6050 Ultimate

Channel Strip
Emulations for Every Occasion

User Manual

McDOWELL SIGNAL PROCESSING, LLC

 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip
Plug-in Manual

McDSP
McDowell Signal Processing, LLC
2083 Old Middlefield Way #204
Mountain View, CA 94043
Support
Email: info@mcdsp.com
Technical Support: help@mcdsp.com
World Wide Web: www.mcdsp.com

Page ii
 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

Special Thanks to:

• Rob Barrett Jr., our #1 customer
• Customers who always want more ‘gear’.

from the entire McDSP development team.

Copyright Notice:
Copyright 1998-2016 McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company
All Rights Reserved. The McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company’s 6050 Ultimate Channel
Strip Plug-In and corresponding User’s Manual is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Information in
this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part
of McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company. This document may not, in whole or part, be
copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable
form for the purpose of resale without prior consent, in writing, from McDowell Signal Processing, Limited
Liability Company.

Trademarks:
McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company is a trademark of McDowell Signal Processing,
Limited Liability Company.

Avid™, Digidesign™ and Pro Tools™ are registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc.

Digital Performer, Mark of the Unicorn, and MOTU are registered trademarks of Mark of the Unicorn, Inc.

Logic, Logic Sutdio, and Apple are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

The Audio Units logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Ableton, Ableton Live, Operator and Sampler are trademarks of Ableton AG.

Windows, and Windows XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.

All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

mcdsp.com Page iii

 Table of Contents

McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Plug-in Manual ii

McDSP License Agreement vii
Getting Started with 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip ix
System Requirements ix
Installing the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Plug-in xi
Installation on Mac OS X xi
Installation on Windows xii
Installation on VENUE systems xii
Authorizing your McDSP Plug-ins xv
Authorizing with the iLok License Manager xv
Demos xv
Redeeming License Codes xvi
Registering Your McDSP Plug-in xvi
Using Your McDSP Plug-ins xvii
Starting a McDSP Plug-in xvii
Exiting a McDSP Plug-in xvii

6050 Ultimate Channel Strip 1

The Quick Start Tour: The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Plug-in 2
6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Overview 2
Controls 4
Module Selector 4
Input Section 4
Output Section 4
Module Section 5
Displays 6
Meters 6
General Information 6
Control Linking 6
Automation 6
Presets: Using the Presets and Making Your Own 6
A Word on Preset Compatibility 6

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 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

Using the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Plug-in 7

EQ Basics 7
High Pass Filter (HPF) 7
High Shelf EQ 7
Low Shelf EQ 7
Parametric EQ 7
Compression Basics 8
Compression 8
A Closer Look - EQ 9
E670 9
Moo Q 9
iQ 9
E300/E301 9
British-E 9
EZ Q 10
EQ’76 10
FRG EEE 10
E357 10
A Closer Look - Compression 11
C671 11
MT2 11
Opto-C2/Opto-L2 11
BC-22 11
Over EZ 12
FRG445 12
D358 12
A Closer Look - More Modules! 13
EZ G 13
iX 13
S 671 13
Moo-D 13
D-100 14
E404 14

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 Applications 15
Vocals 15
Drums 15
Bass 15
Keys, Etc. 15
Everything Else 16
6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Plug-in Reference Guide 17
6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Specifications 17
DSP Delay 17
DSP Usage 18
Pro Tools™ HDX hardware 18
Maximum Instantiation Counts at 48kH 18

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 McDSP

McDSP License Agreement

The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in
accordance with the terms of the agreement.

McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company License and

Warranty:
The software which accompanies this license (the “Software”) is the property of McDowell Signal
Processing, Limited Liability Company or its licensers and is protected by copyright law. While McDowell
Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company continues to own the Software, you will have certain rights to
use the Software after your acceptance of this license. Except as may be modified by a license addendum
which accompanies this license, your rights and obligations with respect to the use of this Software are as
follows:

You May:
• authorize 1 (one) copy of the Software on 1 (one) PACE Anti-Piracy iLok USB Smart Key, for use with no
more than 1 (one) computer at any given time;
• make copies of the Software for archival purposes, or copy the software onto the hard disk of your
computer and retain the original for archival purposes;
• after written notice to McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company, transfer the Software on
a permanent basis to another person or entity, provided that you retain no copies of the Software and
the transferee agrees to the terms of this agreement

You may not:

