I've read the how-to, and I'm just not wrapping my head around this feature. I realize it changes the headroom, but when and how do you use it? Does each channel have to be the same? Or does changing on one strip change all?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Saddle

You use it to change the level of the signal hitting the plugin, you want to use the offset to make the incoming signal sit around -18dBFS which I belive is where the sknote plugs (and most plugins that try to simulate analog gear) are calibrated to represent 0dBVU. If that's confusing then read this thread http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/1 79817-18dbfs-0dbv-always.html

You can set different offset values on every instance of strip, that setting is not shared across instances and neither is the gain knob. Of course if you want to drive a channel for more saturation you just have to increase the offset and/or gain.

Understand -18dbfs=0vu. I just wasn't sure about the other.

So the Offset adds or subtracts from the input gain knob as well? Just a combination of the two (if needed) to hit the input where you want... ?

Yes the offset menu is the same as reducing the input gain and restoring the levels by the same amount through the output volume knob.

So e.g. offset -6dB is the same as Gain -6dB, volume +6dB

The only difference is that it isn't reflected by the meter.

Example, when I want extreme headroom, e.g. while mastering stems, I set:

- gain -6dB
- volume +6dB
- offset -12dB

So I get 18dB (6 through gain + 12 through offset) of extra headroom.

Hello, and I hope you enjoyed your vacation!

So in your example, would you be hitting the plug a -36? (-18 is the nominal input. + your extra 18 )

I'm trying to make sure I understand where the headroom comes into play.

Thank you!

Oh, yes, it was great, sigh...

Yes, that's right, even though I'm not used to think about levels but I go mostly by ear