The Royal Mu is a dual-channel compressor and limiter. Features include analog biasing and saturation, mid/side processing, equalization, and a full featured analog compressor and analog limiter. The Royal Mu offers independent (or linked) control of the left/right (or mid/side) channels.
Features
All analog compression, limiting, bias, and saturation stages
Dual channel operation and mid/side processing option
Sample accurate automation of analog processing
Included with APB hardware purchase
Formats
AAX Native, AU, VST3
Compression and Limiting
The Royal Mu combines three stages of processing: biasing, compression and limiting, into a single path in the APB hardware. A mono Royal Mu only takes one APB channel, and a stereo only takes two. This optimal use of analog processing resources showcases some of the programmability of the APB hardware.
Mid/Side Mojo
Both the Royal Mu and Royal Q offer exceptional mid/side processing using unique hybrid processing techniques. Sample accurate control and self-calibrating analog circuitry insure exacting mid/side encoding and decoding.
Analog Saturation
Like all APB plug-ins, the Royal Mu custom saturation circuit is perfectly calibrated with the A/D conversion to prevent digital clipping. Even when the Royal Mu saturation feature is enabled, this calibration remains, so only real analog saturation occurs as the signal is brought back into the DAW.
Bias
Adjustment of frequency sensitivity of compression circuit. Positive bias causes more low frequencies to pass uncompressed. Negative bias causes more mid range frequencies to pass uncompressed.
EQ
Amount of pre compression equalization gain.
Saturation
Enable (or disable) additional effect caused by custom analog saturation circuit.
Analog Compression
Attack and release of the analog compression.
Limiting
Amount of limiter gain post compression but pre analog saturation circuit.
Dual/Stereo/Mid-Side
Channel processing configuration (Dual - multi- mono, Stereo - use average of left and right inputs, or Mid/Side - mid = left+right and side = left - right).
An important aspect of any APB plug-in is that the plug-in is primarily a controller. The APB plug-in takes the input audio signal, combines it with a control signal, and sends both along a Thunderbolt connection to an APB unit for processing. The control signal sets up the analog components to do the selected algorithm with all the parameter values, and the audio signal is converted to the analog domain. The analog version of the audio signal is processed in the analog domain, and then converted back to the digital domain.
By operating the APB hardware from an APB plug-in in this way, all user controllable parameters are recallable and can be saved as presets. Furthermore, because the control signal is married to the input audio signal, parameters can be updating during playback with sample accurate automation.
Sound Examples
Acoustic Guitar
Distorted Guitar
Double Bass
Drums
Rock Mix
Piano
Pop Mix
Vocals
"Even if you push it into obvious compression, it still sounds smooth and rich, and although you can use the EQ and the saturation stage to make the mix significantly brighter, it never gets harsh."
"Even if you push it into obvious compression, it still sounds smooth and rich, and although you can use the EQ and the saturation stage to make the mix significantly brighter, it never gets harsh."
"Here’s a list of superlatives: grand, rich, expansive, velvety, and fucking AWESOME! They really do sound excellent, and in all of my uses (mix bus, mastering, piano, drum bus)."
"Here’s a list of superlatives: grand, rich, expansive, velvety, and fucking AWESOME! They really do sound excellent, and in all of my uses (mix bus, mastering, piano, drum bus)."
