Solid State Logic DUENDE PCIe User manual

DDUUEENNDDEE PPCCIIee
User Guide
82S6M 120A

1. Introduction
2. System Requirements 2
Windows/P 2
Apple Macintosh 2
3. Installation 3
Software & Hardware Installation (P ) 3
Software & Hardware Installation (Mac) 3
4. Operational Overview 4
4.1 Duende P Ie Preferences/ ontrol Panel 5
4.2 Launching a Duende P Ie plug-in 6
4.3 DSP Resource Management 7
4.4 Guidelines for Plug-in Delay ompensation 8
5. Duende P Ie EQ and Dynamics hannel Strip 12
5.1 Introduction 12
5.2 Input Section 12
5.3 Filter Section 13
5.4 Equaliser Section 14
5.5 Dynamics Section 17
5.6 Advanced Signal Routing Options 20
6. Duende P Ie Stereo Bus ompressor 21
Introduction 21
Parameter Description 21
7. Duende P Ie Support 22
Contents

Printing History
February 2008:: First Edition

1
ongratulations on your purchase of Duende P Ie – the SSL processing solution for your audio workstation. As you’re sat here
reading this, the chances are that you have a pretty good understanding of who we are and our outstanding reputation in audio
recording technology. How did we get here? Well, there were no great plans to make SSL into a major manufacturer of mixing
consoles when it all started back in the seventies – the company began with nothing more than an enthusiasm for music and
the concept of recording. Along the way that spirit, coupled with a passion for excellence in music recording tools, helped build
a multi-million dollar international business. The SSL HQ may be a little bigger now than it was in the seventies, but passion
and innovation still lies at its heart.
In 2005, we decided to embark on a technology project to figure out how we could take the processing power of a console and
squeeze it into a 1U rack, so we could serve up the SSL sound to home and project studio owners who don’t have the budget
(or the floor space!) required to install a large-format console.
Drawing on our unique understanding of audio processing and years of DSP know-how, our team of engineers set about
creating the SSL processing solution for your DAW environment. We knew we needed serious DSP horsepower to
accommodate our powerful algorithms, and we knew it had to come in a package that could integrate seamlessly with the
most popular workstations… And so Duende was born.
Originally in a 19" rack format, now referred to as Duende lassic, Duende P Ie delivers the complete SSL mix experience
without the need for an external firewire connected unit.
Duende P Ie offers complete integration into the most popular workstation environments with one simple P I-e connection.
The different processing blocks appear as VST/AU/RTAS plug-ins – and include an authentic SSL channel strip with filters,
E and G series EQ and dynamics processing, as well as the legendary SSL Bus ompressor. We hope you will enjoy mixing
your music with Duende P Ie.
For product news and software updates please register at www.solid-state-logic.com/duende.
1. Int oduction

Windows/PC
• Minimum of Intel Pentium IV 1GHz or equivalent
• 512MB RAM (1GB recommended)
• Windows XP Service Pack 1 or higher
Windows Vista
• 80MB of free hard disk space
• Approved VST or RTAS* compatible host application
• One available P Ie (P I Express) slot. Please visit
www.solid-state-logic.com/duende for details on
compatible computers
• 17" or larger colour monitor with screen resolution of
1024 x 768 or higher recommended
• Internet onnection (for product registration and to
download software updates)
Apple Macintosh
• Mac PowerP G4/G5 or Intel 1GHz or higher
• 512MB RAM (1GB recommended)
• Mac OS X (‘Tiger’, version 10.4.8 or higher)
Mac OS X (‘Leopard’, version 10.5.1 or higher)
• 60MB of free hard disk space
• Audio Units, VST or RTAS* compatible host
application
• One available P Ie (P I Express) slot. Please visit
www.solid-state-logic.com/duende for details on
compatible computers
• 17" or larger colour monitor with screen resolution of
1024 x 768 or higher recommended
• Internet onnection (for product registration and to
download software updates)
2
2. System Requi ements
Plug-in formats
VST and RTAS* versions are provided for use under Windows XP on the P platform
VST, AU and RTAS* formats are provided in a universal binary format for both Intel and PowerP Macs
Most Duende P Ie plug-ins will take one ‘slot’ at 44.1/48kHz in mono. Please see the Duende P Ie manual for more
information on DSP resource management.
* RTAS support is provided by the included FXpansion VST-RTAS wrapper: www.fxpansion.com