• copy, duplicate, or reproduce the documentation which accompanies the Software for the purpose of
resale;
• sublicense, rent or lease any portion of the Software to a third party without expressed written
permission from McDowell Signal Processing, LLC;
• reverse engineer, de-compile, disassemble, modify, translate, make any attempt to discover the source
code of the Software, or create derivative works from the Software;
• make any attempt to circumvent any copy protection software;
• use a previous version or copy of the Software after you have received a replacement set or an upgraded
version as a replacement of the prior version, unless you donate a previous version of an upgraded
version to a charity of your choice, and such charity agrees in writing that it will be the sole end user
of the product , and that it will abide by the terms of this agreement. Unless you so donate a previous
version of an upgraded version, upon upgrading the Software, all copies of the prior version must be
destroyed.

mcdsp.com Page vii

 Limited Warranty:
McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company warrants that the media on which the Software
is distributed will be free from defects. Your sole remedy in the event of a breach of this warranty will be
that McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company will, at its option, replace any defective media.
McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company does not warrant that the Software will meet your
requirements or that the operation of the Software will be uninterrupted or that the Software will be
error-free. THE ABOVE WARRANTY IS EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON INFRINGEMENT. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS.
YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS, WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

Disclaimer of Damages:
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY REMEDY SET FORTH HEREIN FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE, IN NO
EVENT WILL McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY SPECIAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR SIMILAR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS OR LOST DATA ARISING
OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE EVEN IF McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability
Company HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE
LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO THE ABOVE
LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN NO CASE SHALL McDowell Signal Processing,
Limited Liability Company’s LIABILITY EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SOFTWARE. The disclaimers and
limitations set forth above will apply regardless of whether you accept the Software.

U.S. Government Restricted Rights:

RESTRICTED RIGHTS LEGEND: Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as
set forth in subparagraph (c) (1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS
252.227-7013 or subparagraphs (c)(1) and (2) of the Commercial Software Restricted Rights clause at 48 CFR
52.227-19, as applicable, McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company, Mountain View, CA 94043
(info@mcdsp.com).

General:
This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California. This Agreement may only be modified
by a license addendum which accompanies this license or by a written document which has been signed both
by you and McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company. Should you have any questions concerning
this Agreement, or if you desire to contact McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability Company for any
reason, please email: legal@mcdsp.com. By downloading, using, or copying this Binary Software, Licensee
agrees to abide by the intellectual property laws, and all other applicable laws of the U.S., and the terms of
this License. Ownership of the software shall remain solely in McDowell Signal Processing, Limited Liability
Company.

Page viii
 Getting Started

Getting Started with 6050 Ultimate

Channel Strip
Each McDSP plug-in is delivered inside an installer application, and uses the iLok2 to
authorize each plug-in.

System Requirements
McDSP HD and Native plug-ins are compatible with Pro Tools™, Pro Tools™ HD,
Logic 9 and Logic X, Cubase, Nuendo, Abelton Live, MOTU Digital Performer (DP)
Studio One, and other DAWs that support AAX, AU, VST, and/or VST3 plug-in
formats.
McDSP Native plug-ins support AAX Native, AU, VST, and VST3 plug-in formats.
McDSP HD plug-ins addtionally support the AAX DSP plug-in format, as well as
AAX Native, AU, VST, and VST3 plug-in formats. McDSP plug-ins support Mac
OS 10.7.2 or later (Lion), 10.8.x (Mountain Lion), 10.9.x (Mavericks), 10.10.x
(Yosemite), and Windows 7.
McDSP plug-ins require an iLok2 USB Smart Key for authorization.
McDSP AAX plug-ins require Windows 7 or later, Mac OS10.7.2 or later, and
support Pro Tools 10.3.8 or later, 11.1.3 or later, and Pro Tools 12.x or later.
McDSP Au plug-ins require Mac OS 10.7.2 or later, and support Logic 9 and Logic
X, Digital Performer, Abelton Live, and other AU compatible DAWs.
McDSP VST and VST3 plug-ins require Windows 7 or later, Mac OS 10.7.2 or later,
and support Cubase 7.x or later, Nuendo 6.5.x or later, and other VST and VST3
compatible DAWs.
Most McDSP HD plug-ins also support the VENUE systems on D-show, Profile, and
SC48 hardware. Exceptions ar the 6020 Ultmiate EQ, AE400 Active Eqalizer, and
the SPC2000 Serial/Parallel compressor. These are AAX only (DSP and Native) and
can only run on S3L and S6L hardware.
Please visit mcdsp.com for the latest compatibility information.

Supported Plug-in Formats

McDSP plug-ins are available in AAX DSP, AAX Native, and Audio Unit (AU)
formats. There is also legacy support for TDM, RTAS, and Audiosuite formats for
some plug-ins. McDSP plug-ins are available in two versions - HD and Native.

mcdsp.com Page ix
HD: Full featured products. AAX DSP, AAX Native, TDM, RTAS, Audiosuite and
Audio Unit (AU) plug-in formats supported. Complete session interchange with
Native versions.
Native: Full featured products. AAX Native, RTAS, Audiosuite, and Audio Unit
(AU) plug-in formats supported. Complete session interchange with HD versions.

