ACUSTICA AUDIO

RED EQ

Acqua Plug-in Series

USER GUIDE

Copyright © 2014 Acusticaudio S.r.l.

All rights reserved

 Red Eq Plug-in – User Guide

Author Acustica Audio Version 1.1 Modified 21-Jul-2014

ABOUT US

Since the birth of Nebula in the summer of 2005, a dynamic collaboration has emerged between forward
thinking developers, beta testers, audio engineers and equipment samplers from around the world.

The research and development has gone through many stages and possesses innovative processes and
technologies as of yet unheard of in other products or devices.

The company's goal is to provide the most authentic reproduction of sampled vintage gear and other high end
hardware devices, using the revolutionary technology "V.V.K.T." (Vectorial Volterra Kernels Technology)
without the negative artifacts created by the current convolution technology.

After many years of continuous work, this creative forward thinking group has evolved into a team of experts
in knowing what it takes to serve the best "of both worlds" (digital & analog).

Acustica… Audio Renaissance

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REFERENCES

• Acustica Audio is a trademark of Acusticaudio S.r.l.

via Tortini, 9

26900 - Lodi (LO) - Italy

www.acustica-audio.com

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 Red Eq Plug-in – User Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Documentation and Support ................................................................................................................. 5

1.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2. Sampling Process ............................................................................................................................... 5
1.3. System Requirements........................................................................................................................ 6
2. Installation ............................................................................................................................................. 7
2.1. Windows ............................................................................................................................................ 7
3. General ................................................................................................................................................ 11
3.1. Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 11
3.2. Session Setup ................................................................................................................................... 11
3.3. Controls ........................................................................................................................................... 12
4. In Use ................................................................................................................................................... 13
4.1. Low .................................................................................................................................................. 13
4.2. Mid................................................................................................................................................... 13
4.3. High .................................................................................................................................................. 14
4. Contact and support ............................................................................................................................ 15
4.1. Contact ............................................................................................................................................ 15
4.2. Troubleshooting and bug report ..................................................................................................... 16
5. Level ..................................................................................................................................................... 16
5.1. Levels information ........................................................................................................................... 16
6. Copyright(s) & Credits ......................................................................................................................... 17
6.1. Copyright(s) ..................................................................................................................................... 17

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CONTENTS

1. Documentation and Support

1.1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Red Eq plug-in based on Acqua Core3 Engine technology.

Now you have one of the best high quality professional audio software. We have spent countless
hours to develop these no-compromise programs to give you only the best sound and the most
realistic “feel” as possible to the real hardware. We are confident that this plug-in will help you make
better and more professional mixes (while having even more fun)… Because: Sound First!

1.2. Sampling Process

The sampling process has been performed by Acustica. The unit was sampled with mastering quality
convertors. High, mid and low bands were sampled together within a single vector that results in an
extremely fast plug-in.

Two sample rates are provided: 44.1 kHz, 96 KHz.

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1.3. System Requirements

Windows Mac

Minumum Recommended Minumum Recommended

Operating System Xp Sp2 Latest 64 bits version N.A N.A.

Ram 2 Gb >4 Gb

Hd 500 Mb Latest SSD

Screen Resolution 1024x768 Full Hd

Audio Host VST compatible VST compatible

CPU Dual Core Latest multicore CPU

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2. Installation
IMPORTANT: Remember to run the installer as administrator (otherwise the .SER file will not be
generated).

2.1. Windows
Run the installer and click “Next”:

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Accept the terms of the license agreement and click “Next”:

Click “Browse” and select the VST plug-in folder:

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Select the VST plug-in folder:

Click “Install”:

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Click “Finish”:

NOTE: The installer will create an “Acustica” folder inside the VST plug-in folder.

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3. General

3.1. Overview
Despite the digital revolution in the pro audio industry, many of today’s top albums are still mixed
with analog outboard gear. Many people feel that mixing in the analog domain imparts an elusive
quality, a greater sense of weight, space, dynamics with a more ‘three dimensional’ image.

The sound of analog devices is potentially complex. The initial signal is changed in many, often very
subtle ways, distortion characteristics, frequency response deviations, nonlinear saturation for
instance.

Volterra technology captures these nonlinear characteristics inherent in the original hardware.

The Red Eq equalizer provides three fixed bands at 80Hz, 1.8kHz and 8kHz, the upper and lower
bands being shelving while the middle has a traditional bell response. There's an ample 16dB of cut
and boost, and though the EQ may look limited compared to a parametric, it actually sounds nicely
musical and the frequencies have been chosen with care. A five-section led level meter and an
output gain knob allow you to control the overall output level from the unit up to a maximum of
+6dB. A red warning lamp lights if the signal approaches clipping, due to excessive use of boost on
already hot signals. It can be used to make adjustments in the most needed areas of the audio
spectrum without the sound losing its focus.

