CDSOUNDMASTER Q8 User manual

Q8 CONSOLE EQ AND
CHANNEL STRIP VST PLUG-IN SUITE
CDSoundMaster
User's Manual

The Q8 444X CONSOLE EQ AND CHANNEL STRI LUG-IN SUITE brings this classic,
vintage, completely authentic film console to your DAW.
It has been sampled at 96kHz and will convert to any rate directly within the engine. When used
at 96kHz, it uses the maximum sample size and length, and because it is sampled at this rate,
loads very quickly and takes the largest amount of computer resources (unless using a higher rate
than 96kHz). If used at 48kHz or 44.1kHz, the programs will take a little longer to load, but once
loaded, use a smaller amount of computer resources. In fact, at lower rates the programs use the
same resources as they would if sampled directly at the same lower rates. All programs have been
tested for these three rates and remain extremely accurate.
About the Q8 444X CONSOLE EQ AND CHANNEL STRI LUG-IN SUITE
The analog hardware device that this collection is inspired by is a completely custom, top-of-the-
line 1970's Film Console. It is named after a film processing system developed to allow four strips
of 8mm film to be processed on a single professional 35mm film strip. The clever name
symbolizes the revolution of combining multiple channels of variable impedence sources into a
single routing system, which we now know of as the audio mixing console. The entire signal chain,
from transformer to op-amp to eq to make-up gain op-amp, is sampled in each program. If you
have heard of Electrodyne, Sphere, Quad-Eight, Reichenbach, the AM10, A I 2520, Jensen 990,
John Hardy 990C, then you have experienced the heritage of this amazing original vintage
device. To describe the sound, think ink Floyd's "The Wall", which was recorded on four
interconnected Q8's using this preamp! The eq section was originally installed into a custom film
console, made special order to upgrade the standard eq to the 444X, or Super 444. The 444 is the
next generation of the earlier 333. It is quasi-parametric, meaning that variable "Q" is provided
by the choice of narrow, wide, and shelf band choices. The very few 444X eq's, also known as the
QE E 444X, that are in existence, were made to add more features and editing options while
making use of what many consider the best sounding operation amplifier to date, the AM10. The
444X was installed in this single custom console for a brief time and was only in active duty for a
brief time. This makes it one of the most priceless examples of a practically new old stock original
Q8 console channel strip, or as it was originally called, the line input module.

Installation
Download,
Unzip.
Use Right Click "Run As Administrator" to install the Q8 and also when opening your
DAW after installation.
Be sure to choose the correct 32 bit and/or 64 bit folder(s) when installing.
Open the Q8 in your DAW and this will generate you Q8.SER file, located in the same
folder where you installed your Q8.
Email this SER file to CDSoundMaster and we will send your AUT file.
aste this AUT file in the same folder as your SER and reload the Q8.
Re-Open the Q8 and you are ready to go!

The Q8 CONSOLE EQ AND CHANNEL STRI
The Q8 is a suite of 6 plug-ins:
High EQ
Low EQ

High Mid EQ
Low Mid EQ

High Low Cut EQ
The Electronics Signal Chain

Using The Q8
The Q8 is a suite of 6 plug-ins:
The High EQ, High Mid EQ, Low Mid EQ, Low EQ, High/Low Cut EQ, and the Electronics
ignal Path.
These plug-ins allow you to use the real, original, classic, flagship Q8 music film score
recording console with perfect analog sound directly inside of your DAW.
High EQ
This plug-in allows you to access all three versions of the High EQ filters directly from this one
lug-In instance. Choose the first switch to load the Narrow Band Bell-Shaped EQ. Choose the
second switch to load the Wide Band Bell-Shaped EQ. Choose the third switch to load the Shelf
EQ.