Hardware
McDSP plug-ins support any Avid or approved third party hardware supported in
Pro Tools 7.4.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x and 11.x or greater, including the HDX, HD and HD
Accel hardware interfaces, 002, 003, Mbox product line, and M-Audio interfaces.
McDSP plug-ins also support approved hardware for DAWs supporting Audio
Unit (AU) including audio interfaces made by Apogee, MOTU, and RME.
McDSP Mac versions of TDM, RTAS, and Audiosuite plug-ins are compatible with
both Intel and PowerPC based computers, however McDSP AAX DSP, AAX Native,
and Audio Unit (AU) plug-ins require Intel based computers. PowerPC installers
are available at mcdsp.com.
McDSP Windows versions require an Intel Pentium 4 or greater processor.
All McDSP HD plug-ins also support the Avid VENUE Live Sound systems,
including the D-Show, Profile, SC48, and S3L and S6L systems.
Please visit mcdsp.com for the latest information about compatibility.

Page x
 Getting Started

Installing the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Plug-in

Installation on Mac OS X
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in package includes this manual, ReadMe
and Release Notes, a folder of presets for the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip
plug-in, and the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in. Two copies of the 6050
Ultimate Channel Strip Licensing Agreement are included - one in this pdf
manual and a second as a separate text file. The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip
plug-in manual requires that Adobe Acrobat reader (or similar .pdf reader) is
installed.
The authorization of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in is still required
after running the installer, and those steps are detailed in the following sections.

Installing the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in and presets with the
Installer:
The online version of the package has been prepared for Internet delivery, and is
transmitted as a compressed file in zip format (.zip). Simply double click the zip
file to unpack the installer.
• Run the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in Installer application to install
(copy) the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in, presets, and documentation
to a local folder on your system. The plug-in will be placed in the ‘Plug-ins’
folder, and the presets will be placed in the ‘Plug-ins Settings’ folder.
• If a previous version of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in (or other HD,
Native, or LE version) was already in the plug-ins folder, it will automatically
be updated (or replaced) by the installer.

mcdsp.com Page xi
Installation on Windows
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in package includes this manual, ReadMe
and Release Notes, a folder of presets for the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip
plug-in, and the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in. Two copies of the 6050
Ultimate Channel Strip Licensing Agreement are included - one in this pdf
manual and a second as a separate text file. The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip
manual requires that Adobe Acrobat reader (or similar .pdf reader) is installed.
The authorization of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in is still required
after running the installer, and those steps are detailed in the following sections.

Installing the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in and presets with the
Installer:
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in package contains a Windows self
extracting executable (.exe). The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in executable
file will automatically install the plug-in and its presets on your system. Double
click the file to launch the installer to install the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip
plug-in, presets, and documentation.
Authorization of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in is still required after
running the installer, and those steps are detailed in the following sections.
Note that after installing new versions of the PACE iLok drivers with the 6050
Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in installer, you will be prompted by the 6050
Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in installer to reboot your system. If you are not
prompted by the installer, there is no need to reboot.
• Run the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in Installer application to install the
6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in, presets, and documentation to a local
folder on your system. The plug-in will be placed in the ‘Plug-ins’ folder, and
the presets will be placed in the ‘Plug-ins Settings’ folder.
• If a previous version of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in (or other HD,
Native, or LE version) was already in the plug-ins folder, it will automatically
be updated (or replaced) by the installer.

Installation on VENUE systems

The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in package for VENUE systems includes presets
for the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in and the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip
plug-in. The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Licensing Agreement is displayed when
installing the product on VENUE. The pdf manual can be obtained by running the
Mac OS X or Windows XP/Vista version of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Pro Tools
plug-in installer on any available computer.

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 Getting Started

The VENUE compatible installer will automatically install the 6050 Ultimate Channel
Strip plug-in and its presets on your system. The authorization of the 6050 Ultimate
Channel Strip plug-in is still required after running the installer, and those steps are
detailed in the following sections.
Note that only McDSP HD plug-ins support the VENUE system.
McDSP HD plug-ins also support the S3L and S6L system. Installation details and
more information can be found at mcdsp.com.

