AUDIO PLUG-INS PACK 1 (WIN)

Page 1, 2, 3
  The Equalizer
Fig. 2

FIG. 2: EQpro-G3 provides three bands of parametric EQ with adjustable filter type, frequency, Q, slope, and gain. You adjust parameters by clicking and dragging onscreen knobs (click image).
EQpro-G3 provides high-quality parametric equalization (see Fig. 2). Each of three bands provides adjustable filter type, frequency, Q, slope, and gain. (The presence of the Q, slope, and gain parameters depends on the filter type selected.) The six filter types include Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, Fully Parametric, Low Shelving, and High Shelving. The frequency range varies depending on the filter type, but the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range is available overall.

In addition, EQpro-G3’s frequency range depends on the current sampling rate, so the frequency range can actually be adjusted up to 40 kHz if you use a 96 kHz sampling rate. The Q (available for the Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, and Fully Parametric filters) is adjustable from 0.666 to 34.605, and the slope (available for the Low- and High-Shelving filters) is adjustable from 0.4 to 4. As with the frequency range, the gain varies depending on the filter type, but for the Fully Parametric filter, the gain can be adjusted between ±36 dB.

In addition to the parameter controls, EQpro-G3 displays a graph that shows the overall shape of the combined filters. You can change the vertical scale of the graph from ±6 dB to ±60 dB, and you can view the horizontal scale logarithmically (from 10 Hz to 12 kHz) or in octaves (from 10 Hz to 20 kHz). Unfortunately, the graph is only for display purposes; you can’t make adjustments by directly manipulating the graph with the mouse (as you can with many other plug-ins). That was a bit of a disappointment.

Limited Compression
 Not much can be said about the C-Limiter plug-in (see Fig. 3). It’s probably one of the simplest plug-ins you’ll ever use. With only four adjustable parameters, C-Limiter provides basic compression and brickwall limiting. The compression ratio can range from 1:1 to 8:1, and the gain can be adjusted between ±24 dB. The Velocity parameter controls how quickly th
Fig. 3

FIG. 3: C-Limiter essentially provides one function: limiting. Some basic compression features are included, but only as they relate to limiting. No attack-time or threshold parameter is provided (click image).
e limiter reacts to the signal (1 to 100 ms), and the Limit parameter controls the highest level the signal can achieve through the output (0 to –12 dB).

C-Limiter provides no adjustments for attack or threshold, which makes it better suited to limiting than compression. It would be nice to have more control over the processing so the plug-in could be used for more advanced compression applications. That would certainly help justify the price of the package. On the other hand, you must also consider that C-Limiter’s sound quality is excellent. Even with the compression ratio set at 8:1, the gain set at +24 dB, and the Limit parameter set to –0.1 dB, I experienced nary a hint of distortion in the signal.

Verbalicious
Audio Plug-ins Pack
Minimum System Requirements
Pentium/133; 32 MB RAM; Windows 95/98/2000/NT; DirectX 5.2 or VST compatible host application
The Aphro-V1 reverb plug-in is the most complex of the lot (see Fig. 4), but if you stick with the included 393 presets, it’s quite easy to use. Just click on the LCD screen to open the Preset & Bank Interface window, select a preset, and you’re off and running. You can also load and save preset banks from the right-click pop-up menu. Buttons on the main panel let you quickly compare presets, sequentially select presets and banks, and mute the plug-in. However, operating the plug-in becomes more complex when it comes to adjusting an existing preset or creating a new one from scratch.

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Reprinted with permission from Magazine, December, 2000
© 2000, Intertec Publishing, A Primedia Company All Rights Reserved


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