Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Pack Tutorials

Tutorial - Automation Envelopes Generation in MOTU's Digital Performer 7

This tutorial shows how to reuse the envelopes generated by our plugins with output parameters in MOTU's Digital Performer 7 host software. As of today Digital Performer does not receive MIDI events from Audio Units, so you cannot connect our plug-ins together via MIDI like you may do in other hosts applications. But it is still possible to use automation lanes to perform similar side chain tasks.

In this example we are using the Peak Meter Pro plugin (DPMP) in order to modify the parameters of an effect on a destination track, according to the envelope of an other track (source). You can of course ue the same technique to perform side chain tasks in DP7 with any of our plug-ins with output parameters.

Tutorial - Customize the Colors of your Plugins

This tutorial shows how to customize the FreqAnalyst Pro plugin's user interface by changing the color of the displayed curves. It is a very basic skinning tutorial. All you need to know is how to express a color with the html hexadecimal RGB color codes.

If you need more information about how to load another skin for your plugin, please read our Getting Started (UI) tutorial or your plugin user manual.

Tutorial - Connecting Plug-ins with Groups in Cakewalk Sonar

This tutorial shows how to reuse the envelopes generated by our plugins with output parameters in Cakewalk Sonar using groups. Other techniques exist (using MIDI or Automation curves), but this one has the advantage of being simple and completely integrated into Sonar's workflow. It also lets you use plug-ins that do not support MIDI control as destinations.

This step by step tutorial has been created with Sonar X1, but it will work with previous versions of Sonar (starting with Sonar 6). This technique can also be applied to other host applications that have such parameter grouping capabilities.

In this example we are using the Peak Meter Pro plugin (DPMP) in order to control the gain of a destination track, according to the envelope of an other track (source). You can of course use the same technique to perform other side chain tasks in Sonar with any of our plug-ins with output parameters.

Tutorial - Using DXi plug-ins in Sony Vegas

This tutorial will teach you how to use any DXi plug-in in Sony Vegas: Sony Vegas does not support MIDI automation, so if your plug-in supports the MIDI Dxi protocol, it is removed from the plug-ins list, and you cannot use it!

You will learn here a way to activate the Peak Meter Pro plugin (DPMP) for Sony Vegas, but it's applicable to any DXi plug-in. Please download our freeware DXi Manager tool to follow this tutorial.

Tutorial - Spectral Response (EQ Curve) Matching with Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Multi

In this tutorial you will learn how to match the frequency response of a third party piece of software or hardware with a standard EQ or spectrum manipulation plug-in. For this purpose, we will use the Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Multi plugin to measure the spectral response, and then Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer to match it, with the analyzer providing visual feedback to perform the match.

Of course, you can also use any EQ of your choice to do the matching. The MB-7 Mixer plugin is just more flexible for this task.

In this tutorial we will try to match the frequency response of a guitar cabinet simulator (plug-in) so that we can then tweak it easily (it is usually not possible with cabinet simulators because they reproduce existing hardware with few controls over the spectral response). If your host application supports external hardware inserts, you can also match the spectral response of any hardware: speakers, microphones, EQs, rooms...

It is important to understand that you can measure only static and linear processors. Typically, with this technique you cannot measure and emulate compression, distortion etc.

Note: this tutorial has been written using Reaper, but any host application supporting our plug-ins will work.

Tutorial - Monitoring an effect chain with the 'Multi' Series

The 'Multi' analysis plugins series offer the ability to compare the measurements made by several instances within an audio project. In this tutorial you will learn how to use this capability to monitor an effects chain and see the influence of an effect on the audio signal. In this example we will study the effect of Blue Cat's Widening Gain as a stereo widening/narrowing effect. We will use Blue Cat's StereoScope Multi multiple instances analysis plugin for our measurements.

This tutorial uses Steinberg Wavelab as a host application, but you can use any other VST or DirectX compatible host application.

Tutorial - Export Plugin Presets to Share them with the Community

This tutorial shows you how to export your presets in order to share them with the community on the Blue Cat Audio website.

This tutorial uses Blue Cat's Stereo Triple EQ for the demonstration but is applicable to all our plugins, on both windows and Mac.

The idea is to use Blue Cat Audio's cross-platform preset format so that your presets can be read on any platform / plugin format combination. The presets are exported one by one as a file and can then be read on any other platform.

Tutorial - Compare the Audio Spectrum in Several Projects

This tutorial shows how to use the FreqAnalyst Pro spectrum analysis plugin to compare the spectrum of several tracks in different projects, using the save/restore capabilities of the plugin.

The following example uses Steinberg Wavelab as a host application and the VST version of the plugin. This scenario is also applicable to any other host with the DirectX, Audio Unit or VST versions of the plugin (it works for example within Cakewalk Sonar for the DirectX version). Presets sharing will also work between PC and Mac platforms.

Tutorial - Analyze and Enhance the Spectrum of your Mix

This video tutorial shows how to use Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Pro plugin to check the spectrum of your mix and help you modify it. The gearwire.com team demonstrates some of the functionalities of the plugin.

See the video tutorial on gearwire.com

Tutorial - Getting Started with Plug-ins User Interface

Get used to the user interface features of Blue Cat Audio products! They have been designed for an optimal workflow, so here are the tips and tricks to save time. All these functionalities are explained in details in the user manuals, but this is a summary of the main things you want to know before you start using the plugins.

Tutorial - Using MIDI Control in Sonar

This tutorial will help you understand how to use parameters MIDI control in Cakewalk Sonar. It is applicable to any DXi plug-in (MIDI enabled DirectX plug-in).