Installing the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in and presets on VENUE
with the ‘HD Disk’:
The VENUE installers are available online as a compressed zip file download,
however you will have to take additional steps to create your own VENUE
installer CD-R, see additional instructions below before proceeding with these
instructions. The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip installer will install both the plug-
in and its presets on your system.
Note that after installing new versions of the PACE iLok drivers with the 6050
Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in installer, you will need to reboot your system.
You will not be prompted to reboot, and if you don’t you may see an error
message saying “TPkd driver required, and a reboot. Please reboot or reinstall
the software.’ If you see this message, simply reboot the console and try again.
• Insert the McDSP ‘HD Disk’ CDROM onto the CD drive. Note that neither the
McDSP ‘Native Disk’ nor the ‘LE Disk’ contains VENUE compatible installers.
• Ensure your system is in ‘CONFIG’ mode, you cannot install plug-ins in ‘SHOW’
mode.
• Navigate to the ‘OPTIONS’ page and then select the ‘PLUG-INS’ tab.
• You should now see the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in available on the
left hand side.
• Select the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in and select ‘INSTALL.’
• If a previous version of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in was already
installed, it will be updated by the installer.

mcdsp.com Page xiii

Creating a VENUE D-SHOW Installer CD-R from the online zip file:
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip VENUE compatible installer is available
from mcdsp.com. . Once you have located and downloaded the latest
VENUE compatible installers from the McDSP website, you will have to take
several additional steps to create a VENUE compatible Installer CD-R. For
your convenience, all VENUE compatible products are located in the same
downloadable zip file, so you will only have to create one CD-R to install all
compatible McDSP products.
• Unzip the downloaded file and locate the folder named “TDM Plug-Ins”
inside the unpacked folder.
• Using any CD-R burning application, burn this folder and its contents to an
ISO format CD-R. It is recommended that you use a brand new CD-R for this,
and do not rewrite an older CD-R.
• Once you have burned this folder to a CD-R, you should see it at the root
level of the disk (i.e. “D:\TDM Plug-ins”). Important: If the “TDM Plug-ins”
folder is not located at the root level of the CD-R or has been renamed, the
VENUE console may not properly recognize the installer disk.
• At this point, you can follow the ‘HD Disk’ installation instructions above to
complete the installation.

Page xiv
 Authorizing Your McDSP Plug-ins

Authorizing your McDSP Plug-ins

McDSP plug-ins require the iLok2 USB smart key to demo, purchase, or upgrade
McDSP plug-ins. Management of authorizations (licenses) are handled via the
iLok License Manager software application. Both the iLok License Manager
software and iLok2 USB smart key are available at ilok.com. Additional information
about the iLok License Manager is available at ilok.com.

Authorizing with the iLok License Manager

To use your McDSP plug-ins, you will first need
to download an authorization license for your
product. Visit iLok.com and download the latest
version of the iLok License Manager. Please note
that the iLok License Manager requires:
• Mac OS X 10.5.8 and above (Intel only)
• Windows 32-bit and 64-bit Windows XP (SP2) and above
• An iLok and an iLok account

After you’ve downloaded and installed the iLok License Manager, make sure
your iLok is plugged into the USB port of your computer and login.

Demos
Once logged in, click on your login
name and you will see a demo license
under the ‘available’ section. Drag
this license and drop it on the iLok of
your choosing to activate it. Once the
activation is complete, run the McDSP
installer corresponding to the activated
license. Note McDSP HD licenses
authorize HD plug-ins, and McDSP
Native licenses authorize Native plug-
ins.

mcdsp.com Page xv
 Redeeming License Codes
Once logged in, click on the upper right
section of the iLok License Manager
and choose the button for ‘Redeem an
Activation Code’. Here you can enter the
activation code. Once it is redeemed,
drag this license and drop it on the iLok
of your choosing to activate it. Once the
activation is complete, run the McDSP
installer corresponding to the activated
license. Note McDSP HD licenses
authorize HD plug-ins, and McDSP Native
licenses authorize Native plug-ins.

Registering Your McDSP Plug-in

If you purchased a McDSP plug-in or McDSP plug-in bundle electronically from
mcdsp.com, your purchase is automatically registered with McDSP.

If you purchased a McDSP plug-in or McDSP plug-in bundle electronically from

an authorized McDSP dealer, your iLok.com account is used to confirm your
purchase should you wish to upgrade at a later time.

If you purchased a boxed copy of a McDSP plug-in or McDSP plug-in bundle,

register your purchase by filling out and returning the enclosed product
registration card by mail or fax (707-220-0994).

Page xvi
 Authorizing Your McDSP Plug-ins

Using Your McDSP Plug-ins

Starting a McDSP Plug-in

Follow the installation, authorization, and registration instructions above.
Launch your DAW host, and the McDSP plug-in and its presets are ready for use.
Refer to your DAW User Manual for details on general plug-in operation.