3
Software & Hardware Installation (PC)
1) Power down the computer and remove the power lead.
2) Remove the cover(s) to gain access to the P Ie sockets.
3) Locate a free P Ie socket and ensure that the rear panel
blanking plate is removed.
4) Plug your Duende P Ie card into the P Ie socket and
secure the mounting bracket to the computer case
5) Re-fit the cover(s) to the computer and re-connect the
power lead.
6) Switch the computer on. The Add New Hardware
Wizard should appear. Ignore this; DO NOT press
‘Next’ and DO NOT press ‘ ancel’.
7) Insert the Duende Installation D in your D/DVD
drive.
8) Double click the D icon to view the D content. If
Autorun is enabled this will happen automatically.
9) Double click the SSL Duende Setup icon.
10) Follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to attend
to the Add Hardware Wizard when prompted.
Software & Hardware Installation (Mac)
1) Power down the computer and remove the power lead.
2) Remove the cover(s) to gain access to the P Ie sockets.
3) Locate a free P Ie socket and ensure that the rear panel
blanking plate is removed.
4) Plug your Duende P Ie card into the P Ie socket and
secure the mounting bracket to the computer case.
5) Re-fit the cover(s) to the computer and re-connect the
power lead.
6) Switch the computer on.
7) Insert the Duende installation D in your D/DVD
drive.
8) Double click the D icon to view the D content.
9) Launch the Duende Installer by double clicking the
Duende Installer icon.
10) Follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Installation
Please note that this document is intended to be
read alongside the ‘Installation Guide’ provided
with Duende PCIe, alternatively you can
download a copy from:
www.solid-state-logic.com/duende

Once your Duende P Ie hardware and software has been properly installed, Duende P Ie plug-ins are accessed and used just
like any host-based plug-in. You can run Duende P Ie plug-ins simultaneously with your other host based plug-ins in any
combination.
All Duende P Ie plug-ins support up to 40bit 96kHz operation. Please note that Duende P Ie plug-ins use twice as much DSP
resources at 96kHz.
Duende P Ie parameters are changed by dragging, rotating or clicking knobs and buttons, whose behavior varies slightly
depending on which software is being used to host the plug-ins. Generally the further away the mouse pointer is from the
knob, the more resolution is available for parameter adjustment.
When the mouse cursor is hovered over a knob it’s value is displayed in the appropriate units. At any point you can see exactly
what value a knob has without touching it. If you have a mouse with scroll wheel, it can be used to change the knob position.
Windows XP:
To reset a knob to its default value hold 'Ctrl + click' on that knob.
For very fine adjustment, hold 'SHIFT' whilst dragging.
OS X:
To reset a knob to its default value hold 'Command + click' on that knob.
For very fine adjustment, hold 'SHIFT' whilst dragging.
Every Duende P Ie plug-in parameter can be automated so long as parameter automation is supported by the host application.
The method for recording and editing automation varies from host to host. For specific instructions on using automation with
the host consult the host application documentation.
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4. Ope ational Ove view

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4.1 Duende PCIe Preferences/Control Panel
Windows XP S X
The Duende P Ie Preferences/ ontrol Panel shows information about your Duende P Ie(s) such as serial number
(Authentication ID), firmware version and driver version. It also displays DSP resource information and allows you to easily
see how much DSP you have available at any time.
Windows XP:
The panel can be found in ‘Start Menu>Programs>Solid State Logic>Duende’ or in the Windows control panel.
OS X:
The panel can be found by navigating to 'Apple Menu>System Preferences>SSL Duende'.
Each mono plug-in loaded into Duende P Ie will take up one slot, a '1' representing a used slot and a ‘Ø’ or '–' representing
an unused slot. At 44.1 and 48kHz there are 32 slots available and at 88.2 and 96kHz there are 16 slots available. A stereo
version of a plug in will take up 2 slots.