Tutorial - Using the Aly James Skin for Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Multi (French)

Ceci est un mini tutoriel montrant l'utilisation de la skin proposée par Aly James avec le plug-in Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Multi

La video montre également l'utilisation du plug-in dans Pro Tools.

Voir la video sur youtube

Tutorial - Analyse Multi Pistes (French)

Un mini Tutoriel proposant quelques explications sur l'Analyse de Spectre Multi-pistes, et en quoi cela peut changer votre maniere de travailler le son.

"Dans de noubreux tutoriels, j'insiste sur l'importance d'utiliser des analyseurs de spectre comme assistants au mixage (et à la selection) sonore dans les Musiques actuelles. Si a plupart de ces analyseurs sont stéréo, il en existe aujourd'hui quelques uns capables de fonctionner en mode Multi-pistes.

Loin d'être un gadget, ce type d'analyseur pourrait devenir très vite votre plugin favori !"

Voir le tutoriel video sur mjtutoriels.com

Tutorial - Using MIDI Connectivity in a Modular Host (Plogue Bidule)

This tutorial shows you how to use the MIDI connectivity of our plugins in a modular host such as Plogue Bidule. We are using the Mac version of Bidule in this tutorial.

The scenario here is very simple: we will be using a first audio source (Audio Source 1) to modulate the volume of another one (Audio Source 2). It can typically be used for side chain compression, ducking, automatic voice over etc. We will be using the Peak Meter Pro plugin, but the tutorial is applicable to any of our plugins with MIDI output.

Tutorial - Multiple Tracks Real Time Spectrum Analysis

In this tutorial you will learn how to use the multiple instances features of the FreqAnalyst Multi spectrum analysis plugin to provide you with visual help for mixing. This tutorial is based on a very simple project with bass, drums and vocal tracks. It is of course applicable to much more complex audio projects. We will be using FL Studio as a host application, but you can use any DirectX or VST plugins host application. Note that this tutorial is also applicable to other 'Multi' analysis tools such as the Blue Cat's StereoScope Multi plugin.

The Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Multi multiple instances analysis plugin is based on the following principle (click for full size):

We will thus instanciate a plugin on each track we are interested in and then choose the source and destination curves in the routing panel.

Tutorial - Using Blue Cat Audio plugins connectivity in Reaper

This tutorial shows how to use our plugins MIDI connectivity within Reaper. We use Blue Cat's Dynamics plugin as an example, but you can use any other audio plugin which provides output parameters, such as our audio analysis plugins.

These capabilities let you use any characteristic of a source audio signal to perform a side chain on any parameter of the destination signal. Our example shows how to perform side chain compression with this system.

Tutorial - Connecting plug-ins together in Logic for advanced side chain effects

This tutorial shows how to use the connectivity capabilities of our plugins within Logic. We use Blue Cat's Peak Meter Pro plugin (DPMP) as an example, but you can use any other audio plugin which provides output parameters, such as our audio analysis plugins.

These capabilities let you use any characteristic of a source audio signal to perform a side chain on any parameter of the destination track. Our example shows how to perform side chain filtering with this system: the Peak Meter Pro plugin (aka DPMP) is used to generate an envelope based on this source track amplitude to control the band pass filter gain of the Triple EQ free plugin on another track.

Our Logic session is initially composed of two audio tracks: a source and destination track. We then use Logic's powerful environment to route the side chain control data from the source to the destination.

As of today (Logic Pro 9.1), Logic does not support MIDI routing between plug-ins, so the solution we propose here is based on Logic's environment. It requires a bit more learning if you are not familiar with it, but it is also more powerful than what some other hosts provide.

Tutorial - Using Blue Cat Audio plug-ins connectivity in Pro Tools

This tutorial shows how to use the MIDI connectivity of our plugins within Pro Tools. We use Blue Cat's Peak Meter Pro plugin as an example, but you can use any other audio plugin which provides output parameters, such as our audio analysis plugins.

These capabilities let you use any characteristic of a source audio signal to perform a side chain on any parameter of the destination track. Our example shows how to perform side chain filtering with this system: the Peak Meter Pro plugin is used to generate an envelope based on this source track amplitude to control the low pass filter gain of the Triple EQ free plugin on another track.

Our Pro Tools session is initially composed of two audio tracks: a source and destination track. We then add a MIDI track to carry the MIDI side chain control data.

Tutorial - Audio Metering mit dem Digital Peak Meter Pro 3 (German)

Blue Cat's Peak Meter Pro (DPMP) ist ein einzigartiges Audio-Analyse-Tool. Es enthält sehr flexible und anpassbare Audio Meter sowie weiterführende Side Chaining-Control-Möglichkeiten dank MIDI-Ausgang und Automatisierung.

Die Einstellmöglichkeiten des neuen DPMP lassen Sie Ihre Audio-Signale genau so steuern und überwachen, wie Sie es möchten. Fast jeder Anzeigeparameter kann individuell angepasst werden. Der DPMP beinhaltet nun fünf verschiedene Skalen, einschließlich des sehr beliebten Bob Katz K-System (K-12, K-14 und K-20). Mit den graphischen Anzeigen überwachen Sie die Entwicklung der Audio-Signale über einen bestimmten Zeitraum. Über die Mitte-Seite-Schalter können Sie die Mono-Kompatibilität und die Stereobreite Ihrer Audio-Signale sehr leicht überprüfen.

youtube video

Tutorial - How to Use the Free Presets Available on this Website

This tutorial shows you how to get and load free presets for your favorite Blue Cat Audio plugin.

This tutorial uses Blue Cat's Dynamics for the demonstration but is applicable to all our plugins, on both windows and Mac, provided that some presets have been published for them on this website.