TBProAudio CS-5501 V2 User manual

CS-5501 V2
CHANNEL STRIP
MANUAL
2022

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1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................5
2 Features..........................................................................................................................5
3 Overview........................................................................................................................6
4 Minimum System Requirements .....................................................................................7
5 Plugin Controls...............................................................................................................8
5.1 Preset ......................................................................................................................8
5.1.1 Preset ..............................................................................................................8
5.2 Meter section ..........................................................................................................8
5.2.1 Meter...............................................................................................................8
5.2.2 Meter mode .....................................................................................................8
5.2.3 Meter calibration .............................................................................................8
5.2.4 Meter display mode .........................................................................................8
5.2.5 Monitor ...........................................................................................................8
5.2.6 Monitor mode..................................................................................................9
5.2.7 Bypass.............................................................................................................9
5.3 Clip protection & OS ..............................................................................................9
5.3.1 Clip protection.................................................................................................9
5.3.2 Over sampling.................................................................................................9
5.4 Fader section...........................................................................................................9
5.4.1 Input/output fader............................................................................................9
5.4.2 Input phase......................................................................................................9
5.4.3 Link input/output fader....................................................................................9
5.4.4 Link output to input fader (VST2/VST3/AU) ................................................10
5.5 AB-LM Lite..........................................................................................................10
5.6 AB-LM Lite gain freeze........................................................................................10
5.7 Routing .................................................................................................................10
5.8 EQ ........................................................................................................................11
5.8.1 EQ Module selector.......................................................................................11
5.8.2 Off/On...........................................................................................................11
5.8.3 Solo...............................................................................................................11
5.8.4 Stereo placement ...........................................................................................11
5.8.5 Filter band monitor........................................................................................11
5.8.6 LC/HC ..........................................................................................................11
5.8.7 HF/LF ...........................................................................................................12
5.8.8 HMF/MF/LMF..............................................................................................12
5.9 Compressor...........................................................................................................13
5.9.1 Effect module selector...................................................................................13
5.9.2 Off/On...........................................................................................................13
5.9.3 Parameter link ...............................................................................................13
5.9.4 Solo...............................................................................................................13
5.9.5 Stereo placement ...........................................................................................13
5.9.6 Side chain options .........................................................................................13
5.9.7 Compressor type............................................................................................14
5.9.8 Threshold ......................................................................................................14
5.9.9 Attack ...........................................................................................................14
5.9.10 Release..........................................................................................................14
5.9.11 Auto release ..................................................................................................14
5.9.12 Ratio .............................................................................................................15
5.9.13 Output ...........................................................................................................15
5.9.14 Mix ...............................................................................................................15

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5.9.15 Gain reduction meter .....................................................................................15
5.10 Gate/Expander ......................................................................................................16
5.10.1 Effect module selector...................................................................................16
5.10.2 Off/On...........................................................................................................16
5.10.3 Parameter link ...............................................................................................16
5.10.4 Solo...............................................................................................................16
5.10.5 Stereo placement ...........................................................................................16
5.10.6 Side chain options .........................................................................................16
5.10.7 Gate/Expander mode switch ..........................................................................17
5.10.8 Threshold ......................................................................................................17
5.10.9 Attack ...........................................................................................................17
5.10.10 Hold ..........................................................................................................17
5.10.11 Release......................................................................................................18
5.10.12 Range ........................................................................................................18
5.10.13 Attenuation meter ......................................................................................18
5.11 De-esser ................................................................................................................19
5.11.1 Effect module selector...................................................................................19
5.11.2 Off/On...........................................................................................................19
5.11.3 Parameter link ...............................................................................................19
5.11.4 Solo...............................................................................................................19
5.11.5 Stereo placement ...........................................................................................19
5.11.6 Side chain options .........................................................................................19
5.11.7 Filter type......................................................................................................20
5.11.8 Narrow band/wide band.................................................................................20
5.11.9 Listen ............................................................................................................20
5.11.10 Threshold ..................................................................................................20
5.11.11 Q ...............................................................................................................20
5.11.12 Frequency..................................................................................................20
5.11.13 Attack........................................................................................................21
5.11.14 Release......................................................................................................21
5.11.15 Ratio..........................................................................................................21
5.11.16 Gain ..........................................................................................................21
5.11.17 Output .......................................................................................................21
5.11.18 Range ........................................................................................................21
5.11.19 Gain reduction meter .................................................................................21
5.12 Limiter..................................................................................................................22
5.12.1 Effect module selector...................................................................................22
5.12.2 Off/On...........................................................................................................22
5.12.3 Parameter link ...............................................................................................22
5.12.4 Solo...............................................................................................................22
5.12.5 Stereo placement ...........................................................................................22
5.12.6 Gain ..............................................................................................................22
5.12.7 Release..........................................................................................................23
5.12.8 Auto release ..................................................................................................23
5.12.9 Ceiling ..........................................................................................................23
5.12.10 Gain reduction meter .................................................................................23
5.13 Saturation..............................................................................................................24
5.13.1 Effect module selector...................................................................................24
5.13.2 Off/On...........................................................................................................24
5.13.3 Tube Character..............................................................................................24
5.13.4 Stages............................................................................................................24