Exiting a McDSP Plug-in

A McDSP plug-in is exited by closing the plug-in window, or de-instantiating the
plug-in. Your DAW host sessions will save instantiated plug-in configurations
and their settings. Refer to your DAW User Manual for details on general plug-in
operation.

mcdsp.com Page xvii

 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip has everything you need to make your mix
sound great. All the modules from the award winning 6020 Ultimate EQ and
6030 Ultimate Compressor plug-ins are included. Additional modules include
gates, expanders, and specialized filters.
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip has input and output stages, wrapped around
3 module bays in which any of the over 25 modules can be inserted. Easily drag
and drop any module to rearrange the signal flow of your channel strip. A
module selector panel allows quick auditioning of equalizers, compressors, and
additional effects. Like the original 6020 and 6030 plug-ins, each new module
in the 6050 draws on classic and modern designs over the last four decades.
Operation is simple and intuitive, and the sound quality is what professionals
worldwide have come to know from McDSP plug-ins.
Features:
• Over 25 EQ, compressor, gate, expander, saturator, and filter modules
• Easy drag and drop, on the fly module auditioning
• Side chain support
• Input and output control
• Analog Saturation Modeling
• Double precision processing
• Ultra low latency
• Mono and stereo versions

mcdsp.com Page 1
The Quick Start Tour: The 6050 Ultimate
Channel Strip Plug-in
Start the DAW host and instantiate the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in
• Launch the DAW host and open a session.
• Verify the Display-> Mix Window Shows->Inserts View option is checked.
• In one of the inserts of a stereo master fader, select the 6050 Ultimate
Channel Strip plug-in. Note the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in will
operate on master or regular audio tracks in mono or stereo versions.
• If the insert selection does not show the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-
in, verify that the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in has been installed
correctly.
• For more information on starting your DAW host and working with plug-ins,
see the Reference Guide provided by your preferred DAW.

6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Overview

The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip is divided into three sections - Module Selector,
IO Section, and Module Section.
The Module Selector allows the user to choose the desired module from any of
the available categories - EQ, Compression, More. The algorithms are swapped
out in real-time so the user can quickly hear and audition different modules.
The Input Section shows signal level coming into the 6050, has a input level
control, and side chain selectors for each of the 3 module slots.
The Module Bay area holds 3 slots for up to 3 simultaneous modules. Each
module can be dragged in any order, and changed on the fly from the Module
Selector, or from the popup menu in the upper right hand corner of the module
panel.
The Output section shows the output signal level, and has an output control trim
with phase switching.

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 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

Module Section
Module Selector

Input Section Output Section

mcdsp.com Page 3
Controls
Module Selector
A set of buttons for each module type - EQ, Compression, and More,
is access from the ‘EQ’, ‘COMP’, and ‘MORE’ green buttons across the
top. As each is pressed, a list of gray buttons appears for the modules
available. A choice of ‘no module’ can also be made.
At the extreme top of the Module Selector panel, a ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’ row of
orange buttons lets the user assign the module selection to module bay
1, 2, or 3.
Input Section
The 6050 Input Section includes input meters, input gain control, and side
chain selectors for each module.
• Input Gain - the amount of signal level adjustment before the modules.
• Key Enable Buttons - Each ‘key’ icon button routes the side chain input
signal directly into the input of module 1, 2, or 3. The order of the
modules does not change this routing assignment; Key Enable button ‘1’
will always route the side chain signal into the Module with a ‘1’ in it’s lower left
corner.
• Key Listen Buttons - Each ‘speaker’ icon button will route the corresponding side
chain input signal to the plug-in output for listening.

Output Section
The 6050 Output Section includes output meters, output gain control,
and phase polarity switches.
• Output Gain - the amount of signal level adjustment after the modules.

Page 4
 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

Module Section
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip has ten different compression modules.
Each module has a different set of controls, and all the possible controls
are listed below.
• Threshold - the signal level at which the compression action starts.
• Ratio - the amount of signal level compression, as a ratio of input to
output
• Attack - the rate at which compression action starts
• Release - the rate at which compression action stops
• Gain - the make-up gain after the compression is applied

The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip has ten different equalizer modules.
Each mode has gain and/or frequency controls for each of its equalizer/
filter bands.
• Gain - the amount of signal level adjustment at a selected frequency.
• Freq - the frequency at which the equalizer band gain is at maximum
(or minimum), or the cutoff frequency of the filter.
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip has additional modules for gating,
expansion, filtering, saturation, and distortion effects. Refer to those specific
modules for their control functions.

mcdsp.com Page 5
Displays
Meters
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Input and Output Sections have meters
showing input and output signal levels.

General Information
To adjust any of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip controls the user can:
• Hold the <Command> key while dragging the slider for fine control, or
• Use the <Option> key to bring all the controls to their default values, or
• Use hardware controller surfaces supported by your DAW host such as the
Mackie HUI and Digidesign’s ICON™, ProControl™ and Control 24.

Control Linking
There is no control linking capability in the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip at this
time.

