User Manual
Weiss MM-1 Mastering Maximizer
Intro
User Interface
Based on Weiss DS1-MK3
In Use
Extended Features
Credits
Weiss MM-1 Mastering Maximizer features an advanced sound design that can deliver professional-sounding masters with minimum amount of tweaking. "Plugins like the MM-1 are the reason people think mastering is black magic. With very few controls, this plugin somehow just ‘knows’ how to get your music sounding great – loud, punchy, wide, and the de-esser is incredible! The MM-1 is one of the best mastering tools I’ve ever used", says Howie Weinberg.
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Side menu
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Input meter
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Gain reduction meter
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Output meter
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Bypass
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Amount knob
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Parallel mix
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Style
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Limiter gain
Weiss MM-1 Mastering Maximizer is based on technology that is used in Weiss DS1-MK3 – a gold-standard in mastering and TEC award winning mastering compressor/de-esser. Weiss DS1-MK3 is famous for its transparency, flexibility and ergonomics. Weiss MM-1 has all the benefits of DS1-MK3 and takes it to the next level of simplicity, ergonomics and can provide professional mastering results in no time.
Meters
Input Meter: Shows Peak and RMS level of the incoming signal.
Gain Reduction Meter: Shows actual gain reduction for Left and Right channels or M and S channels (in Wide and Deess styles).
Output Meter: Shows the Peak and RMS level of the output signal.
Parameters
Amount Knob: Sets the amount of processing defined by the Style. If you set the Amount to 0% there will be no processing applied before the brick-wall limiter.
Limiter Gain: The gain after the initial processing that drives the brick-wall limiter.
Parallel Mix: A DRY/WET mix knob for the amount of processing (doesn't affect brick-wall limiter). If turn parallel mix to the Dry side, it will add unprocessed signal to the processed one. At 50/50 position it will be a 50/50 blend between processed and unprocessed signal. For more information about Parallel processing, please navigate to Weiss DS1-MK3 page in the manual and check Bob Katz’ article about the technique.
Side Menu: Located at the top left corner. You can access Output Trim setting in it.
Output Trim: Allows to trim the output for different media. Use industry standards -0.1, -0.3 or -1dbfs (for iTunes Mastering) or custom settings using the continuous Output Trim slider.
Styles
Style is a mastering processing style that is added before the final brick-wall limiter. There are five common mastering scenarios or Styles available in MM-1:
Transparent: Style is designed to be less invasive among the 5 styles.
Loud: Style is designed to deliver high RMS masters.
Punch: Style is designed to add "punch" and “weight” to the masters.
Wide: Style will make the master wider and more “3D”. Please note that the style uses MS processing and it’s not compatible with mono or multi-mono versions of MM-1.
Deess: Style is a mastering all-round de-essing MS algorithm. Will shine during mastering and also mixing applications.
The best way to start mastering with MM-1 is to choose the Style you’d like to use and move the Amount knob to add the amount of processing needed. Watch the Gain Reduction meter in order to see where the processing kicks in. You may want to switch between the Styles and see which one works best for your program material. As soon as you are pleased with the processing Style and the amount, increase the Limiter Gain in order to achieve the desired loudness level.
Tip: You can use several instances of MM-1 in series on one track, as you might want to combine Punch and Wide for example. Please note that only the last instance in the chain should increase the volume with Limiter Gain in order to avoid possible distortion.
A whole range of added control can be accessed with Extended Features. Please see the separate "Extended Features" manual for more information.
Paul Shyrinskykh – Sound design and product management
Arvid Rosén – DSP and framework programming
Björn Rödseth, Kim Larsson– Framework programming
Niklas Odelholm – Graphic design
Ulf Ekelöf – 3D rendering