The various elements of the user interface (knobs, sliders, buttons...) are simple and intuitive to operate, but more information about how to interact with them is available in the "Plug-ins Basics" chapter of this manual.

Operation

This section decribes several common use cases for the plug-in. A complete list of the parameters exposed by the plug-in is available in the next section.

Setting up the Crossover Points

Be it on a full mix or a single track, at this step your aim is to isolate particular frequencies to apply a specific treatment to it. The best way to adjust the frequency ranges is to use the "Solo" button of the monitoring section to hear the signal processed by each band.

This method also applies to selecting the appropriate filters slopes. You will usually avoid very steep filters (artifacts at the crossover points may be more prominent), but they can be useful to isolate very particular frequencies.

Using the plug-in as an Equalizer

Thanks to its flexible crossover filters and with the gain controls offered for each band, the plug-in can be used as a powerful equalizer with very good control over the response curve. Isolating bands using the solo button helps finding the right spot to boost or cut. The mute button will transform a band into a notch, high-cut or low-cut filter.

The additional grouping capabilities are very helpful to setup the balance between bands and boost/cust several portions of the spectrum simultaneously.

Using the Plug-in as a Stereo Enhancer

The extra features offered by the stereo version of the plug-in can help you control how the spectrum occupies the stereo field.

Using the Spread Control

As stated in the introduction, you may want to use the positive values of the spread parameter sparingly in order to avoid completely out of phase left and right signals. The mono button on the master section will help you check that your settings do not affect the mono part of the signal too much.

A common practice is to narrow the lower end of the spectrum (bass) to keep it centered. To do so, you just need to decrease the spread value on the lowest band. It may be necessary to use this technique on a full mix or on stereo instruments with strong stereo effects on the full spectrum.

Panning

Several panning techniques can be achieved very easily with the Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer plug-in.

You may want to pan instruments in a mix without affecting the lower end of the spectrum (since you will probably want to keep it centered). A simple two-band setup will let you do that, panning only the higher end of the spectrum.

It is also possible to create interesting stereo effects on single instruments in order to widen their presence in a mix: just pan various parts of the spectrum differently (but try to keep the bass centered). Alternating left and right panning on a large number of bands can completely the transform the perception of an instrument.

While mixing, you may also encounter problems with instruments that fight for the same frequencies at the same location. In this case, you may want to pan differently the competing frequencies on both tracks and solve the conflicts.

Both panning and spread controls may also be used to fix recording issues (wrongly placed mics, unwanted room effects...) or revist an existing mix.

Creative Grouping for Optimal Workflow

The grouping features included in the plug-in can be used for a wide range of workflow enhancements. Below are typical examples where grouping can help work faster and more efficiently.

Single Instance

In a single instance you can group several frequency bands in order to move all of them in parallel with a single slider. Most of the time you will be using the "quick group" feature to quickly switch linking on and off.

If you are boosting the levels, you can also add the master slider to the group you are using, in reverse mode. This way it will compensate the overall increase in volume so that the output does not clip.

Multiple Tracks

If you are using the plug-in on several tracks, it can be very handy to use "global groups" to limit the number of controls that need to be moved to get the sound you are looking for. Typically, when adjusting the spectral balance between two tracks and their location in the stereo field, you can use several instances of the Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer plug-in and link them together in reverse mode: panning a frequency range to the left on one track will pan it to the right on the other track and so on.

Pre and Post Adjustments on a Single Track

If you are using non linear processors (dynamics processors such as a compressor, a gate, an expander, or distortion, analog-style processing etc.), it is sometimes very useful to change the content of the spectrum before applying the effect, because it may respond very differently (for instance remove lower frequencies before a compressor).

In such a scenario you will usually apply an EQ before the non-linear effect. But the issue with that is that you will have to compensate the boosts and cuts with another EQ after the effect so that the overall spectrum remains unchanged. The process can become very tedious, and that's where using global groups with the Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer can help: simply add all bands (+master) to the same global group on both instances (before and after the effect), switch all bands of one of the instances to reverse mode, and you are done: the instance after the effect now compensates the modifications applied to the spectrum by the first instance.