Automation
All 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip controls are completely automatable. See your
DAW User Manual for automating plug-ins section.

Presets: Using the Presets and Making Your Own

The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip preset library demonstrates the wide range of
applications the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip can be used. No preset will suit
every application, and they have been provided as a guide for the user, and will
hopefully inspire new ideas and ways to use this sophisticated plug-in.
Refer to your DAW User Manual for accessing and saving plug-in presets.

A Word on Preset Compatibility

Presets for the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip configurations are interchangeable.

Page 6
 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

Using the 6050 Ultimate Channel

Strip Plug-in
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip offers a wide variety of equalizer, compressor
and other algorithms. The following sections cover basic operations of the 6050
Ultimate Channel Strip, provide a more in depth description of some of the
features of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip, and outline some applications for the
6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in.

EQ Basics

High Pass Filter (HPF)

High pass filters remove signals below the selected frequency, and pass
the signals above the selected frequency unaffected (hence the term dB
high pass). High pass filters have a slope measured in the amount of
signal reduction (in dB) per frequency octave. Typically these values are
in multiples of 6 dB/Oct. At the exact selected frequency of the high
FREQUENCY
pass filter the signal reduction is usually - 3 dB,
however this can change based on filter design.

High Shelf EQ dB

High shelf EQ increases (or decreases) signal levels at and above the
selected frequency. Shelving EQ can have a slope, or Q control, that
determines the shelving EQ shape. FREQUENCY

Low Shelf EQ
Low shelf EQ increases (or decreases) signal levels at and below the dB
selected frequency. Shelving EQ can have a slope, or Q control, that
determines the shelving EQ shape.

FREQUENCY

Parametric EQ
Parametric EQ increases (or decreases) signal levels at the selected
frequency. Parametric EQ can have a Q control that determines the dB
parametric EQ width. A Q of 1.0 is about one frequence octave. A Q of
12.0 is about 1/12 a frequency octave, or one semi-tone.
FREQUENCY

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Compression Basics

Compression
A compressor affects the signal once the
signal level is above the selected threshold. A
compressor is used to reduce the output level
of signals once they rise above the threshold.
A ratio control determines the amount of gain
reduction, as a ratio of the input to output
(in dB). The higher the ratio, the more gain
reduction is applied to the signal as it continues
to rise above the selected threshold. Gentle
compression ratios are considered to be in the
2:1 to 4:1 range, while stronger ratios are 8:1
and higher. Attack and release times determine
how fast the compressor begins to reduce signal
levels (attack) and how fast the compressor
recovers to a state where it is no longer affecting the input signal (release).
Although the basic controls of a compressor - threshold, ratio, attack, and release
- are commonly found on most compressors, the method used to enact the desired
dynamic range control can vary significantly. For this reason, the pro audio market
offers many types and brands of compressors (and limiters). Hardware based
techniques such as electro-optical sensors to track signal levels, all-tube designs for
the truly analog purist, solid state (can you spell FET?) circuits, and many others have
strongly influenced the design of dynamic range controllers over the years.
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip takes a sampling of some of these techniques,
from classic devices and our own engineering experience. Furthermore, instead
of just regenerating sounds folks are already familiar with, the 6050 incorporates
unique twists and modifications (all designed by McDSP engineering) to bring new
compressor ‘sounds’ to the pro audio market. Check out the next section for a closer
look at the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip modules.

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 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

A Closer Look - EQ

E670
Fairchild made not only great compressor/limiters, they also put out a few
program equalizers. The Fairchild 664, a two band EQ, served as the basis
for the E670 design. Gentle low and high shelving EQ, complimented by a
mid band parametric, give the E670 a smooth sound, but the three bands
(each with its own gain and frequency control) provide flexibility expected in
the modern studio. Suitable for subtle adjustments in any mixing situation.

Moo Q
All tube designs are known for a warm tone with tons of headroom. The
Moo Q delivers these qualities and more in a three band package.

iQ
The only two-band equalizer in the 6050 collection, the iQ is surprisingly
adept at fine tuning mixes in any music genre. Tracks needing some low
end ‘glow’ or high end ‘sheen’ can benefit from use of the iQ module.

E300/E301
While there may be no electro-optical attenuation in these equalizers,
McDSP wanted to have equalizer modules that complimented the Opto-
C/L compressor modules in the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in.
The Opto-C/L modules are good general purpose compressors, with the
Opto-L module operating more like a vintage limiter. In that spirit, the
E300/301 modules are very utilitarian as well. The E300 and E301 three-
band modules have the same frequency and gain ranges, but the E301 is
a tad narrower in bandwidth, especially at higher gain settings.