Use the red 'KHZ' knob to select from 1.8, 2.2, 2.7, 3.5, 4.4, 5.6, 7.2, 9.2, 11, 14, and 18 kHz.
Use the 'Gain' knob to adjust the boost or cut of the selected filter shape and frequency selected.
The High EQ filter is designed primarily as a Shelf EQ. When it is in Narrow and Wide modes, it
is more subtle and uses less gain than it does in Shelf mode. This program also provides input and
output gain control, allowing you to increase or decrease the amount of harmonic distortion
coming from the preamp section of the console as it enters the eq section. Use the Bypass button
to run the digital signal through the lug-In without any of the Q8's signature sound.
Low EQ
The Low EQ operates in the same manner as the High EQ. Choose between Narrow, Wide, and
Shelf Low EQ.
Use the red 'HZ' knob to select your choice of frequencies:
50, 63, 80, 100, 120, 160, 200, 250, 300, 390, 500 Hz.

High Mid EQ
The Mid EQ section of the top-tier Q8 console has two separate controls for two separate
frequency ranges: High Mid EQ and Low Mid EQ.
The High Mid EQ provides you with Narrow and Wide Band Bell-Shaped EQ.
In kHz, select your choice of frequency from:
.5, .63, .80, 1.0, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.9, 5.0 kHz

Low Mid EQ
The Low Mid EQ provides you with Narrow and Wide Band Bell-Shaped EQ.
In Hz, select your choice of frequency from:
.18, .22, .27, .35, .44, .56, .72, .91, 1.1, 1.4, 1.8 Hz

High/Low Cut EQ
The 'Cut' function of the Q8 is extremely thorough. Not only does it have High Cut and Low Cut,
but it has multiple frequency cut-off points for both. To make this entire section of options
available from a single user interface, we have made the High/Low Cut EQ module extensive.
1. In the upper left, you will notice the 'HI-LO-CUT' switch.
Use this mode to make both high and low cut filters available at the same time.
When in this mode, both the left red knob and right gold knob are activated.
Use the red knob marked as 'HI/LO-HIGH' to switch between a high cut-off frequency of 8kHz
or 10kHz.
Use the gold knob marked 'HI/LO-LOW' to switch between a low cut-off frequency of 50Hz or
100Hz.
2. Use the 'HIGH CUT' switch to activate only the high cut filter. This means that the low
frequencies remain unchanged while you can select between the high eq filters of 8kHz or
10kHz.
Use the gold knob to choose between these two frequencies.

3. Use the 'LOW CUT' switch to activate only the low cut filter. This means that the high
frequencies remain unchanged while you can select between the low eq filters of 50Hz
or 100Hz. Use the gold knob to choose between these two frequencies.
For both the High Cut switch and the Low Cut single switches, you will use only the gold knob to
select your frequency choice. The red knob is only used when using the HIGH/LOW CUT switch.
Electronics
The Q8 has a wonderful, musical quality when using the electronics of the full signal path just for
the sake of enhancing the sound of your music. The EQ is absolutely wonderful, unique, first
class, but the electronics themselves are worth using to color entire mixes as well.
This this purpose, I have made the Electronics plug-in instance.
Use the 'EQ IN' switch to select the sound of the EQ circuit engaged along with the transformers
and the rest of the signal chain, without any change made to the EQ.
Use the 'EQ OUT' switch to run your signal through the same signal path with the EQ circuit

completely bypassed for a slightly cleaner signal path.
The 'Drive' knob has been supplied to allow you to control the harmonic distortion of the
electronics independent of the input/output levels for maximum flexibility. The actual harmonics
are controlled at the 'Input' of the plug-in, where the 'Output' controls the digital final level
without affecting the sound of the rest of the processing signal.
Although you can control the harmonics independently of the volume, remember I said that it is
also multiple dynamic layers? This means that the volume of sound processed through the plug-
in is taking into account the dynamic response, so the harmonics are actually tied to the volume.
If you really want to be precise, use the “Input” knob to control whether you want more or less
harmonic distortion response. The level that is entering the plug-in on this setting is intentionally
set to its highest volume and the amount of non-linear distortion that can be generated, so that it
is easy to generate this subtle effect for processing audio, But, if you have an incredibly quiet
signal you can increase the input and it will turn up the level and also the harmonics- in perfect
synch to the reaction of the Q8. Turn the input down if you have a hot signal running through the
device and you want a complex harmonic response but not much of it.

I truly hope that you enjoy using the Q8!
Thank You so much, and God Bless You.
Sincerely,
Michael Angel
CDSoundMaster.com
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