Using the Plug-in as a Spectrum Inspector

The plug-in includes a premium spectrum analyzer that lets you see the spectral content of a track. It can be used in combination with the solo button of one or several bands to isolate parts of the spectrum and check with your ears what's going on.

The peak level meters available on each band are also very helpful to monitor the spectrum and check for unwanted frequencies.

Setting up the Plug-in as a Side Chain Destination

Thanks to its zipper-free MIDI controllable and automation-capable parameters, the plug-in can be used as a destination of a side chain.

A typical application is multiband side-chain compression/expansion/gating, using the Blue Cat's MB-5 Dynamix plug-in as a side chain source to control the gain of various bands of an instance of the Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer plug-in:

A complete step by step tutorial about this topic is available on our website. It explains how to setup the plug-in for such tasks.

For other types of side chain applications, we also have many plug-ins that can output parameter values to be reused with another plug-in such as this one.

Blue Cat Audio Plug-ins Basics

This chapter describes the basic features that are common to all our plug-ins. If you are already familiar with our products, you can skip this part.

User Interface Basics

About Skins

Like all Blue Cat Audio plug-ins, Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer uses a skinnable user interface. It means that the appearance and behavior of the user interface can be entirely customized.

Especially with third party skins, the experience may be quite different from the one offered by the default skins that we provide. However, our plug-ins and our skinning engine have several standard features that will be available whatever your favorite skin. This is what is described in this chapter.

More information about custom skins can be found in the skins section.

Main Toolbar and Menu

Menu

If you right click on the background of the plug-in, the following pop-up menu appears:

The description of the commands associated to each menu item are available below.

Toolbar

In some skins, an optional toolbar gives you access to the some of the functionalities of the main menu.

Icon	Name	Function
	Menu	Open the main menu
	Undo	Undo
	Redo	Redo
	Load	Load Preset
	Save	Save Preset
	Manual	User Manual
	About	About
	Website	Opens our website

Commands

The Commands available from the main menu or the toolbar are:

• Factory Presets: browse factory presets (if any).
• Set Preset Skin: change the skin for the current preset.
• Use Global Skin: use the skin defined in the global settings for the current preset. This item is enabled only if a skin has been defined for the current preset.
• Undo/Redo: undo or redo the latest modifications. This includes all changes made to the current preset settings.
• Load Preset: load preset from file.
• Save Preset: save current preset to file.
• Presets Settings: open the presets settings window. It enables you to change the skin and MIDI settings for the current preset.
• Global Settings: open the global settings window. It enables you to change the skin and MIDI settings that are used by default in all instances of the plug-in.
• User Manual: open this user manual.
• Check Updates: check the updates for this software on our website.
• Get More Skins: get more skins for this software.
• Legal Information: browse licensing and misc legal documents.
• About: displays the “about” dialog box.

MIDI control

Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer can also be remotely controlled via MIDI using MIDI CC ("Control Change") messages if your host application supports it. It is possible to customize the channel, control numbers and range used for each parameter in the MIDI settings panel available from the main menu (see the Plug-in Settings chapter for more details).

Controls

Examples

Here are a few examples of typical controls you will encounter in the user interface of our plug-ins:

slider	slider	knob	button	Text control

Interacting with Controls

You can interact with the controls of the plug-in interface either with the mouse or the keyboard.

Setting the keyboard focus on a control (so that it responds to key strokes) may be automatic (when you pass the mouse over it it gets focus) or manual (you have to click on the control to set the focus on it). Note that all host applications behave differently regarding keyboard handling. In some applications you may not be able to use all keys described later in this manual to interact with our plug-ins. It is usually made obvious to you to know the active surfaces of the skin (the places where you can click with the mouse): the mouse cursor usually changes when you can do something on a control. In the default skins delivered with the plug-in, the cursor changes to a small hand or an arrow to tell you when your mouse is over an active control.