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5.13.5 Fluctuation ....................................................................................................24
5.13.6 Odd ...............................................................................................................25
5.13.7 Even..............................................................................................................25
5.14 Thermal noise emulation.......................................................................................25
5.14.1 Off/On...........................................................................................................25
5.15 Additional routing options.....................................................................................26
5.16 Plugin menu..........................................................................................................27
5.16.1 About ............................................................................................................27
5.16.2 Open manual .................................................................................................27
5.16.3 Check version................................................................................................27
5.16.4 Change log ....................................................................................................27
5.16.5 Enable tooltips...............................................................................................27
5.16.6 Reset GUI Scale ............................................................................................27
5.16.7 Set Min GUI Scale ........................................................................................27
5.16.8 Hide Knob Overly Text .................................................................................27
5.16.9 Enable EQ component tolerances ..................................................................27
5.16.10 Force Mono Mode .....................................................................................27
5.16.11 Clip Position..............................................................................................27
5.16.12 AB-LM Lite Start Position.........................................................................27
5.16.13 AB-LM Lite End Position..........................................................................28
5.16.14 Set smart silence processing globally.........................................................28
5.17 Background themes...............................................................................................28
6 AB-LM Lite..................................................................................................................29
7 Smart silence processing (SSP).....................................................................................30
8 Demo mode versus Registered Mode ............................................................................30
9 Plugin activation...........................................................................................................30
10 Conclusion................................................................................................................30

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1 Introduction
Welcome to CS-5501, a channel strip plugin with gate/expander, EQs, compressor, saturation,
limiter, de-esser, extensive side-chain and stereo placement options, flexible module routing,
over sampling and AB_LM-Lite for perceptual loudness matching.
2 Features
CS-5501 offers following features:
 2x 7 band EQ
 2x noise gate/expander
 2x compressor, VCA/FET/OPTP design
 2x de-esser
 2x limiter
 saturation
 thermal noise for analogue sound emulation
 HQ over sampling
 signal overshot protection
 linkable input/output fader including phase inversion
 module parameter link
 extended metering, input/output/gain reduction, Peak, RMS, EBU and VU
 perceptual loudness matching (powered by AB-LM Lite) and gain “freezing”
 flexible AB-LM Lite routing options
 module routing
 flexible clip module position
 extensive side-chain support for many effect modules
 many comfort functions like soloing and signal monitoring
 mono mode on stereo channel
 parameter randomizer
 preset management
 selectable colour theme
 large and easy to use GUI
 free GUI scaling
 64-bit internal processing
 very efficient CPU usage design
 smart silence processing

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3 Overview
CS-5501 is a multi functional channel strip providing all necessary tools to process all kind of
audio signals like vocals and instruments.
CS-5501 comes with double EQ/compressor/limiter/gate/expander/de-esser modules,
saturation and thermal noise emulation. All modules have stereo placement options and are
freely routable. Some of the effect modules have external side chain options.
CS-5501 provides also IN/OUT/GR VU meter, IN/OUT fader, extensive monitoring functions
and over sampling.
On top CS-5501 adds a new function called AB-LM Lite providing perceptual loudness
matching.

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4 Minimum System Requirements
 Windows 7, OpenGL 2 GFX card
 Mac OS X 10.11, Metal GFX card
 SSE2 CPU
 Win: 32/64 Bit VST, 32/64 Bit VST3, 32/64 Bit AAX
 OS X: 64 Bit VST, 64 Bit VST3, 64 Bit AU, 64 Bit AAX
 Tested with: Cockos Reaper, Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo/Wavelab 6+, FL Studio 12+,
PT2018+, Reason 9.5+, Studio One, Ableton Live
 For latest information please visit www.tbproaudio.de

