Leapwing Audio Joe Chiccarelli Signature Plug-In Instruction Manual

Leapwing Audio Joe Chiccarelli Signature Plug-In

Product Information

The Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli is a plugin designed for audio processing. It is compatible with Mac OS X (10.10 and higher) and Windows 8 and 10. The plugin requires authentication, where users need to enter their email address and serial number. The email address should be the same as the one used to create the Leapwing user account. The serial number is provided via email afterpurchase and can also be found on the Leapwing account page.

The Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli plugin includes profiles for 11 audio source types, including kick, snare, toms, drum overhead, drum room, bass di, bass amp, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric piano, and lead vocal. These profiles are optimized for the listed instrument types but can also be used with other instrument types.

The plugin is intended to be used as an insert effect on either an individual track or on a bus. It offers a range of controls and displays in its main user interface.

The plugin provides various profiles, each with a unique set of controls that affect multiple parameters of the equipment used by Joe Chiccarelli. These profiles include EQ settings, harmonicscircuit, sustain, and more.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Authentication:
   • Open the Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli plugin for the first time.
   • Enter your email address and serial number to authenticate the plugin.
   • Make sure to use the same email address associated with your Leapwing user account.
   • The serial number is provided via email after purchase and can also be found on the Leapwing account page.
2. Managing Hardware ID:
   • Visit the Leapwing account page at https://www.leapwingaudio.com/my-account/.
   • On the account page, you can manage the Hardware ID (computer)connected to your license key.
   • If you want to move the license to another computer you own, delete the current Hardware ID and activate the license on the other computer.
3. Using Profiles:
   • Select the desired audio source type profile from the available options.
   • The profiles are optimized for specific instruments but can also be used with other instrument types.
4. Main Interface:
   • The main user interface of the plugin displays basic controls and displays.
5. Presets:
   • Click on the preset name to access the preset menu.
   • Use the left and right arrows (< and >) to cycle through the presets.
   • The factory presets include selected source instrument, input and output gain, and applicable settings.
   • To change the default preset folder location, copy all presets to the desired new location.
   • In the preset menu, click Options > Set Preset Folder and select the new folder.
   • Clicking Restore Factory Presets will reset all factory presets in the current preset folder.
6. Profiles and Controls:
   • Each Joe Chiccarelli profile includes a unique set of controls.
   • The controls affect multiple parameters of the equipment used by Joe Chiccarelli.
   • EQ settings:
   • EQ 31-16K: Graphic equalizer corresponding with an API 560. Control: -12dB to +12dB.
   • EQ Low – Low-Mid – Mid-High – High: Modelled after an API550. Control: -12dB to +12dB.
   • EQP100 – EQP10K: Modelled after the infamous Pultec EQ, centered around 100Hz and 10kHz respectively. Control: -100 to +100.
   • Drive: This control represents the harmonics circuit and changes based on the selected profile. Control: 0 to 100.
   • Sustain & Par Sustain: Behaves similar to a Zener Limiter with added character and warmth. When Par Sustain is available, the parameter also controls the dry/wet blend. Control: 0 to 100.

Welcome to Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli
Thank you for choosing Leapwing. We are a small team of highly passionate people, devoted to developing easy to use digital audio tools that achieve rapid results with the highest possible quality. We’ve built an active community ofloyal and engaging users and appreciate all the feedback we receive from our customers. We encourage every user to stay in touch, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any further assistance or want to show your support. To get the most out of your Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli plugin, we highly recommend you to read this manual.

Product Overview

Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli is an innovative audio processor for recording and mixing that incorporates the unique techniques and equipment used by multiaward winning engineer and producer, Joe Chiccarelli. Joe Chiccarelli is a tentime Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer/mixer whose credits include such artists as Tori Amos, Beck, U2, The Strokes, The Killers, Elton John, The Shins, The White Stripes, Morrissey, Alanis Morrisette, Jason Mraz, Juanes, Julieta Venegas, The Raconteurs, Cafe Tacuba, and My Morning Jacket. We worked with Joe to analyze the tools and the workflows he uses to bring you this set of unique processors perfect for recording and mixing duties.

Features

• 11 unique profiles to process kick, snare, toms, drum overhead, drum room, bass di, bass amp, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric piano and lead vocal.
• Each profile has a set of parameters controlling harmonics, EQs, compression and effects
• Instrument profiles are low latency, making it perfectly suitable to use for recording
• All algorithms are meticulously tuned with the highest quality achievable and a pristine sound
• Beautiful re-sizable Retina interface with a unique design focused on the optimal workflow
• Sample rates supported up to 384kHz (DXD).
• Available as 64-bit plugins in VST3, AAX, and AU formats for macOS (10.10 and higher) and Windows 8 and 10.