4.2 Launching a Duende PCIe plug-in
Each host application has its own particular methods for
instantiating (launching) a plug-in. onsult the host
application documentation for specific instructions on loading
and using plug-ins within the application.
Launching a Duende PCIe channel strip in Logic 8 Launching a Duende PCIe channel strip in Cubase 4
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4.3 DSP Resource Management
Due to the Duende P Ie having multiple DSP chips, a
minimal amount of resource management should be done
when running Duende P Ie at high load.
If there are, for example 2 slots free and you wish to load a
stereo plug-in, Duende P Ie will under certain conditions
notify you that you are out of DSP resources. This will only
happen if the two slots are on different DSP chips as Duende
P Ie is not able to load a stereo plug-in across 2 chips. This
may well occur because you have filled up all the resources
and subsequently unloaded 2 mono plug-ins. This situation
can be seen in the diagram below.
As you can see above, the two remaining slots reside on
different DSP chips and in this case when you attempt to load
a stereo plug-in you will encounter the above mentioned
situation.
The way to handle this is as follows:
1. Save your project/song
2. lose your project/song
3. Re-open project/song
When this has been done Duende P Ie will be forced to reload
all the plug-ins but will do so in the most economical way
possible. The 2 free slots will now reside on the same DSP
chip allowing the loading of a stereo plug-in.

4.4 Guidelines for Plug-in Delay Compensation
When Duende P Ie plug-ins are used, the audio data to be
processed by Duende P Ie is sent to the Duende P Ie DSP
engine by the host application. The audio is then processed by
the DSPs and sent back to the host application.
This transfer of audio data produces latency (delay) in the
audio signal being processed. Latency time is dependant on
the sample rate, type of plug-in(s) loaded and the audio
interface buffer setting.
If this latency is not compensated, the processed audio will
arrive late in relation to the unprocessed audio. The more
processing that takes place on a particular signal, the later it
will arrive back in the host.
Most host applications automatically compensate for this
latency by simply turning on the Plug-in Delay ompensation
(PDC) or similar, usually found in the applications
preferences. Some hosts even provide full plug-in delay
compensation throughout the entire signal path, including
sends, groups, and buses.
The location of the settings for the PD option within some
common host applications is as follows:
Cubase SX/4 + Nuendo 2/3/4:
Always on unless the ‘Constrain Delay Compensation’ feature
is used to disable delay compensation on individual plug-ins:
‘Devices Menu>Plug-in Information>Use Delay Compensation’
Logic Pro:
‘Preferences>Audio>General’
Digital Performer 4/5:
‘Setup menu>Configure Audio System>Configure Studio
Settings...’
Ableton Live:
‘ptions>Delay Compensation’
Important: Delay compensation is fully automatic and requires
no user intervention when Duende P Ie plug-ins are used in
hosts that support full Plug-in Delay ompensation.
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9
Depending on the host application implementation, the delay
compensation feature may not provide automatic
compensation when Duende P Ie plug-ins are inserted on
sends, groups, or buses. In this situation, the solution is to
manually compensate for the plug-ins.
These explanations of delay compensation apply primarily to
playback only.
Compensating for latency in Pro Tools LE and M-Powered
Because Pro Tools LE and M-Powered do not feature PD it
must be done manually when Duende P Ie plug-ins are used.
Due to the nature of how signals are sent to and from Duende
P Ie, a latency is introduced which will delay any audio track,
aux input, master fader or instrument track by a specific
amount.
Tracks that use no Duende P Ie plug-ins or fewer than the
track with the most Duende P Ie plug-ins will need to be
delayed so that all tracks are in time. Because this latency is
reported by Pro Tools it is easily compensated for.
Here’s how:
The track with the most Duende P Ie plug-ins will introduce
the most latency, those with 1 or 2 plug-ins will introduce less
and those with no Duende P Ie plug-ins will introduce no
latency (providing other plug-ins that introduce latency are
not used).
To find out the latency introduced on a particular track by
Duende P Ie plug-ins, go to the channel in the mixer and
‘Command/Ctrl+Click’ twice in the green text below the fader
(normally showing vol). The value shown (dly) is the latency
introduced on that track in samples.
Now load the ‘Digidesign Time Adjuster Long’ plug-in on, for
example, a track with no Duende P Ie plug-ins. Double click
on the delay box and type in the latency value of the track that
has the most Duende P Ie plug-ins. The track with the most
Duende P Ie plug-ins and the track with none will now be
perfectly in sync on playback.
PD No PD
Steinberg ubase 4
Steinberg ubase SX 2 & 3
Steinberg Nuendo 2, 3 & 4
Logic Pro 7.1 or higher
Digital Performer 4.5 & higher
Pro Tools HD 7 or higher
Ableton Live 5 or higher
akewalk Sonar 5 or higher
Final ut Pro
Soundtracks Pro
Garageband
Pro Tools LE and M-Powered