Mouse

Various mouse movements will let you interact with the controls:

Mouse Interaction	Action
Left Click	Acquire focus and start dragging or push (button)
Left Click + Alt Key	Set the value to default
Left Double Click	Acquire focus and launch the “fine tuning” edit box (except button):
Right Click	Set the value to default
Mouse Wheel	Increment or decrement the position (focus required)
Mouse Drag	Change the control position depending on mouse movement (except button)

Keyboard

All control widgets support the following keys (note that some of them are caught by the host and thus never forwarded to the control. For example in Steinberg Cubase SX you cannot use the arrow keys to control the plug-in):

Keys Common to All Controls

Key	Action
Up Arrow	Small increment of the position (up or right)
Down Arrow	Small increment of the position (down or left)
Left Arrow	Same as Down Arrow
Right Arrow	Same as Up Arrow
Page Up	Large increment of the position (up or right)
Page Down	Large decrement of the position (down or left)
+	Small increment of the value of the control
-	Small decrement of the value of the control
d	Set to default value (same as mouse right click)
e	Opens the 'fine tuning' window to precisely set the parameter:
SHIFT	When the key is down, the fine tuning mode is on, and you can modify the value with better precision when moving the mouse, the mouse wheel or using the keyboard. Just release the key to get back to the normal mode.

Keys Specific to Buttons

Key	Action
Enter	Pushes the button

More

Check our online tutorial for more screenshots and more examples of our plug-ins user interfaces.

Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer Parameters

All parameters described below can be automated and controlled via MIDI if your host application supports it. You can precisely define this behavior in the settings panels described later in this manual.

Input

The input parameters of this plug-in are the following:

Name	Unit	Description	Comment
General
Bypass		Bypass the effect.
Bands		Number of Bands.
For each band (band index: i)
Bi Bypass		Bypass the effect for this band.
Bi Mute		Mute this band.
Bi Solo		Solo this band (listen to the band).
Bi Gain	dB	Gain for this band.
% Spread	%	Stereo spread for this band (stereo version only). Set to -100% for mono only, and to +100% for opposite phase.
Bi Pan	%	Pan value for this band (stereo version only). Set to -100% for full left panning, and to +100% for full right panning.
Bi Reset Max		Changing the value of the parameter resets the max peak value recorded for this band.
Freq i - i+1	Hz	Center frequency for the crossover between this band and the next one.
Slope i - i+1	dB/Octave	Slope for the crossover between this band and the next one. Controls the separation between bands (the higher the sharper the separation).
Master Section
Gain	dB	Master output gain.
Spread	%	Stereo spread for the master output. Used for mono compatibility check (ranges only from -100 to 0%).
Reset Max		Changing the value of the parameter resets the max peak value recorded for the master output.

Output

Mono and stereo versions of the plug-in offer almost the same outputs. The main difference is that the stereo version exposes the same value twice (one of each channel), except if not specified.

Name	Unit	Description	Comment
For each band (band index: i)
Bi Peak	dB	Measured peak level for this band.	(L) and (R) for the stereo version
Bi Peak Hold	dB	Local Maximum value of the Audio level over time for this band. This value is automatically reset by the plug-in on a regular basis.	(L) and (R) for the stereo version
Bi Max Peak	dB	Maximum value of the Audio level over time for this band (can be reset by "Bi Reset Max" parameter changes) for both channels.	(L) and (R) for the stereo version
Master Section
Peak	dB	Measured peak level at the output of the plug-in.	(L) and (R) for the stereo version
Peak Hold	dB	Local Maximum value of the Audio level at the output of the plug-in. This value is automatically reset by the plug-in on a regular basis.	(L) and (R) for the stereo version
Max Peak	dB	Maximum value of the Audio level over time at the output of the plug-in (can be reset by "Reset Max" parameter changes) for both channels.	(L) and (R) for the stereo version

Plug-in Settings

In addition to the controls offered in the main user interface, Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer has various settings that let you fine tune the behavior of the plug-in. You can choose to change these settings either for the current preset or globally for all instances of the plug-in.

The Global Settings Window

The settings available in this window apply to all instances of the plug-in, for all presets, if not overriden in the presets settings. Consider these settings as “default” settings.