Authentication

When opening the plugin for the first time, you will be asked to enter your email address and serial number to authenticate the plugin. The email address should be the same one as you used to create your online Leapwing user account. The serial number has been sent to you via email after your purchase, and can also be found on your Leapwing account page.
https://www.leapwingaudio.com/my-account/
On the Leapwing account page you can manage the Hardware ID (computer) connected to your license key. If you want to move the license to another computer you own, you can do this by deleting the current Hardware ID and activating the license on the other computer.
Note that only online authentication is currently available and requires yourcomputer to be online at least once every 30 days. Leapwing Al Schmitt willtry to reauthorize in the background (whenever you’re using the plugin), and if 30 days have elapsed since the last authentication you’ll get a popup message asking you to connect to the Leapwing site. If you are using an offline computer and purchased a license, we have an experimental feature to provide offline authentication. Please contact our support team for help with this.

Applications

Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli includes profiles for 11 audio source types: kick, snare, toms, drum overhead, drum room, bass di, bass amp, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric piano and lead vocal. The profiles are based on Joe’s chosen equipment and processing techniques and are optimized for the listed instrument profiles, but as with any audio processing, you may find other instrument types respond well to one of these profiles.

Note that Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli is intended to be used as an insert effect on either an individual track or on a bus.

Main Interface

The illustration of the main user interface shows the basic controls and displays (identified by number):

1. IN: Input gain control
   The IN slider controls the level of the signal that enters the processor chains. The integrated level meter shows the K-weighted loudness in LUFS and has a 4-second-hold peak bar.
   Default setting is 0 dB (unity gain).

2. Instrument Type
   Selects profile to be used with 11 choices – kick, snare, toms, drum overhead, drum room, bass di, bass amp, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric piano and lead vocal.

3. Main GUI
   Control area for chosen profile – one of 11 profiles will be shown here – see details for each profile below in Profiles section.

4. Bypass
   This is a full bypass switch that maintains the plugin latency.

5. Undo/Redo
   The Undo/Redo arrows provide undo and redo functions for all parameters in the plugin, apart from changing presets. When a preset is changed, the undo/redo history will be cleared.

6. A/B Comparison
   A/B comparison can be used to quickly store 2 different sets of parameters, and toggle between them to evaluate them in detail. At initialization, both A and B are set to the same “Default Setting” state. When you start making changes to parameters, the latest settings will be stored under A, while B keeps the original values. A is highlighted to show it is active. You can toggle between state A and B by clicking the A/B button. When A is active, any changes are stored under A; however, if B is made active, changes are stored under B. Clicking the Copy button will set both A and B states to the current active set of parameters.

7. Presets
   Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli comes with multiple factory presets using a dropdown menu accessed by clicking on the preset name. You can also cycle through them by clicking the left and right arrows (< and >). The factory presets include the selected source instrument, input and output gain, and all applicable settings.
   It is possible to save your own presets; use the “Save as..” option for this. User presets will be automatically added to the list in the dropdown menu. And you can make your own subfolders in the preset folder – they will be displayed in the dropdown menu as subcategories. Note that only preset files stored in the default preset folder are shown in the Preset menu.
   To change the default preset folder location, first copy all presets to the desired new location, and then click Options > Set Preset Folder in the preset menu and select the new folder.
   Clicking Restore Factory Presets will reset all factory presets in the current preset folder.
   Location of default preset files:

   • MacOS: /Users//Library/Audio/Presets/Leapwing Audio/Joe Chiccarelli
   • Windows: C:\Users\\Documents\Leapwing Audio\Joe Chiccarelli

8. OUT: Output gain control
   The OUT slider controls the output level of the plugin to allow gain staging in a DAW. The integrated level meter shows the K-weighted loudness in LUFS and has a 4-second-hold peak bar.
   Default setting is 0 dB (unity gain).

