Article Overview

The Q Factor

Alexander Klebl: Parametric EQ from Lawo's Plug-in Collection in continuous use at Marell Audio Media

Marell Audio Media, based in Würzburg, Germany, has been operating successfully for many years in the specialised area of corporate audio design, station IDs, and jingles. Its customers include major broadcasting companies such as the ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation), SWR (Southwest Broadcasting), SR (Saarland Broadcasting), Sat 1, Bayer, and many more. Alexander Klebl and Achim von Bassen first compose and produce their jingles as computer-based scores in their studio in Würzburg. If feedback is positive, they subsequently complete the jingles with pop musicians, sometimes with complete string sections.

The jingles, most of which will be used by a broadcaster for several years, require an elaborate production process. To this end, Marell Audio Media decided to implement the Lawo Plug-in Collection as a leading tool in their sound editing process. “Our production philosophy is based on a combination of analogue classics with modern, digital tools. Lawo’s Plug-in Collection, particularly the EQ, is the perfect kit to achieve this. We use it across different genres, including classical music, rock/pop, and even synthetic audio designs”, explains Alexander Klebl.

When asked to elaborate on a specific application, he continues: “During a piano trio production, the recording of the violin was very thin but thick with overtones, while it basically wasn’t present enough in the lower midrange. Using the EQ I was able to adjust the frequencies in question in a very precise and detailed manner. The various filter settings came in very handy at this point. The EQ itself operates extremely efficiently, so that even the smallest gain adjustments can be heard, something I had only experienced with analogue EQs, and a testament to the quality of this specific Lawo plug-in. In the end, the edited production sounds totally natural and not at all technical.”

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The EQ features four, individually mutable parametric bands, and a maximum Q factor of 80, making it the perfect tool for such tasks. “Lawo plug-ins offer maximum flexibility, an exceptional degree of integration, and excellent sound processing. For this reason, we are using them constantly”, summarises Alexander Klebl, giving his final verdict on the Lawo Plug-in Collection.

Marell

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The Lawo plug-in collection

Featuring cutting-edge sound processing, combined with state-of-the-art ease of use and multiple innovative features, the mc² series’ mixing consoles have set new global standards, time and again. Lawo’s Plug-in Collection now brings signal processing and the mc² consoles’ algorithms directly to your computer. 64-bit floating point processing, combined with a signal-to-noise ratio of 135 – 150 dB, plus additional technical innovations, such as Hyperpanning and the entirely noise-free adjustment of all parameters, complete the picture.

Lawo’s Plug-in Collection comprises 12 plug-ins: Automatic Gain Control, Compressor, Compressor + Sidechain Filter, Delay, Expander Gate, Gate + Sidechain Filter, Parametric EQ, Graphic EQ, Hyperpan, and ImageX Limiter. The plug-ins are compatible with Ableton Live, Apple Logic, Cakewalk Sonar, Digidesign’s Pro Tools, Magix Samplitude, Steinberg Cubase, and others.

System Requirements
Mac OSX 10.4 or higher, Intel(R) Core(TM) 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM, Audio Unit, VST 2.4 or RTAS Host
Windows 2000/XP (32 Bit) and Vista (32/64 Bit), Pentium 3, 512MB RAM, VST 2.4 Host

About Lawo AG

Lawo, headquartered in Rastatt/Germany, specialises in developing, designing and manufacturing mixing consoles and matrix systems for radio and TV broadcasters, as well as for use in live events. Standards of high quality and innovative technology are supported by decades of experience in the field of professional audio technology. The company recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Lawo’s product range covers digital audio mixing consoles for use in radio, broadcast, production and live applications, including the required software. In addition to the provision of matrix systems and audio networks, Lawo also carries out project engineering tasks and acts as a main contractor for radio OB trucks; these services include user training and maintenance. This high level of expertise results in a comprehensive support service for Lawo customers.

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Lawo AG