Any tracks that have a smaller latency than the maximum
must also be delayed but by a smaller amount (i.e. tracks
with 1 Duende PCIe plug-in where the maximum has 3). The
delay value for these will be maximum latency minus the
latency reported by that track.
Using Automatic Delay Compensation in Pro Tools HD
Pro Tools HD users have the luxury of being able to use
Automatic Delay ompensation, as opposed to the manual
method required in Pro Tools LE and M-Powered. However,
there are still some considerations to be taken into account to
make sure all Duende P Ie plug-ins are compensated for and
everything stays perfectly in sync.
To turn on AD , go to ‘Setup>Playback Engine’ whilst Pro
Tools is stopped and you will see a box labeled ‘Delay
ompensation Engine’. hange the setting here to ‘Long
(4095 Samples per channel)’.
Pro Tools will then tell you that it will close and re-open your
session after clicking the OK button in the dialogue box;
therefore make sure you have saved your session prior to
doing this. Also put the PU usage limit to 85%.
Pro Tools will now automatically compensate for any
introduced latency of 4095 samples or less.
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This means that you can generally use up to 2 Duende P Ie
plug-ins per channel without considering latency issues, but
this will depend on the buffer size set in Pro Tools, the sample
rate and which Duende P Ie plug-ins are loaded. Note that if
an audio track with 1 Duende P Ie plug-in is routed to an aux
channel with 2 Duende P Ie plug-ins the total latency for that
audio getting to the mix bus will equal 3 plug-ins; this will
however be clearly shown by Pro Tools.
To view the latency introduced by
plug-ins go to the bottom left hand
corner of the Mix view, click on the
small black/grey box and select ‘Delay
Compensation’.
Here you will find 2 values; ‘dly’ is the
amount of latency introduced by the
plug-ins on that channel and ‘cmp’ is
the number of samples Pro Tools is
delaying the other channels by. If the
‘dly’ value is less than the 4095 set in
the Delay ompensation box then you
don’t need to worry and everything
will be compensated for.
As you can see in the
picture shown left the
‘kc merged’ channel has 1
Duende P Ie channel
strip loaded onto it,
therefore Pro Tools is
automatically delaying the other channels by that amount
(1028 samples) to ensure all audio is kept in sync.
If the total latency on a channel exceeds this maximum value
the text will be red indicating that Pro Tools cannot
compensate for this much latency. In this scenario the
additional latency which Pro Tools cannot compensate for will
have to be dealt with manually.
The value of this will be
the maximum latency
minus maximum latency
Pro Tools can compensate
for, ie. 4095 samples.
In this case it is:
4108 (shown in red) – 4095 (Pro Tools maximum) = 13 samples
Please refer to the ‘Compensating for latency in Pro Tools LE
and M-Powered’ found in this manual for information on how
to do this manually.

5.1 Introduction
The Duende P Ie EQ and Dynamics hannel Strip plug-in is based on the EQ and compressor sections of the XL 9000 K Series
console. SSL were the first manufacturer to feature dynamics and EQ on every channel on an in-line console with the SL 4000
B Series in 1977. The plug-in includes separate high and low pass filters, a four band parametric equalizer, an independent
compressor/limiter and gate/expander as well as input and output gain adjustment knobs and a phase invert button. Let’s have
a closer look at each section in detail.
5.2 Input Section
Gain: ontrols the level of the incoming audio signal.
Ø (Phase Reverse): Reverses the phase of the incoming input signal.
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5. Duende PCIe EQ and Dynamics Channel St ip

13
5.3 Filter Section
The Filter Section includes a 12dB/Octave low pass filter and
an 18dB/Octave high pass filter. The low pass filter operates
from 3kHz to 22kHz and the high pass filter operates from
20Hz to 500Hz. In addition, each filter has an OUT position
which bypasses the filter.
There are three positions where the Filter Section can be
placed: after the equalizer, before the equalizer or in the
sidechain of the dynamics section.
When no buttons in the Filter section are pressed, the filters
come after the Equalizer section.
With the INPUT button pressed, the filters come before the
Equalizer section.
When the DYN S/ button is pressed, the filters are switched
into the sidechain of the Dynamics section. The term/process
‘sidechain’ will be discussed in greater detail in the overview
of the Dynamics section.
Using Filters
DYN SC: The Filters are switched into the sidechain of the
Dynamics section. The Equaliser can be switched into the
sidechain independently. Note that DYN S/ overrides the
INPUT function (see below).
INPUT: Moves the Filters to put them in circuit immediately
after the hannel Input section. This allows the Filters to be
used to clean up signals before compressing them. Selecting
Dynamics ‘PRE EQ’ will allow the compressed signal to be
EQ’d.
18bB/Oct 12dB/Oct
∆t∆t
INPUT OUTPUT
Freq Hz Freq kHz
HPF LPF
acwacw