General

You can change the default skin for all instances of the plug-in: write the skin file path in the text edit box or click on the button to open a file chooser dialog. If you have several instances of the plug-in opened in your session, you will have to re-open the user interfaces of these plug-ins to see the skin change.

The output data refresh rate can also be customized for all instances of the plug-in. It controls the refresh rate of non-audio data produced by the plug-in (parameters, curves...). It also controls the refresh rate of output MIDI CC messages or output automation data. The higher the refresh rate, the better precision, but also the higher cpu usage (some host applications may also have trouble recording MIDI data at high refresh rates). The default value is 50 Hz.

Global MIDI Input Settings

For each parameter you can define a default MIDI channel and CC number. You can then control the plug-in with an external MIDI controller or one of our plug-ins that generate MIDI messages.

The following settings are available for each plug-in parameter:

• Channel: MIDI Channel for the parameter control. If set to 0, the plug-ins will accept Control Change Messages from all MIDI Channels (MIDI Omni mode).
• CC: Control Change Number.
• Learn: click on this button to activate the MIDI learn functionality. When it is activated, you can move your MIDI controller, and the plug-in will automatically set the MIDI Channel and CC Number.
• Enable MIDI: enable/disable the MIDI control of the parameter.
• Response: response curve of the MIDI control: from very fast to slow control.
• Min: minimal value of the parameter when MIDI controlled.
• Max: Maximum value of the parameter when MIDI controlled.

(generic screen shot, does not correspond to the actual plug-in parameters)

Note: if the Min value is higher than the Max value, the response curve will be reversed: increasing the control value will decrease the parameter value.

Note: if you double click on the parameter text control boxes for the max and min values, a “fine tuning” edit box will appear and let you change the min and max values with more precision:

Global MIDI Output Settings

You can set the same properties for the output parameters as for the input parameters: in this case, they may trigger MIDI CC messages or generate automation curves when modified. Since it's output, you cannot set the channel to MIDI Omni, so you must choose a channel.

(generic screen shot, does not correspond to the actual plug-in parameters)

Note: if the Min value is higher than the Max value, the response curve will be reversed: increasing the control value will decrease the parameter value.

Note: if you double click on the parameter text control boxes for the max and min values, a “fine tuning” edit box will appear and let you change the min and max values with more precision:

Global Automation Output Settings

If your host application does not let you choose which parameters to record as automation curves, you may need to choose the automation enabled parameters in the plug-in itself. In this pane you can decide which output parameters of the plug-in will record automation, for all instances of the plug-in:

(generic screen shot, does not correspond to the actual plug-in parameters)

All parameters are disabled by default. Click on the check box to enable/disable automation for a parameter.

The Current Preset Settings Window

In this window you can change the settings for the current preset of the current instance of the plug-in only.

Preset Skin

You can choose to use the global skin setting or to change the skin for the current preset. This way you can have different skins for different instances of the plug-in in the same session in order to differentiate them.

Preset MIDI Input Settings

Use the global settings or override them for the current preset. The parameters are the same as for the global input settings.

(generic screen shot, does not correspond to the actual plug-in parameters)

Preset MIDI Output Settings

Use the global settings or override them for the current preset. The parameters are the same as for the global output settings.

(generic screen shot, does not correspond to the actual plug-in parameters)

Preset Automation Output Settings

Use the global settings or override them for the current preset. The parameters are the same as for the global automation output settings:

(generic screen shot, does not correspond to the actual plug-in parameters)

About Skins

Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer integrates Blue Cat's skinning engine that allows you to customize the user interface. You can download new skins for your plug-in at the following address:

http://www.bluecataudio.com/Skins/Product_MB7Mixer

If you don't find a skin that fits your need or if you want a really custom one, you can choose to create your own skin.

Changing the Skin

You have two ways to change the skin of your plug-in: you can change the default (or 'global') skin in the global settings, or change the skin for the current preset only (either in the preset settings page or from the main menu). The global skin applies to all plug-in instances, whereas the current preset skin only applies to the current preset of the current plug-in instance.

See the main menu for more information about how to access these options.

On some hosts the plug-in window won't resize automatically when you choose a skin with a different size. In this case, just close the window and re-open it: it will be displayed with the right size.