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5 Plugin Controls
Mouse usage:
Click and drag horizontally changes parameter value
Shift click and drag changes parameter value slower
Ctrl click resets to default value, double click on text opens text entry
Please note that any parameter change of an effect parameter also enables the unit itself (auto
activation)
5.1 Preset
5.1.1 Preset
Preset menu loads and saves user presets. Presets
stored under %localappdata%/CS5501V2 (Windows)
or /Users/xxx/Library/Application Support/ CS5501 V2 (Mac OSX) are imported as user
presets. Previous and next buttons step trough all factory presets.
The parameter randomizer modifies the current parameter set on a random base, only active
modules.
5.2 Meter section
5.2.1 Meter
Left/Right IN/OUT VU meter with standard ballistics. Left value
shows the current meter value (in dB/LU/VU), right value shows the
maximum value. Mouse click on the meter resets the meter. The red
LED indicates values above 0;
5.2.2 Meter mode
Click here to change the meter mode: PEAK (dB), RMS (dB), EBU ML (LU), EBU
SL (LU) and VU (dBVU). RMS uses 600ms ballistics, VU 300ms.
5.2.3 Meter calibration
Controls the reference level of Left/Right IN/OUT meter, in dBFS.
5.2.4 Meter display mode
Set the current meter display mode: IN, GR (gain reduction) or OUT.
5.2.5 Monitor
Controls the main monitor mode: either stereo (normal), left, right, mid
or side signal.

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5.2.6 Monitor mode
Set the monitor mode either to in-place or centred.
5.2.7 Bypass
Global plugin by-pass.
5.3 Clip protection & OS
5.3.1 Clip protection
Toggles clip protection. If enabled signal is clipped at ceiling level, in dBFS.
The red LED lights if signal is above ceiling level, regardless if clip protected is
enabled or not. The clip module can be positioned either post or pre fader.
Please refer to chapter 5.15.
5.3.2 Over sampling
Incoming signal could be over-sampled up to 2 or 4 times. Over sampling reduces
magnitude/phase distortions near Nyquist frequency and let the filter sound much
more "analogue".
5.4 Fader section
5.4.1 Input/output fader
CS-5501 provides independent left/right faders for incoming and
outgoing signal. Double click on the fader handle enables direct
value input.
5.4.2 Input phase
This control lets you invert the phase of incoming left and right signal
5.4.3 Link input/output fader
Toggles linkage of left and right input/output fader.

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5.4.4 Link output to input fader (VST2/VST3/AU)
If enabled movement of input faders changes output fader in reverse direction.
5.5 AB-LM Lite
Please refer to chapter 6.
5.6 AB-LM Lite gain freeze
Freezes AB-LM Lite gain and switches AB-LM Lite to off. Small yellow LED
indicates if freeze gain is active. Please refer to chapter 6.
5.7 Routing
This section controls the order of the individual modules. Left click the slot where you want
to change the effect and select the new effect from the drop-down menu.
Shift left click just calls the respective module. Mouse wheel scrolls through
the menu.
The yellow LED indicates the activation of the effect. Click with left mouse
button to activate/deactivated the effect, shift click to show the effect module
in the GUI.
The blue solo button indicates the solo state of the module. Click to solo/un-
solo the effect module. Shift mouse click adds module to solo group.

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5.8 EQ
CS-5501 provides 2 independent EQ modules with 7 filters each. The
filters are based on analogue design and minimize amplitude cramping
near Nyquist frequency. This lets the filter sound much softer than
normal digital filters.
5.8.1 EQ Module selector
Select EQ1/EQ2 module from drop-down menu
5.8.2 Off/On
Enables the module.
5.8.3 Solo
Solos the module. Shift mouse click resets solo states of all modules.
5.8.4 Stereo placement
The stereo placement of the effect can be changed to stereo/left/right/mid/side.
5.8.5 Filter band monitor
Each filter band (except LC/HC) can be monitored.
5.8.6 LC/HC
Low-cut/high-cut filter with switchable filter slope

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5.8.7 HF/LF
Peak/shelf filter with adjustable Q-factor.
5.8.8 HMF/MF/LMF
Peak filter with adjustable Q-factor.

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5.9 Compressor
CS-5501 provides 2 independent compressor modules. The
compressor squeezes the incoming signal depending on threshold and
ratio.
The compressor design is based on TBProAudio’s Impress and offers
3 different classical types:
VCA stands for “Voltage Controlled Amplifier” and its compression
behavior is based on PEAK, with fast attack and release.
FET stands for “Field Effect Transistor”. The 1176 is his most
prominent representative and offers very short attack and release
times.
OPTO stands for “Optical compressor” and its compression behavior
is based on RMS, with slow attack and release.
FET 1 offers a compressor ratio much closer to the original.
5.9.1 Effect module selector
Select effect module from drop-down menu
5.9.2 Off/On
Enables the module.
5.9.3 Parameter link
Links parameter of compressor 1 and 2.
5.9.4 Solo
Solos the module. Shift mouse click resets solo states of all modules
.
5.9.5 Stereo placement
The stereo placement of the effect can be changed to stereo/left/right/mid/side.
5.9.6 Side chain options
5.9.6.1 Internal/External
Selects either internal or external side chain. VST2 uses channel 3+4 as ext. side
chain. For VST3/AU/AAX/RTAS please consult your DAW manual.
5.9.6.2 Monitor
Lets you monitor the side chain signal