British-E
McDSP’s own FilterBank plug-in, originally released in 1998, harnessed
the fundamental design characteristics of the Neve line of equalizers,
most notably the 1069, 1073 and 1081, with its unique Peak, Slope, and
Dip controls. The British E module uses this same FilterBank technology
to create an amalgamation of great Neve equalizers. The classic hpf,
low shelf, parametric, high shelf combination makes the British E module
useful for most mixing situations.

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EZ Q
The folks at dbx did not release any parametric equalizers to match their
classic compressor product line. But if they did, here at McDSP we think
it would have sounded like the EZ Q. Using a high pass filter to crave
out the rumble, plus capable low and high shelfs, and a fairly flexible
parametric, the EZ Q gets the job done.

EQ’76
This 6050 module draws from the UREI 545 parametric equalizer. The
EQ’76 has four bands of paramtric equalization with a slight Q-gain
dependency. The EQ’76 design is close to that of the E300/301 modules,
but using a different set of frequency ranges and a more modern gain-
dependent bandwidth design.

FRG EEE
What else can compliment a compressor nicknamed ‘The Frog’ (FRG444
from the 6030 Ultimate Compressor plug-in) than an equalizer with a
name like FRG EEE (pronounced ‘froggy’). Two parametrics bounded by
a high and low shelf pair, the FRG EEE is a capable equalizer, not unlike
what is seen in modern channel strips in analog mixing consoles.

E357
The E357 is a 3-band EQ meant to work in tandem with the D357
compressor. The slopes are steeper than most other EQ modules, and have
a bit of character (like the D357). Use with caution.

*All Trademarks are property of their respective owners. UREI ™ and Teletronix™ are trademarks of the
Teletronix/Universal Audio/UREI companies; dbx™ is a trademark of the Harmon Corporation; Neve™ is a
trademark of AMS Neve; These companies are not affiliated in any way with McDSP, nor do they endorse
the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in. The trademarks of these companies are used solely for the purpose
of describing the sounds produced by the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip plug-in.

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 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

A Closer Look - Compression

C671
The C671 module is a variation of a Fairchild 670, with slightly faster
signal tracking to accommodate modern production styles, and yet
still imparts a ‘warmth’ into the audio output. The McDSP C671 is
sonically identical to the original C670 module from the 6030 Ultimate
Compressor plug-in, but includes its own makeup gain, as do all the
other 6050 compression modules. For this reason, all the compression
module name enumerations are increased by ‘1’ to note the addition of
the makeup gain in each module.

MT2
The Moo Tube module emulates an all tube design with a few unique twists.
Mid range sensitivity has been modified by McDSP engineering, attack and
recovery times are gentle yet usable for many applications, and the output
frequency response is variable based on the amount of compression.

iC2
The iComp module is an all original McDSP design. Attack and release
times are not available on this module, and are instead automatically
updated based on user selected threshold and ratio control values.

Opto-C2/Opto-L2
The Opto-C2 and Opto-L2 modules use an electro-optical attenuation
circuit model for compression (Opto-C) or limiter (Opto-L) applications.
Both these modules have a McDSP designed key circuit for a slightly
different response than the originals.

BC-22
Based on a more ‘traditional’ English design, the British C module offers
control for threshold, ratio, attack, and recovery. Internal circuit smarts
help prevent unwanted distortion, even at extreme compression settings
(low threshold, fast attack and release).

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Over EZ
The Over EZ module incorporates a smooth knee response with a flexible
control configuration including user selectable threshold, ratio, attack,
and release.

SST ’77
The SST’77 module is a solid-state circuit model with another McDSP designed key circuit.
For the curious, SST does not stand for Super Sonic Transport.

FRG445
The FRG445 module, commonly referred to as ‘The Frog’ by McDSP engineering staff,
uses an moderately aggressive compression design to quickly respond to audio input.

D358
The D358 module is the most aggressive compressor in the 6030 Ultimate
Compressor module collection. An LED style GR meter is also used to show as
much dynamic range control response as possible.

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 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

A Closer Look - More Modules!

EZ G
Inspired by noise gate units such as the dbx 904, 363x, and 463x, the
EZ G is a great complement to the dynamics Over EZ compressor. A set
of adjustable side chain high pass and low pass filters make the EZ G a
versatile noise gate.

iX
The iX downward expander provides as much signal rejection as the EZ G, but
as an expander also offers a ratio control to adjust the transition, or slope,
between the unaffected and expanded signals.

FRGX
Upwards and downwards expansion is what the FRG X is all about. Up
to 24 dB of signal cut or boost is available, along with a ratio control.
Adjustable signal chain filtering is included.

S 671
Tracks needing a bit of grit will benefit from a touch up from the S671
saturation module. A Tone control is provided to taylor the ‘edge’ added
by the S671 to a variety of applications.

