Impact Version 1.1 for Pro Tools|HD Accel Systems

For Mac OS X & Windows XP

March 16, 2004

Impact 1.1 is a free update for all existing Impact owners with Pro Tools|HD Accel systems on Pro Tools 6.2 and higher. Impact 1.1 uses the same iLok authorization that previous versions of Impact use.

Important Announcement

Software Bug in Impact Compressor Plug-in for Pro Tools|HD Accel Systems

Our recent release of the Impact plug-in for Pro Tools|HD Accel-powered Pro Tools systems contains a bug which prevents Impact from producing the useful, "musical" compression for which it was designed. We've posted a downloadable update here.

What is the Nature of the Bug?

A bug was introduced very late in the development process, after our listening tests, when code used to control and smooth the meter ballistics on the user interface was accidentally inserted into the compressor DSP code that calculates gain reduction.

This bug extends the Impact compressor's attack time far beyond the time shown on the GUI. The user interface shows a minimum attack of .1 ms — but even at the .1 ms attack time setting, actual attack times are approximately 200 ms.

What is the Audible Effect of the Bug?

With an attack time that long, it's not possible to create many of the types of sounds you'd like to get from a good general purpose (or mix bus) compressor. For example, if you want to pass the attack transient of a drum, but quickly bring up the "body" of the sound by using a relatively fast attack along with a fast release, or when you want the mix to "pump" in a musical way, the compressor's attack time needs to be somewhere between .1 and 15 ms. If the attack time is set too high, these effects can't be achieved.

We recognize that this is a pretty major shortcoming, and we'd like to apologize wholeheartedly on behalf of Digidesign to anyone who tried Impact and found it fell short of their expectations. The plug-in now functions correctly, and the attack is accurate as labeled. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how great the corrected version sounds.

There are no other side-effects of this bug (for example, no damage done to your audio). So if you already liked what Impact was capable of, you can install the newer version of the plug-in knowing that you can create some of the same sounds as before by setting the attack far slower on the GUI, and also get some great new results using faster attack times.

Again, we apologize for the inconvenience caused by this bug, and encourage all users to download the updated, corrected version of Impact.

What's Fixed in Impact 1.1

Impact 1.1 contains the following:

Fixed: The Impact compressor attack time now functions with settings as low as .1 ms (Item #46923)

• This release of Impact fixes a bug which extends the Impact compressor's attack time far beyond the time shown on the GUI. The user interface shows a minimum attack of .1 ms — but even at the .1 ms attack time setting, actual attack times are approximately 200 ms.

Includes Fix from Impact 1.0.2

Fixed: Impact Multichannel Instances Can Become Unstable and Mute Audio When Sharing the Same
DSP with Other MultiShell Plug-Ins (Item #40047)

• With Impact 1.0, Impact multichannel instances could become unstable and mute audio when sharing the same DSP with other MultiShell plug-ins. With Impact 1.0.2, multichannel instances work fine when sharing the same DSP with other Multi-Shell plug-ins.
• Mono and multi-mono versions of Impact are not affected.

Who Should use Impact 1.1

This installer should be used by:

• Pro Tools|HD Accel system users with Pro Tools 6.2 or higher on Mac OS X 10.2, 10.3, or Windows XP who have Impact installed, or are adding Impact for the first time.
• Pro Tools 6.4 owners should install Impact 1.1 from the Pro Tools 6.4 CD, or the Impact product page downloads, linked below

Updating Impact

To install Impact 1.1:

1. Quit the Pro Tools application if it is open.
2. Run the Impact 1.1 installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

If installing Impact for the first time, refer to the Impact Guide.pdf for steps on how to authorize Impact with an iLok USB Smart Key and License Card. The installer places the Impact Guide.pdf in your Applications-> Digidesign-> Documentation-> Plug-Ins folder.

Download

IMPORTANT: Please download and install the latest version of the iLok Drivers for Mac & Windows in order to use your iLok USB Hardware Key authorization before installing Impact 1.1. You must have a Pro Tools|HD Accel system and an iLok with the Impact authorization in order to use these downloads.

Download Help

To Access downloads from the Products Section, it is necessary to create an account for the Digidesign websites. If you experience download or decoding problems, see the Website & Download Help FAQ. For problems logging into the downloads, please see Website & Download Help FAQ #1

Mac downloads require Stuffit Expander, included with Mac OS X. Download Aladdin's FREE Stuffit Expander

Windows ZIP (.zip) format downloads should be downloaded to your local hard drive by choosing "Save to Disk", then expanded. Windows XP has the un-zip capability built into the XP operating system. After saving to your Desktop in Windows XP, right-click on the file and choose "Open".

More Information:

Digidesign Downloads | Digidesign Customer Service | Digidesign Technical Support