Create a Custom Skin

You can create custom skins for your plug-in in order to adapt it to your exact needs. You can change its look and feel and make it completely integrated in your virtual studio!

Just read the Blue Cat's Skinning Language manual and download the samples for the tutorial on http://www.bluecataudio.com/Skins. You can get ready to create your own skins in a few minutes.

You can then share your skins on our website.

FAQ

Automation Output

When I use the plug-in, my host application is slowed down and I get audio drop-outs. How can I solve this problem?

If your host application does not let you select the parameters for which you want to record automation, it might be doing some extra work for handling the output parameters generated by the plug-in. A solution is to disable the output parameters you do not use in the Preset or Global settings/Automation Output pane.

When I use the plug-in, my host application draws many automation curves on the current track and yet I have not touched any control on the plug-in. How can I avoid that?

If your host application does not let you select the parameters for which you want to record automation, it will record automation for all the output parameters generated by the plug-in. You can disable the output parameters you do not use in the Preset or Global settings/Automation Output pane.

I am trying to record automation curves as shown in the tutorials but it does not work. What do I have to do?

If your host application lets you select the parameters for which you want to record automation, check that the parameters you want to record are enabled. You also need to check that the plug-in automation output is enabled for these parameters. Check the Preset or Global settings/Automation Output pane and select the parameters you want to record.

When I use the plug-in in a project, every time I save the project, my application shows it as unsaved right away. How can I solve this issue?

This plug-in produces automation output, and some host applications consider that any change to one of the output parameters is a change for the project. In order to solve this problem, and if you do not use the automation output capability of this plug-in, you can disable automation output from the plug-in settings panel (Global or Preset Settings/ Automation Output pane: uncheck all parameters).

MIDI Output

How can I enable the MIDI output of the plug-in?

If your host application supports it, you can choose to send MIDI CC messages based on the output parameters computed by the plug-in. The feature is not enabled by default, so you need to go to the current preset settings (of the global settings if you want to enable this for all instances - not recommended) and open the "MIDI output" pane. For each parameter you are interested in, enable MIDI output and select the appropriate channel and CC number. The plug-in will then send MIDI messages to the host application. Check our tutorials for a detailed explanation of MIDI output routing in your favorite host.

Plug-ins Formats

What are DirectX (DX), Audio Unit (AU), RTAS, AAX and VST plug-ins?

VST, Audio Unit, RTAS, AAX and DirectX plug-ins are software components than can be used in "Host" Software (such as Cakewalk Sonar, Steinberg Cubase or Wavelab, Sony Vegas, Logic Pro, Garage Band, Ableton Live, Pro Tools...) in order to perform some MIDI and/Or Audio real-time Processing tasks. To be more precise what we usually call directX plug-ins is actually a "DirectShow Filter". VST is owned by Steinberg, DirectX by Microsoft while Audio Units is the property of Apple Computers and RTAS and AAX are owned by AVID.

How can I use your plug-ins?

Download and install a host software, then download and install the plug-ins from our page. They will appear in the host "effects" menu. If you are using a DirectX host with our MIDI controllable plug-ins and they do not show up in you host list, you might need to use our freeware DXi Manager. Note that our plug-ins are sometimes shown in the "MIDI controllable audio effects" or "soft synths" sections in some host applications.

Where can I find a host?

There are many commercial or freeware hosts that will suit your needs. You can find a long list of applications here. You can also use demos of Cubase, Wavelab, Ableton Live, Tracktion, or Sonar software, which are usually available on the companies websites. On the Mac, Garage Band is part of the system and can be also used to host our Audio Unit plug-ins.

What are the main differences between DX, VST, RTAS, AAX and Audio Units?

VST is a protocol that works on several platforms (Mainly Windows, MacOS, BeOS, and some Linux platforms use it as well) whereas DirectX is Microsoft Windows only, and Audio Units are available only on the Mac. RTAS and AAX are available on Mac and PC, but only for Pro Tools products (AVID). AAX plug-ins are compatible with Pro Tools 10 and higher, whereas RTAS versions are compatible for Pro Tools 10 and lower versions.