Moo-D
If the analog saturation from the S671 is not the right tone tweak, then
the creamy tube overdrive of the Moo-D module may be a better choice.
Often a better choice for mixes than for individual tracks.

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D-100
In-your-face distortion is what the D-100 module is for. When tracks
needs to get ‘nasty’ the D-100 is a go-to choice.

MEF 1
The Mid Emphasis Filter (MEF) does more than just cut out some of the
low and high frequency content of a track. The Emphasis control brings
out what is left between the two filter bands, helping tracks stand out
without competing with each other.

E404
A re-issue of the classic FilterBank E4 module from 1999, the E404 offers
up the same high pass filter, low shelf, parametric, and high shelf EQ
that made FilterBank an award-winning plug-in.

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 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

Applications

Vocals
The 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip EQ modules best suited for vocal and dialog
applications include the E300/301, British E, Moo Q and EZ Q. The high pass filter
of the EZ Q (and also the British E module) is great for removing vocal plosives,
and all these modules have good frequency ranges to fine tune the typical vocal
performance.
The compression module offerings of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip designed
to handle vocals and dialog include the C671, MT2, and iC2 modules. For more
articulated performances where significant amounts of sibilance are present, the
Over EZ 2 and BC-22 modules work well.

Drums
The EQ ’76, FRG EEE and E357 modules are great for drums, like their compressor
modules counterparts. These modules’ four-band configurations are flexible
enough to deal with the whole drum kit, or one instrument at a time.
The SST ’77, FRG 445, and D358 compression modules are great for dealing
with drums tracks. Although these modules can be used to really compress
the incoming audio, they have enough control and flexibility to produce well
balanced dynamic range control.

Bass
Low frequency instruments like bass guitar or synths will get a nice sound out of
the E670, Moo Q, and iQ modules.
The Opto-C2, MT2, and iC2 compression modules are great for low frequency
instruments.

Keys, Etc.
Any of the 6050 modules are good for keyboards, guitar, and other instruments,
but the E300/301 modules balance the flexibility of a modern equalizer with the
restrictions of a more classic design. In short, it’s hard to screw up a track with the
E300/301 modules.
Instruments like piano, keyboard, and guitar do well with the 6050 compression
modules with more control like the FRG 445 and BC-22.

mcdsp.com Page 15
Everything Else
Recommendations be danged, the best way to use the 6050 Ultimate Channel
Strip is to try all the modules on whatever you are working on. Each module has
its own characteristics, quirks, and tone. They all sound great, in our completely
biased opinion!

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 McDSP 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip

6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Plug-in

Reference Guide

6050 Ultimate Channel Strip Specifications

Parameter Range Function

Module selector

EQ MODULES E670, Moo Q, iQ, E300, E301, British E, EZ Q, EE’76, FRG EEE,
and E357

COMPRESSOR C671, MT2, iC2, Opto-C2, Opto-L2, BC-22, Over EZ2, SST ‘77,
MODULES FRG 445, and D358

ADDITIONAL EZ G, iX, FRGX, S671, Moo-D, D100, MEF 1, and E404

MODULES

IO section

INPUT -24 to 24 dB The amount of signal level adjustment before the modules.

OUTPUT -24 to +24 dB The amount of signal level adjustment after the modules.

EQ module section

GAIN -100 to 100% Signal level adjustment at selected frequency. Approximately

-12 to +12 dB in each module.

FREQ -100 to 100% Frequency adjustment at which point equalizer boost or

attenuation is at maximum. In the case of a filter, the cutoff
frequency. Frequency range in Hz varies from module to
module.

Compressor module section

Threshold -48 to 0 dB Signal level at which compression action is initiated

Ratio varied by Amount of compression as a ratio of input to output signal

module level in dB

attack varied by Rate at which compression action is initiated

module

release/ varied by Rate at which compression action is terminated

recover module

mcdsp.com Page 17
DSP Delay
McDSP DSP AAX plug-ins have an internal delay of 16 samples. This is the minimum
amount of sample delay McDSP plug-ins can operate at while maintaining the current
level of DSP usage.

DSP Usage

Pro Tools™ HDX hardware

The AAX DSP version of the 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip DSP usage is shown
in the table below for operation at the 48 kHz sample rate. DSP usage
approximately doubles for 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz sample rates. This information
can also be viewed in the Pro Tools System Usage window.

Maximum Instantiation Counts at 48kHz

Configuration #Instances per DSP # Total Instances per HDX card

Mono 4 72

Stereo 4 72

All McDSP AAX DSP plug-ins can share the same DSP with other McDSP, Avid,
and third party plug-ins.

Page 18
 www.mcdsp.com

Copyright 2016 by McDowell Signal Processing,LLC.

All trademarks are property of their respective owners.
McDSP is a trademark of McDowell Signal Processing,LLC.