Its most-rightward maximum value...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
E-MU Digital Audio System83
Reshaper
The Reshaper effect is a special purpose dynamics modification program, designed to 
“resculpt” the amplitude envelope of an audio signal. The effect uses an envelope 
follower and threshold detector to drive an ADSR-type gain stage, which can impose 
new attack, decay, sustain and release profiles on the signals original envelope.
Applications
•“Punch” Reducer - slow turn-on with added lookahead trims attacks off signals
•“Punch”...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
84Creative Professional
Attack, Decay and Release times are all adjustable, and the shape of each of these 
segments is selectable between exponential, linear, or logarithmic. An additional Hold 
Time can be used to extend the Sustain phase past the point where the signal has passed 
the Release Threshold.
If the Sustain Level is set the same as the Release Level, then the Reshaper effectively 
becomes a two-phase “transient catcher” where the Release Threshold, Hold...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
E-MU Digital Audio System85
Release ThresholdThis parameter controls the level in dB below the Attack Threshold at 
which the Release phase of the ADSR will begin. 
Attack RetriggerBy default, when the value of this parameter is Disabled, the Reshapers 
ADSR engine will wait until at least the Release phase of a cycle before 
restarting a new Attack phase.
By setting Attack Retrigger to Enabled, however, the Reshaper becomes 
sensitive to new input signal transients...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
86Creative Professional
Multimode EQ
The Multimode EQ is a flexible stereo filter that is capable of implementing a range of 
powerful filter topologies. It is useful both for utility EQ applications and also for 
special effects.
The Multimode EQ is built from an array of filter sections that can be configured to 
support:
•Lowpass filters with up to 48dB/octave rolloff
•Highpass filters with up to 48dB/octave rolloff
•Highpass + Lowpass series or parallel combination with...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
E-MU Digital Audio System87
Parameters
While the Multimode EQ has many parameters applicable to the various possible 
configurations of channels and filters, it selectively enables or hides parameters 
depending on their applicability to the current configuration. As a result, not all of the 
parameters listed below appear on-screen at the same time.
Lowpass
The frequency response of the lowpass filter looks something like the diagram below:
In this mode, the Lowpass...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
88Creative Professional
Highpass -> Lowpass
In this mode, the Lowpass and Highpass filters are connected in series and both sets of 
Lowpass and Highpass parameters are exposed and independently editable to create the 
overall filter response. The maximum rolloff slope of each filter is limited to 24dB/
octave in this mode.
In Highpass -> Lowpass mode, the effect does not place any limitations on the 
Frequency parameters of one filter relative to the other. In normal...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
E-MU Digital Audio System89
However, when the Highpass Freq parameter is lower than the Lowpass Freq parameter, 
the combined filter response is basically flat, since the passbands of each filter combine 
to admit the entire spectrum. An exception occurs when there is resonance added to the 
filters - youll hear the resonant peaks as increased gain above the otherwise flat spectral 
response.
Note that while the Highpass || Lowpass combination appears the same as the Band...

5 - Effects
Core Effects Descriptions
90Creative Professional
RFX Compressor
The RFX Compressor is a full-featured stereo compressor effect which features the standard 
parameters available on most compressors as well as a collection of additional advanced 
parameters that are useful for more sophisticated applications and special effects:
•Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release w/gain metering
•Auto-makeup gain
•Adjustable soft knee
•Adjustable lookahead/delay
•Noise gate (downward expander)
•Compressor...