This is where you’ll find global controls that affect the entire plugin's sound. All controls in the Master section are controlled by the Magnitude slider at the top right, just like the six big knobs.
Padlock
When you place your mouse pointer over the Master section, a padlock icon appears to the far left. Click this to preserve the Master section settings even if you change presets.
Input
Adjust the level of the incoming audio. Hold down the [Cmd] key on Mac or [Alt] key on Windows to adjust Input and Output simultaneously.
EQ on/off
Activates or deactivates the Master EQ section.
Cut slider
The Cut filter combines a low- and a high-cut filter. Set the range using the arrows, or click and hold the unfiltered area and drag your mouse up/down. Click and hold the unfiltered area, then drag your mouse to the left or right to move the entire range.
Low-cut mode buttons
To the left of the Cut slider, you can set the low-cut filter shape by selecting one of the two shape symbols. The top one gives a gentle, transparent cut, while the bottom one is steeper and shows a resonant peak at the cutoff frequency.
High-cut mode buttons
To the right of the Cut slider, you can set the high-cut filter shape by selecting one of the two shape symbols. The top one gives you a soft roll-off, while the bottom one is steeper.
Tone
This sets the overall tone of the plugin using the Tone amount knob and the four predefined EQ shapes.
The Tilt shape (top left)
The Tilt shape is similar to a seesaw — select it, then turn the Tone knob counterclockwise to simultaneously boost lows and cut highs, or clockwise for the opposite effect.
The Low Bump (top right)
The Low Bump boosts the lows while simultaneously attenuating the low-mids. This is a lovely EQ setting inspired by an old tube-driven equalizer, and you’ll achieve it by turning the Tone knob clockwise. Turn the Tone knob counterclockwise for the opposite effect. This gives more of a lo-fi feel with tubby low-mids and reduced deep lows.
The Smile or Frown curve (bottom left)
The Smile or Frown curve gives you a “scooped mids” sound when you turn the Tone knob counterclockwise, and a telephone-like midrange focus when you turn it clockwise.
The Band Focus (bottom right)
The Band Focus setting employs a mid-side split with separate EQ curves for each. Use it to bring either your mids or your highs into focus, and to subtly widen the stereo image.
Air
If your processing ended up dulling the drum sound somewhat, Air adds back some top-end sparkle in a natural-sounding way utilising finely tuned multi-band compression along with some mid/side saturation.
Attack and Sustain
Global shaping of transients and sustained sounds. Turn up Attack to make drum hits spikier and more aggressive. Turn it down to round them off. Turn up Sustain to extend the hits, and down to make them shorter. Hold down the [Cmd] key on Mac or [Alt] key on Windows while adjusting either of the knobs to link the two and make them move in opposite directions.
Clip
While clipping is technically a brute-force method for cutting off the peaks of your audio, it can be a remarkably transparent way to increase the apparent loudness of a sound. A little LED next to the Clip button lights up whenever Clip does its thing.
If you have activated Post in the Boom Shack module, a graphic will indicate that the sound is routed past the effects modules and inserted just before the Clip stage.
Output section
Output
Adjust the overall output level of DB-30. Tweak the Output knob by ear, or use the built-in gain compensation tool — hover over the output meter and click the arrow.
In/Out Diff Meter
In order to keep track of the level differences introduced throughout the DB-30 signal chain you can refer to this meter. It displays both a visual and numerical guide for the gain in dB between your input and output signal.
Loudness Match (Visible on hover)
If you want to match your output level to your input signal, simply press the arrow button and the Output will be automatically adjusted. Due to the dynamic nature of drum content, you may not get a 100% perfect match on the first click, but give it a minute and click again and you should be very close.