3.2. Session Setup

Red Eq can be used on a broad range of sound sources -- single instruments, buss duties, and overall
mix sweetening.

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3.3. Controls
The Red Eq plug-in has only a few controls and is amazingly intuitive to use.

Each feature of the Red Eq interface is detailed below:

Three band equalizer

Each band has a control knob that selects the gain between -16dB/ +16dB
at 80Hz/1.8kHz/8kHz centre band respectively.

Input Gain and EQ in

The Input Gain selects gain between -∞ / +6dB. The EQ in switch control
sets the plug-in operative or bypassed.

Output Gain and meter

The Output Gain selects gain between -∞ / +6dB. The meter shows the
input level.

NOTE: Clicking on the controls while pressing “ctrl” on the computer

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keyboard, the control returns to zero.

4. In Use

4.1. Low

Low Frequency shelf fixed at 80Hz with ±16dB of adjustable gain.

Graph scale: 20Hz-20kHz, +24dB/-28dB.

4.2. Mid

Mid frequency bell fixed at 1.8 kHz with ±16dB of adjustable gain.
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Graph scale: 20Hz-20kHz, +24dB/-28dB.

4.3. High

High Frequency shelf fixed at 8 kHz with ±16dB of adjustable gain.

Graph scale: 20Hz-20kHz, +24dB/-28dB.

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4. Contact and support

4.1. Contact
You are welcome to contact us through our website, forum or directly through e-mail.

Info: info@acusticaudio.net

Support: support@acusticaudio.net

IMPORTANT: Use the Ticket System to ask support: Customer Area -> Dashboard

Licensing: licensing@acusticaudio.net

Sales: sales@acusticaudio.net

Website: http://www.acustica-audio.com

Forum: http://www.acustica-audio.com/phpBB3/index.php

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IMPORTANT: If you absolutely need a reply from Acustica Audio support directly, contact us
through support@acusticaudio.net but before sending us an e-mail or posting on the forum, please
take the time to do a search, as it is likely that your question or problem has been previously
addressed.

4.2. Troubleshooting and bug report

Acustica Audio is constantly improving its products and adding new features, and there is the
possibility of append issues, bugs and crashes. To enable Acustica Audio to support you, please
provide a complete system profile as well as a complete description of the problem you are
experiencing, including the exact text and error numbers in any error messages you are getting.

5. Level

5.1. Levels information

Acqua plug-ins behave like an analog device and you can increase the gain in the input with the
gain input knob/fader and decrease the gain in the output with the gain output knob/fader; this is
known as a pseudo nominal calibration. This feature could be useful when you try to get more
nonlinear distortion from Acqua plug-in emulation program, but you should be careful not to
exceed the Acqua plug-in headroom limit. Acqua plug-in is a 64 bit float device and is almost
impossible to distort, but in the last part of the audio chain you always have a digital to analog
converter that is a fixed point device, so your audio program will distort. In order to avoid nasty
noises on loudspeakers, Acqua plug-in will cut the sound if the audio going through it exceeds +3
dBFS.

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6. Copyright(s) & Credits

6.1. Copyright(s)
All content included in this document, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, sounds, videos, digital
downloads, data compilations, and software, is the property of Acusticaudio S.r.l. or its content suppliers, and is protected
by international copyright laws. The compilation of all content in this document is the exclusive property of Acusticaudio
S.r.l. and is protected by international copyright laws. All software used in this document is the property of Acusticaudio
S.r.l. or its suppliers and is protected by international copyright laws.

Acustica Audio is a trade mark of Acusticaudio S.R.L.

Nebula is a trade mark of Acusticaudio S.R.L.

Nebula Server is a trade mark of Acusticaudio S.R.L.

Aqua Engine is a trade mark of Acusticaudio S.R.L.

Native Application Tools is a trade mark of Acusticaudio S.R.L.

Virtual Studio Technology is a trade mark of Steinberg.

Avid is a trade mark of Avid Technology Inc.

Real Time Audio Suite is a trade mark of Avid Technology Inc.

NVidia is a trade mark of NVIDIA Corporation.

Compute Unified Device Architecture is a trade mark of NVIDIA Corporation.

Windows is a trade mark of Microsoft Corporation.

Streaming SIMD Extensions is a trade mark of Intel Corporation.

Integrated Performance Primitives is a trade mark of Intel Corporation.

Audio Units is a trade mark of Apple Inc.

Mac OS X is a trade mark of Apple Inc.

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 Red Eq Plug-in – User Guide

End

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