5.4 Equaliser Section
Operation
The equalizer included with the Duende P Ie EQ and Dynamics hannel Strip plug-in is a four band parametric EQ with
filters. Based on the XL 9000 K Series EQ circuit, this plug-in includes two distinct EQ curves, one based on the SSL G Series
EQ and another based on the latest version of SSL’s classic E Series EQ.
The G series EQ bandwidth varies with applied gain and so increases the selectivity of the EQ. This EQ type generally works
best at moderate settings, particularly on instruments or vocals as a gentle, corrective EQ. The E series EQ is the
‘Black Knob’circuit, which has a constant-bandwidth at all gains. This means that it can be particularly useful for
‘surgery EQ tasks’ as it offers relatively narrow Q at relatively low gains. Note – at full boost or cut both curves are identical.
E
±dB
Freq Hz Freq kHzFreq kHz Freq kHzQ
INPUT OUTPUT
LF LMF HMF HF
BELL
±dB ±dB
Q±dB
BELL
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The plug-in includes high and low frequency shelving equalizers (which can be switched to peaking curves via the BELL
button) and two overlapping equalizers with adjustable Q.
• The LF section operates over a frequency range of 40Hz to 600Hz and is capable of up to 16.5dB of cut or boost.
Selecting BELL in this mode switches the equaliser to a peaking curve.
• The LMF section operates over a frequency range of 200Hz to 2 kHz and is capable of ±20dB of gain with a continuously
variable Q from 0.5 to 2.5.
• The HMF section operates over a frequency range of 600Hz to 7kHz and is capable of ±20dB of gain with a continuously
variable Q from 0.5 to 2.5.
• The HF section operates over a frequency range of 1.5kHz to 22kHz and is capable of up to 20dB of cut or boost.
Selecting BELL in this mode switches the equaliser to a peaking curve.
As default, the Duende P Ie EQ is set to the G Series EQ curve. The G Series shelving curves have a degree of
overshoot/undershoot (depending on whether you are boosting or cutting) below the selected HF frequency or above the
selected LF frequency. At any Q setting, the bandwidth of the HMF and LMF sections varies with gain, whereby an increase
in boost or cut increases the selectivity of the EQ. This type of EQ can sound effective when used at moderate settings; the
gentle Q curve lends itself to the application of overall EQ on combined sources and subtle corrective adjustments to instruments
and vocals.

When the EQ is switched to ‘E’ operation (by pressing the ‘E’
button in the GUI), the bandwidth of the HMF and LMF
sections remains constant at all gains, so at lower gains the
EQ curves are comparatively narrower for a given Q setting.
This is particularly useful for drums, since relatively high Q
is available at low gain settings. However, it is not so suitable
for overall EQ or subtle corrections, as you need to adjust the
Q to maintain the same effect when the gain is changed. The
‘E’ curve could be described as more “aggressive”.
There are three buttons associated with this section of the
plug-in.
E IN: Switches the EQ section into circuit.
E: Switches the EQ from ‘G’ operation to ‘E’ operation – see above.
DYN SC: Switches the EQ section into the sidechain of the
Dynamics section. The Filter Section can be switched
independently of the EQ section. If both Filter and EQ
sections are assigned to the dynamic sidechain the EQ section
precedes the Filter.
10 100 1k 10k 20k
-25.0
-20.0
-15.0
-10.0
-5.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
Amplitude (dBr) v Frequency (Hz)Channel Equaliser Curves
'G type'
'E type'
Both
0.0
25.0
-25.0
20 100 1k 10k 100k
-20.0
-15.0
-10.0
-5.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
Amplitude (dBr) v Frequency (Hz)Channel Equaliser Curves
'G type"
'E type'
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