What is the difference between DXi and DX effects?

DXi effects are MIDI controllable DirectX plug-ins. It's the same as DX effects plus MIDI control.

Which version (VST, Audio Unit, RTAS or DX) should I use in my host application?

Here is a list of host software and the version we recommend you to use. Many other applications are supported, check your application user manual to choose the best version (AU stands for "Audio Unit" and DX for "DirectX"):

Host Application	Plug-in Version
Cakewalk Products (Sonar, Project5...)	DX
Sony Products (Vegas, ACID, Soundforge)	DX for old versions, VST for new
Steinberg Products (Cubase, Nuendo, Wavelab)	VST (Mac or PC)
Ableton Live	VST (Mac or PC)
Adobe Audition	any
EnergyXT	VST
Magix Samplitude	VST
Avid (Digidesign) Pro Tools	RTAS
Apple applications (Logic Pro, Logic Express, Garage Band...)	AU
Cockos Reaper	VST (Mac or PC)
...

In general, we recommend using VST over Audio Unit on Mac (when both are supported), particularly for the plug-ins that can output automation or MIDI CC messages.

Where can I find more information about this topic?

• www.steinberg.net
• www.microsoft.com
• www.kvraudio.com
• www.apple.com
• www.digidesign.com

Installation

I have installed my software and it is not listed as an application. Why? What can I do? How can I launch it?

Most software you can purchase on this website is plug-ins for host applications. It means you need another application to use it. See the "Plug-ins Formats" section in this FAQ for more information.

I have installed my plug-in and it does not show up in my host application. What can I do?

First check that you application supports DirectX, Audio Unit or VST plug-ins.

If you are using the DirectX version, check that your host application supports DXi plug-ins (MIDI enabled DirectX plug-ins). If it does not, it may remove it from the DirectX plug-ins list (some applications such as Sony Vegas 5 and Cool Edit Pro are known to do this). In this case, use our DXi Manager free utility and disable the MIDI capabilities of the plug-in. You may need to reinstall the software again before it shows up into your host application. For more information about this topic please read our DXi in Sony Vegas tutorial (it is applicable to other applications than Sony Vegas).

If you are using the Direct X version and your host application supports DXi, check that the plug-in does not appear in the 'virtual synth' or 'synthesizers' category. If you wish not to use the MIDI capabilities of the plug-in and use it as a regular Direct X plug-in, you can download the freeware DXi Manager and disable the MIDI capabilities of the plug-in.

I have installed my plug-in on windows 64-bit, checked the items above, and it still does not show up in my host application. What can I do?

You are probably running a 32-bit application. If that's the case, you need to install the 32-bit version of the plug-in: the choice for 32 or 64-bit is not determined by the operating system (64-bit windows can run both 32 and 64-bit applications), but by the host application that you are using.

Why are there two plug-ins called xxxx(Mono) and xxxx(Stereo) installed ?

"Mono effects" (which are effects that do not make any difference between left and right channels) are bundled this way for performance reasons. Some developers just deliver a stereo Version which also processes (twice) mono streams. The "(Mono)" plug-in is to be used with mono streams, and the (Stereo) one with stereo streams. The effect itself is the same in both cases but the number of processed channels is different: this may drastically improve performance for CPU intensive plug-ins.

How do I uninstall my plug-ins?

Open the Windows configuration panel/ Add Remove Programs, and choose 'Remove' on the corresponding plug-in. If you have installed the VST plug-in zip file version, just delete the corresponding dlls.

Why do your plug-ins need an installer on Windows? Do they modify the registry or system settings? Why not providing just a dll?

Our plug-ins require several additional files for default settings, skins and miscellaneous data. We provide an installer for our customers' convenience. Our installers do not modify the system settings or the Windows registry, except for the DirectX versions registration. Our installers won't harm your system.

Software Version

How do I know the version of the plug-in I am using?

You can see the version information in the about box: right click on the background of the plug-in user interface and select "About". The product version is also available in the Windows Add/Remove Programs Window.

Why do newer versions of a plug-in override older ones (they have exact same name and IDs)?

