EMPathY User Manual

Stereo colour and tone channel strip with independent channel control

1. Insert EMPathY on a stereo track or bus.
2. Set the input gains. Leave Input Link on so both channels move together.
3. Switch on Tape and raise the saturation amount until you hear the colour you want.
4. Shape the tone with the Filters, the Hi Shelf, and the BOOHM bass module.
5. Use Mix to blend the processed sound with the dry sound.
6. Set Output Gain so the level matches when you switch Bypass on and off. Matching the level makes it easy to hear what the plug-in is really doing.

3. Interface overview

The controls are grouped into five areas: Input, Filters, Tape, EQ and bass, and Output. Each knob shows its current value beneath it.

4. Input and stereo image

Bypass

Passes the audio through with no processing. Use it to compare the processed sound with the original.

On / Off  ·  Default: Off

Input Gain L / R

Sets the level going into the processor for each channel. In Stereo mode the two knobs control left and right. In Mid-Side mode they control mid and side instead.

−18 dB to +18 dB each  ·  Default: 0 dB

Input Link

When on, both input gain knobs move together. Turn it off to set each channel separately.

Linked / Unlinked  ·  Default: Linked

M/S Mode

Chooses whether the input is handled as left/right (Stereo) or as mid/side. Mid-side is useful when you want to treat the centre of the image differently from the edges.

Stereo / Mid-Side  ·  Default: Stereo

Stereo Width

Narrows or widens the stereo image. Below 100 % the image gets narrower, and 0 % is mono. Above 100 % the image gets wider.

0 % to 200 %  ·  Default: 100 % (unchanged)

Width On/Off

Switches the stereo width control in and out. The Width label beneath the knob is the switch. When it is off, the width knob has no effect and the stereo image passes through untouched.

On / Off  ·  Default: On

Monoizer On/Off

Switches the Monoizer in and out. The Monoizer label beneath the knob is the switch. The Monoizer sums everything below a chosen frequency to mono, while everything above that frequency keeps its full stereo width. It is useful for tightening a loose or phasey low end, and for making sure the bass sits solidly in the centre before cutting to vinyl.

On / Off  ·  Default: Off

Monoizer Frequency

Sets the point below which the sound becomes mono. Everything under this frequency is centred; everything above it is left alone. Start low and raise it until the low end feels solid and centred without the image narrowing audibly.

20 Hz to 1 kHz  ·  Default: 120 Hz

5. Filters

Two filters trim the extremes of the frequency range: a high-pass filter for the low end and a low-pass filter for the top end.

Filters On/Off

Master switch for both filters at once.

On / Off  ·  Default: On

Hi Shelf Gain

Boosts or cuts the high frequencies with a shelf. Raise it for air and sparkle, lower it to darken the sound.

−12 dB to +12 dB  ·  Default: 0 dB

Hi Shelf Q

Sets the width of the shelf. 0.5Q is wider and more gradual; 1Q is tighter.

0.5Q or 1Q  ·  Default: 0.5Q

HP Frequency

Cutoff point of the high-pass filter. Everything below this frequency is reduced. Use it to remove low rumble.

3 Hz to 700 Hz  ·  Default: 3 Hz

HP Slope

How steeply the high-pass filter rolls off. 6 dB per octave is gentle; 12 dB per octave is firmer.

6 dB or 12 dB per octave  ·  Default: 12 dB

LP Frequency

Cutoff point of the low-pass filter. Everything above this frequency is reduced. Use it to soften or tame the top end.

1 kHz to 20 kHz  ·  Default: 20 kHz

LP Slope

How steeply the low-pass filter rolls off. 6 dB per octave is gentle; 12 dB per octave is firmer.

6 dB or 12 dB per octave  ·  Default: 12 dB

6. Tape

The Tape section adds harmonic colour — warm and rounded, with a soft top end. It is EMPathY’s single saturation voice, tuned so that small amounts thicken and glue a mix while larger amounts push it into obvious colour.

Tape On/Off

Master switch for the whole saturation stage. With it off, the section is out of the signal path entirely.

On / Off  ·  Default: Off

Saturation L / R

Amount of saturation for each channel. Higher values add more colour.

0 % to 100 % each  ·  Default: 0 %

Saturation Link

When on, both saturation amounts move together.

Linked / Unlinked  ·  Default: Linked

Saturation M/S Mode

Chooses whether the saturation works on left/right or on mid/side. This is set separately from the input mode, so you can, for example, saturate only the sides while the input stays in stereo.

Stereo / Mid-Side  ·  Default: Stereo

7. Bhoom – Bass EQ

BOOHM On/Off

Switch for the BOOHM bass enhancement module.

On / Off  ·  Default: On

BOOHM Level

Amount of bass boost at the chosen frequency.

0 dB to 18 dB  ·  Default: 0 dB

BOOHM Freq

Centre frequency of the bass boost. Lower settings add sub weight; higher settings add punch around the kick.

25 Hz to 120 Hz  ·  Default: 66 Hz

BOOHM Q

Width of the bass boost. 0.1Q is narrow and focused; 1.5Q is broad.

0.1Q, 0.5Q, or 1.5Q  ·  Default: 0.1Q

8. Output

Oversampling

Sets the processing quality. Default is already high quality; 16x is higher still and uses more CPU.

Default or 16x  ·  Default: Default

Mix

Blends the dry input with the processed sound. At 100 % you hear only the processed sound. Lower values mix the original back in for a more subtle result.

0 % (dry) to 100 % (wet)  ·  Default: 100 %

Output Gain

Final output level, applied after the Mix control. Use it to match the level with the plug-in bypassed.

−18 dB to +18 dB  ·  Default: 0 dB

9. Meters and displays

• Level meter with four selectable scales: DS 0db, K-12, K-14, and K-20.
• Overload indicator that lights when the output clips.
• Value labels under every control. Double-click a value to type a new one.

10. Presets and settings

The preset menu lets you save and load your own settings. The settings menu includes the interface size options and an About panel showing your licence information.

11. Specifications