RME HDSPe MADI [57/72] Ms processing

User's Guide HDSPe MADI © RME

Unfortunately, very often it is not possible within the record software to assign a different input

channel to an existing track 'on the fly'. The loopback mode solves this problem elegantly. The

routing scheme stays the same, with the input channel 10 sent to any output via TotalMix, to the

Compressor, from the Compressor back to any input. Now this input signal is routed directly to

output 10, and output 10 is then switched into loopback mode via Ctrl-mouse.

As explained in chapter 27.5, the hardware input of channel 10 now no longer feeds the record

software, but is still connected to TotalMix (and thus to the Compressor). The record software

receives the signal of submix channel 10 instead – the Compressor's return path.

27.7 MS Processing

The mid/side principle is a special positioning technique for microphones, which results in a mid

signal on one channel and a side signal on the other channel. These information can be trans-

formed back into a stereo signal quite easily. The process sends the monaural mid channel to

left and right, the side channel too, but phase inverted (180°) to the right channel. For a better

understanding: the mid channel represents the function L+R, while the side channel represents

L-R.

During record the monitoring needs

to be done in 'conventional' stereo.

As TotalMix can invert the phase, it

also offers the functionality of a M/S-

decoder. The menu Options includes

a macro to simplify the setup. First

select the two input channels, in the

picture to the right MADI In 3 and 4,

having the current routing destination

MADI Out 1+2. Now the string MS

Processing In 3+4 to Out 1+2 On is

shown in Options.

After a mouse click TotalMix sets gains and pans correctly. Of course

these settings can also be performed manually. Repeat the last step to

remove all routings (menu Options ...Off).

The M/S-Processing automatically operates as M/S encoder or decoder, depending on the

source signal format. When processing a usual stereo signal, all monaural information will be

shifted into the left channel, all stereo information into the right channel. Thus the stereo signal

is M/S encoded. This yields some interesting insights into the mono/stereo contents of modern

music productions. Additionally some very interesting methods of manipulating the stereo base

and generating stereo effects come up, as it is then very easy to process the side channel with

Low Cut, Expander, Compressor or Delay. The most basic application is already available di-

rectly in TotalMix: Changing the level of the side channel allows to manipulate the stereo width

from mono to stereo up to extended, stepless and in real-time.