Because newer versions improve previous ones. When a new version is released, older versions are not supported anymore. In some cases the new versions may be installed as new products (compatibility reasons, major changes...), but it is explicitly documented on the product page.

A new minor version of a product I purchased some time ago is available. Where can I download the update?

The new version can be downloaded from the same place where you downloaded the original version. All information is contained in the email you received when you purchased the product. Your registration number has not changed either.

Upgrade

A new minor version of my plug-in has been released. Where can I download it?

When you purchased the plug-in, an email containing the information to download and register your software has been sent to you. You can download the new version from the exact same location as the first time.

I have downloaded a new version, do I need to uninstall the previous version?

No, you don't, except if it's specified on the product page, in the "history" section. Just run the installer and it will upgrade your software.

Automation

What is "Parameters Automation"?

The parameters of an effect can be automated in most host software. It means that you can record the changes you do during playback or recording so that it's replayed when playing back again. It's a way of sequencing parameters changes the same way you do with Audio or MIDI data.

What is "Smooth Update"?

When changing parameter values in real time or replaying a song where parameters have been automated, our plug-ins compute intermediate values between parameter changes in order to avoid "clicks" and "pops" that may occur otherwise. It results in a non audible smooth parameters update and lets you freely use automation or MIDI control to change the effects in a song.

Do your plug-ins support MIDI Control?

Yes they do. They offer precise control over the mapping of MIDI Control Change (CC) messages to parameter values: you can adjust both the channel and CC number as well as the response curve of the control. Since some of our plug-ins are also capable of creating MIDI CC from the audio signal, they can all be connected for real time signal-dependent audio effects. See our MIDI Control in Sonar tutorial for an example.

More...

This manual only covers the basics of Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer. Our website offers many additional resources for your Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer plug-in and is constantly updated, so keep an eye on it! You will find below a few examples of available resources.

Extra Skins

We encourage our customers to propose their own skins for our products and we often propose alternative skins to let you choose the one that best suits your needs. You can check Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer skins page to get the latest skins.

Single Band

Product: MB-7 Mixer Description: This skin transforms the plug-in into a very simple single band utility that lets you adjust the gain, stereo spread and panning of a track. It also includes a mono switch, level meters and multiple instances grouping options. The skin works for both the mono and stereo versions of the plug-in. Author: Blue Cat Audio Download: Skin_SingleBand.zip

Tutorials

Many Tutorials are available on our website. They cover a wide range of topics and host applications. You will find below a list of tutorials that are related to the Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer plug-in. An updated list is also available online.

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 f...[Read More...]

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 ha...[Read More...]

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 l...[Read More...]

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 th...[Read More...]

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 bu...[Read More...]

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 explain...[Read More...]

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)....[Read More...]

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 sim...[Read More...]

Tutorial - Real Time Side Chain Multiband Dynamics

This tutorial shows how to perform multi band side chain compression, ducking or gating with Blue Cat's MB-5 Dynamix and Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer. "Side chaining" consists in using the si...[Read More...]

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, su...[Read More...]

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 DP Meter Pro plugin (DPMP) as an example, but you can use any other audio plugin which provi...[Read More...]

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 DP Meter Pro plugin as an example, but you can use any other audio plugin which provides output ...[Read More...]

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...[Read More...]

Updates

As you can see in the history log below, we care about constantly updating our products in order to give you the latest technology available. Please visit our website often to check if Blue Cat's MB-7 Mixer has been updated, or subscribe to our Newsletter to be informed of the latest news about our products.

You can also follow us on twitter and facebook for almost real time updates notification, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see the latest videos about our software.

Versions History

V1.1 (2011/08/31)

A "dual channel" version of the plug-in is now available. It can process the left/right or mid/side channels separately. Output data rate (MIDI CC or automation) can now be customized, from 20 to 500 Hz. Increased the default output data rate (from 20 to 50 Hz) for smoother side chaining and more precise spectrum display. Windows: improved settings dialog loading time. Mac: user interface performance improvement (up to 20% lighter on cpu).

V1.0 (2011/04/06)

First release.

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