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5.9.6.3 Low-cut
Off/On: enables low-cut
Slope: sets filter slope
Frequency: sets filter cut-off frequency
5.9.6.4 High-cut
Off/On: enables high-cut
Slope: sets filter slope
Frequency: sets filter cut-off frequency
5.9.6.5 Link
Toggles linkage of LC and HC frequency.
5.9.7 Compressor type
VCA, FET or OPTO design
5.9.8 Threshold
Sets threshold value, in dBFS.
5.9.9 Attack
Sets attack-time, in ms. Lower values make the compressor more responsive.
5.9.10 Release
Sets release-time, in seconds. Higher values make the compressor longer
working.
5.9.11 Auto release
Enables program dependent release time calculation

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5.9.12 Ratio
Sets compression ratio.
5.9.13 Output
Sets output volume, in dB.
5.9.14 Mix
Set mixing-ratio of compressed and original signal, from 0 % (dry) - 100 %
(wet).
5.9.15 Gain reduction meter
Shows current gain reduction, in dB

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5.10 Gate/Expander
CS-5501 provides 2 independent gate/expander modules. Gate/Expander
opens only if the signal reaches a certain threshold.
5.10.1 Effect module selector
Select effect module from drop-down menu
5.10.2 Off/On
Enables the module.
5.10.3 Parameter link
Links parameter of gate 1 and 2.
5.10.4 Solo
Solos the module. Shift mouse click resets solo states of all modules.
5.10.5 Stereo placement
The stereo placement of the effect can be changed to stereo/left/right/mid/side.
5.10.6 Side chain options
5.10.6.1 Internal/External
Selects either internal or external side chain. VST2 uses channel 3+4 as ext. side
chain. For VST3/AU/AAX/RTAS please consult your DAW manual.
5.10.6.2 Monitor
Lets you monitor the side chain signal

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5.10.6.3 Low-cut
Off/On: enables low-cut
Slope: sets filter slope
Frequency: sets filter cut-off frequency
5.10.6.4 High-cut
Off/On: enables high-cut
Slope: sets filter slope
Frequency: sets filter cut-off frequency
5.10.6.5 Link
Toggles linkage of LC and HC frequency.
5.10.7 Gate/Expander mode switch
Toggles between gate and expander mode.
5.10.8 Threshold
Sets threshold value, in dBFS.
5.10.9 Attack
Set attack time, in ms. Lower values make the gate/expander more responsive.
5.10.10 Hold
Sets hold time, in ms. Lower values start release earlier.

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5.10.11 Release
Set release time, in ms. Higher values make the gate/expander longer open.
5.10.12 Range
Variable range, in dB. In gate mode min value -72dB is treated as range off.
5.10.13 Attenuation meter
Shows current signal attenuation, in dB

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5.11 De-esser
CS-5501 provides 2 independent de-esser modules. Deeser is a kind of
dynamic EQ. It compresses/expands the signal in a defined frequency
range depending on the input/side-chain signal.
The design is based on TBProAudio’s dEQ6.
5.11.1 Effect module selector
Select effect module from drop-down menu
5.11.2 Off/On
Enables the module.
5.11.3 Parameter link
Links parameter of de-esser 1 and 2.
5.11.4 Solo
Solos the module. Shift mouse click resets solo states of all modules.
5.11.5 Stereo placement
The stereo placement of the effect can be changed to stereo/left/right/mid/side.
5.11.6 Side chain options
5.11.6.1 Internal/External
Selects either internal or external side chain. VST2 uses channel 3+4 as ext. side
chain. For VST3/AU/AAX/RTAS please consult your DAW manual.
5.11.6.2 Monitor
Lets you monitor the side chain signal

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5.11.6.3 Low-cut
Off/On: enables low-cut
Slope: sets filter slope
Frequency: sets filter cut-off frequency
5.11.6.4 High-cut
Off/On: enables high-cut
Slope: sets filter slope
Frequency: sets filter cut-off frequency
5.11.6.5 Link
Toggles linkage of LC and HC frequency.
5.11.7 Filter type
Low-shelf/bell/high-shelf filter type.
5.11.8 Narrow band/wide band
In wideband (WB) mode the de-esser reacts on events in the full frequency
range, in narrowband mode (NB) only on events around de-esser centre
frequency.
5.11.9 Listen
Lets you listen to the signal removed by the de-esser or to signal focused by the de-
esser.
5.11.10 Threshold
Sets threshold value, in dBFS.
5.11.11 Q
Sets filter bandwidth.
5.11.12 Frequency
Sets centre frequency.