All the questions and answers related to our console emulations: Satson u0026amp; Britson

Summing Amplifier

Sonimus consoles plugins can be used to emulate a summing mixer to provide cohesion and glue between tracks.

Sonimus console as a summing mixer

To get a good mix, use the console as a gain staging tool and start by leveling your tracks’ volume output:

  1. Create a new mixing project
  2. Insert the console plugin Channel instance on all tracks of your project as a first insert
  3. Insert the console Buss instance on all busses and the master track
  4. Before leveling your tracks with the DAW fader and before inserting other plugins, use the Gain control to level individual tracks to 0VU (VU meter near zero)
  5. When you have leveled all your tracks to 0VU, do not touch plugin Gain control again
  6. Start mixing as you usually do: Insert new plugins; adjust the volume levels using your DAW’s fader tracks, etc. (Please remember point number 5)

Adjust your busses

As with individual tracks, set the volume level of your busses to average around 0VU as well. While viewing console Buss’ VU Meter, adjust tracks that send to the buss with your DAW fader (not the console Channel Gain control. Remember point number 5 above!).

Master​ ​Track​ ​Volume​ ​Level:​ Use the same process as above for “master track” volume. Adjust the busses’ DAW faders to level at 0VU on your master track or 2buss.

I have no idea how to use grouping, Is there any tutorial or explanatory video?

Yes, you can find a section called Grouping in the Manual, or you can watch this video (Applies for both Satson and Britson)

VU Meter tutorial

How to use a VU Meter and the differences between VU, RMS and PPM: “VU Meter and Mixing Levels“

Why 0VU = -18dBfs?

0VU = -18dbfs: Employing these calibration values is the best way to establish good gain staging in a mix. Our consoles saturation will work better and the plugins inserted after Britson will work better too. Your mixes will have more clarity and better dynamic response, due to increased headroom.

Why are DAW Meters not anywhere close to -18dBfs?

VU metering works quite differently than peak metering (DAW meters are peak meters; they are not useful for mixing. You need not pay much critical attention to your DAW’s peak meters). VU meters, on the other hand, are more useful for mixing as they operate similarly to the human ear

Is it necessary to assign the buss master to a group?

It is not necessary to assign the buss master to a group. But, if you would like to control the buss master from Console grouping, you should do it.

My DAW has a very sophisticated routing and buss system. How to deal with routing and Sonimus consoles?

Sonimus console grouping has no relationship with routing. The grouping function doesn’t route audio, it merely only links and controls the individual Console instances.

Grouping for Satson and Britson works as a remote control. From the Master instance, it is possible to control all the individual instances of each track. So there is no audio routing involved, just remote control over the multiple instances of the plugin.

What are your recommendations regarding the FAT setting?

FAT mode pushes the saturation, generating more harmonics. With FAT mode engaged, you will perceive both headroom reduction and a more compressed sound. Fat mode emphasizes low-end saturation and makes for a more aggressive sound.

You may find FAT mode useful on certain tracks: to “fatten up” a bass guitar or a digital synth, for example. We recommend using FAT mode judiciously. Consider the “trade-off” cost of the necessary loss in headroom before applying.

I would like to know the exact difference between the Satson CM and full version

Satson CMhas the same saturation, in normal mode, as Satson Channel, so the sound is the same in this mode. Satson CM does not have: Crosstalk, Buss instance, FAT mode, or Auto Compensation.

What is the proper technique to use the plugin’s to overdrive a signal?

To overdrive a signal, on the back panel, the “Channel” instance has an “output compensation” With this option, you can overdrive the instrument. To get even more saturation, use the FAT mode.

To overdrive a Buss instance, you will need to push the individual tracks faders until getting desired results.