Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Digital Signal level Into "Analog" emulation plugins?

Majestikc · 25th July 2009

What is an ideal input level into an analog emulation plugin?
If the plugin is modeled correctly on the analog hardware then wouldn't too "hot" a digital signal cause the plugin to react the same way as it would if you blasted it with too high an analog signal in the real world?

What would be a general equivalent, I read somewhere that around -18db digital is the same as around 0db with analog gear, so wouldn't an input level of -18db get a more "realistic" result from the plugin?

I'm sure a real Fairchild or whatnot wouldn't sound too great if you sent a way too high signal into it causing it too overload and not sound correct?

Any info on whether this makes any difference at all or not?

(all the dipsh1ts with there "it's not the real thing so it sucks" comments need not reply, the question is kind of specific)

25th July 2009	#1
Majestikc 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended. Joined: May 2009 Posts: 320 Thread Starter	Digital Signal level Into "Analog" emulation plugins? What is an ideal input level into an analog emulation plugin? If the plugin is modeled correctly on the analog hardware then wouldn't too "hot" a digital signal cause the plugin to react the same way as it would if you blasted it with too high an analog signal in the real world? What would be a general equivalent, I read somewhere that around -18db digital is the same as around 0db with analog gear, so wouldn't an input level of -18db get a more "realistic" result from the plugin? I'm sure a real Fairchild or whatnot wouldn't sound too great if you sent a way too high signal into it causing it too overload and not sound correct? Any info on whether this makes any difference at all or not? (all the dipsh1ts with there "it's not the real thing so it sucks" comments need not reply, the question is kind of specific)