9. Info menu
   The info button opens a convenient list of following information:

   • Version number of the plugin
   • License Info: See Authentication section above
   • Check for updates… connects to Leapwing if system is online
   • Website: link to www.leapwingaudio.com if system is online
   • Manual: links to the handy local pdf of this user manual

Profiles

Each Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli profile includes a unique set of controls. These controls often affect multiple parameters of the equipment that Joe actually uses and each profile models exclusive FX chains that differ from one profile to another.
Below we’ll describe each of the units that can be found in one or more of the profiles. And even though they are largely similar between profiles, there might be some under the hood tuning that was done. For example, EQ Low on the snare drum might have a different center frequency compared to drum overhead. These were all carefully and manually tuned according to what Joe does in his sessions. When Par (Parallel) is available, the 0 – 100 control doesn’t only affect how much you’re pushing the compressor, but also the dry/wet blend, so it’s affecting multiple parameters in the background.

EQ 31-16K
Graphic equalizer corresponding with an API 560. Allows you to really dig in and tune your sound. Control: -12dB to +12dB.

EQ Low – Low-Mid – Mid-High – High
Modelled after an API550, with different frequencies and shelf/peak selection based on the profile selected. Control: -12dB to +12dB.

EQP100 – EQP10K
Modelled after the infamous Pultec EQ, centered around 100Hz and 10kHz respectively. Control: -100 to +100. +100 equals around an 8dB boost.

Drive
This is the harmonics circuit and changes based on the profile that is selected. This would be a Neve 1073 pre-amp stage, or API console or a blend of the 2 harmonics circuits. Control: 0 to 100.

Sustain & Par Sustain
Behaves very similar to a Zener Limiter with added character and warmth. When Par Sustain is available, the parameter also controls the dry/wet blend. Control: 0 to 100.

Power & Par Power
Feedback style compressed, which behaves like an aggressive 1176. When Par Power is available, the parameter also controls the dry/wet blend. Control: 0 to 100.

Punch & Par Punch
Adds punch and quickness like a good old DBX 160. When Par Punch is available, the parameter also controls the dry/wet blend. Control: 0 to 100.

Par Sat
Unique saturation unit that reacts similarly to an Overstayer Saturator. It adds a lot of color to your send, and is used to blend with your original signal. Control: 0 to 100.

Par Smooth
Parallel compression that is extremely smooth and will remind you of a Neve 33609. Control: 0 to 100.

Optical & Optical Fast
Optical compressor, ideally suited and tuned around the vocal chain. Works similar to an LA2A and an LA3A in the Optical Fast mode. Control: 0 to 100.

Reverb
Each unit will have 3 different reverb types carefully tuned per profile. These will typically be a blend between an AMS DMX 15-80, AMS RMS 16, Chamber, Primetime, and 2 different plates. Control: 0 to 100.

Track name detection

For DAWs that support it, there is a neat feature that when your track is labelled with one of the Instrument names, and you launch the Joe Chiccarelli plugin, it will automatically choose that profile. This will simplify your workflow as it will preselect the right profile for you.

Animation

The center section also shows an animation of the selected profiled intstrument. The rings light up when signal is present, based on a momentary LUFS measurement. The amount of rings is controlled by the selected Echo Type. Body, Air and Sub EQ control the color of the rings. The gain reduction of the compressor is shown by making the outer rings dark blue. One dark blue ring means 0.5dB of gain reduction.

Inputs/Outputs/Automation

Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli can be used on either mono or stereo tracks.
The plugin includes access to automation inputs for all the controls of any profile used, and these controls may be varied during playback for special effects. Note that Profiles and Presets are not controlled by automation, and for any given Profile used you will still have access to the full set of automation lanes, even controls not used in the Profile you are using. Only the lanes applicable to the Profile used will be active. To most effectively select a parameter to be controlled, use the “automated” mode of your DAW to set up automation lanes so that you can simply move a Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli control to create a new control lane. And be sure to turn off the automated mode if you wish to change any settings without setting up more automation tracks.

Installation Locations

After running the Leapwing Joe Chiccarelli installer with default folder paths, you will find the different plugin formats in the following locations:

MacOS:
AAX – /Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins
VST3 – /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3
AU – /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components

Windows:
AAX – C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins
VST3 – C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
You may choose alternate locations if you do not use these default locations, although be sure you know what you are doing since placing files in the wrong location will create problems.
*VST PlugIn Technology by Steinberg Media Technologies

Contact Us

If you have questions, need any further assistance or want to share your thoughts about our plugins, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email on support@leapwingaudio.com or join the Leapwing Users group on Facebook.
Thanks again for choosing Leapwing and we look forward to hearing from you.

References

• Leapwing Audio - Innovative Audio Plugins
• My Account - Leapwing Audio

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