> Step by step
2. Getting started with Audified inValve Effects
1 inValve Effects comprises three plugins: inValve Preamp, inValve Compressor and inValve Equaliser. Preamp is the most straightforward of the bunch: a tube amplifier emulation that saturates the signal with analogue-style distortion. To apply it, simply raise the Valve Saturation knob. It works a treat for warming up instruments, group busses and even – in small doses – the mix bus. 4 Release sets the amount of time it takes for the signal to return to its uncompressed level whenever it drops back below the Threshold. Applying compression reduces the overall level of the signal, but you can bring it back up with Gain Make-up knob. Finally, the Valve Saturation knob dials in the distortion algorithm from inValve Preamp. 2 inValve Compressor emulates valve compression at Ratios of up 50:1, and if you’ve ever used a compressor before, you’ll feel right at home. With the Ratio set anywhere above 1:1, reducing the Threshold applies compression. The higher the Ratio and lower the Threshold, the more pronounced and obvious the compression. 5 inValve Equaliser is a four-band parametric EQ with additional lowand high-pass filters. The filter cutoff frequencies range from 1 to 20kHz and 30Hz to 3kHz respectively, while the Low and Low Mid parametric bands each sweep from 30Hz to 3kHz, and the High Mid and High bands operate between 1kHz and 20kHz. 3 The Attack and Release time knobs are used to shape the onset and offset of compression. Raising the Attack knob delays the gain reduction when the Threshold is exceeded by up to 200ms – with drums, for example, you’ll usually want to set it so that the initial transients are allowed through unattenuated. 6 Switch the Low and High bands between peak and shelving modes with their Type buttons. Up to 15dB of cut or boost is available to every band, with the sharpness of the peaks or shelves set by the Q knobs. Once again, inValve Preamp’s Valve Saturation knob brings the heat, while the Master Gain control raises or lowers the final output of the plugin by up to 15dB.