AUDIFIED PCMOO14810-000 Mix Checker User Manual
- June 5, 2024
- AUDIFIED
Table of Contents
AUDIFIED PCMOO14810-000 Mix Checker
What is MixChecker
MixChecker saves your time. Plug it in the master track of your project as the
last segment of your listening chain and quickly turn your studio monitors
into classic reference monitors or several consumer devices.
The Pro version adds many new features but the interface isn’t more
complicated than the original MixChecker.
New in version 1.2
- Redesigned interface
- Completely new processing engine utilizing the MixChecker technology
- Lower latency, better performance
- Improvements in the simulations
Installation
Software Installation
Download the recent version of the plug-in: http://services.audified.com/download/mixchecker
- Windows: The downloaded file is packed, unzip it. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. You can select the destination path and the installed plug-in format during the process.
- Mac: Mount the downloaded disk image and run the installer. You can select the installed plug-in format by clicking the Customize button. Plug-ins are installed to the standard locations.
Software Uninstallation
Windows: Navigate to the MixChecker program folder in the Start menu and run the uninstaller. Mac: Open the provided disk image and run the uninstaller.
iLok Protection
- This plug-in is protected by iLok (a software machine license or a USB dongle).
- It requires iLok License Manager 5.0 or newer.
- Please make sure you have activated a valid license in your iLok account.
- Please refer to this guide: https://shop.audified.com/pages/how-to-activate-ilok-license
Standard workflow
MixChecker works in all main digital audio workstations (recording applications) as a plug-in. To open the plug-in, locate the plug-in (usually a hierarchic menu). MixChecker is listed in the “Other” group or in the “AUDIFIED” group when the manufacturer sorting is offered in the DAW. Usually, the checking takes place in the end of mixing and mastering process. Click the selected simulated devices and listen to the results.
Once the checking is finished, we suggest to fully bypass the plug-in (not only deselecting the simulations).
Why the compensations disappeared MixChecker could have average characteristics for simulated devices but it would require exact characteristics of the speakers used for monitoring. The frequency characteristics of real-world devices have many peaks and notches. For a quick check of the recorded material (simulation) we may use the average values of the frequencies with attenuated or increased volumes. For compensation, it is not possible. If we would take a speaker with a peak at 520 Hz and another speaker with 500 Hz, we could not use a compensation with the average value – the result would be decreased volume at 510 Hz (average compensation) for both speakers and the peaks at 500 and 520 Hz would remain. Simply, in some cases, the compensation may make the simulation results even worse.
MixChecker screens
Default screen
The basic MixChecker screen offers an effective environment.
Default screen with volume adjustments
Although the simulations are volume neutral for average recordings, some materials require a volume correction. If most of the energy is placed at frequencies where the simulated devices have relatively high or low sensitivity, the result may sound softer or louder than the original. Use the volume correction then. The volume correction is individual for each button (for each simulated device). The range is from -9 dB to 9 dB with 1 dB step.
The Services menu contains the “Volume Setup” submenu where you may:
- Show or hide the volume panel.
- Save the current settings as default, so if you open
- MixChecker in another track, project or even in another host application, it opens with the saved settings. In other words, if you open a new instance of MixChecker, the volume settings are the same as they were when you used by the “Save Current Settings As Default” command.
- Reload the saved default settings.
- Reset all volume corrections to 0 dB. This resets both the current values and the saved default values.
**Main screen controls
**
Theoretical background and measurement details
Parallel Warped Filters
The linear part of the model uses transfer function modeling by fixed-pole
parallel filters based on the dual-band warped filter design. More info here:
Balázs Bank and Germán Ramos, “Improved Pole Positioning for Parallel Filters
Based on Spectral Smoothing and Multiband Warping,” IEEE Signal Processing
Letters, vol. 18, no. 5. Thanks to the filter design on a warped frequency
scale, the frequency resolution of the model takes into account the frequency
resolution of the auditory system. The dual-band design brings even more
precise modeling at low frequencies without reducing precision at high
frequencies. The parallel structure of 2nd-order minimum-phase filters brings
extremely low latency, minimal phase distortion, and high stability
.
Desktop
5” Black: magnitude response (measured and model)
Constant Loudness
For the seamless switching among devices, the overall gain of all devices is
normalized to the same objective loudness using an algorithm derived from
Loudness Unit (LU) meter (ITU-R BS.1770-3)
Acoustic Calibration
The scale of the distortion level is calibrated in real SPL measured in 1m
distance in free field.
Measurement
All characteristics of the devices used for identification of model parameters
were measured using APx525 Audio Analyzer with an acoustic option in the
anechoic chamber. Headphones were measured using B&K Type 4128-C.
Desktop 5” Black: Measured dependence of higher harmonics ratio on input
signal frequency
SW Specifications
- AAX, AU, VST3
- macOS, Windows
- Android,iOS or a web browser on any OS for remote control
SW Requirements
- macOS 10.11 and newer, including macOS 12, Apple Silicon native
- Windows 7 and newer
- 100 MB disk space required
- iLok License manager 5.0 and newer
Conclusion
We are sure that you can work with the MixChecker now. However, if anything seems unclear or you need assistance, feel free to contact us at http://services.audified.com/support
References
- Audified | Download
- Audified | Download
- Audified | Knowledge base
- Audified | How to activate iLok license
- Audified | MixChecker