The Royal Mu Surround is a dual-control compressor and limiter configured for a variety of surround formats, including Dolby Atmos. Features include analog biasing and saturation, equalization, and a full featured analog compressor and analog limiter. The Royal Mu offers independent (or linked) control of the two compressor and limiter chains. A 3-way buss matrix, key trim, and analog trim (post compressor pre limiter).
Features
All analog compression, limiting, bias, and saturation stages
Dual operation of two compressor and limiter chains, assignable to any of the surround channel sets
Supported surround formats include 7.0.2, 7.1.2, 7.0.4, 7.1.4, 7.0.6, 7.1.6, 9.0.4, 9.1.4, 9.0.6, and 9.1.6
Sample accurate automation of analog processing
Included with APB hardware purchase
Formats
AAX Native
Compression and Limiting
The Royal Mu combines three stages of processing: biasing, compression, and limiting into a single path in the APB hardware. The surround version adds an additional analog output trim (post compressor pre limiter) of each channel set (LR, C, Side, Rear, Top, LFE) to fine tune mixes and drive the analog limiter and analog saturation circuits harder.
Matrix Mojo
The Royal Mu Surround offers a 3-buss matrix to assign any of the channel sets (LR, C, Side, Rear, Top, LFE) to either compressor/limiter chain, using any of the three key signal sources (white, yellow, or blue). Key trim allows adjustment of each channel set sensitivity as needed. Sample accurate control and self-calibrating analog circuitry insure precision session after session.
Analog Saturation
Like all APB plug-ins, the Royal Mu Surround 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.
The Royal Mu Surround analog output trim gives additional flexibility to not only adjust mixes, but also drive the analog limiter and saturation even more.
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.
Dual Operation
Two sets of compressor and limiter controls can be operated independently or linked together. A 3-buss key matrix system for each channel set is assignable to either compressor limiter chain.
Saturation
Enable (or disable) additional effect caused by custom analog saturation circuit. Use the analog output trim to increase or decrease saturation on each channel set.
Key Trim
Each channel set key signal is independently adjustable.
Trim
Each channel set post compression output has an analog trim pre limiter.
Key Matrix
Any channel set (LR, C, Side, Rear, Top, LFE) can be routed to one of three busses (white, yellow, or blue) and assigned to either compressor limiter chain.
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.
"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."
