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Giraldo Allain

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Aug 4, 2024, 5:58:31 AM8/4/24

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How to Use Roger Nichols Digital Detailer for Mastering and Mixing

Roger Nichols Digital Detailer is a stereo mastering tool and final mix plug-in for a DAW's master fader. It was developed by Roger Nichols, a legendary recording engineer who worked with artists like Steely Dan, John Denver, Frank Sinatra and many more[^1^]. Detailer employs a 3-band limiter and dynamic widening using psycho-acoustic processing to increase the clarity and loudness of your audio without compromising the dynamics[^4^].

In this article, we will show you how to download and install Detailer, and how to use it effectively on your master bus or individual tracks. We will also compare the results with and without Detailer to demonstrate its benefits.

Downloading and Installing Detailer

Detailer is available as a Universal Binary plug-in for RTAS, VST and Audio Units formats for Mac OS X, and for Windows platform in RTAS and VST formats. You can purchase it from Roger Nichols Digital's website for $349, or download a 14-day evaluation copy for free[^4^].

To install Detailer, you need to unzip the downloaded file and run the installer. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. You may need to restart your computer or DAW after the installation.

To activate Detailer, you need to enter your serial number that you received after purchasing or requesting the evaluation copy. You can do this by clicking on the "About" button on the plug-in interface and entering your serial number in the pop-up window.

Using Detailer on Your Master Bus

Detailer is designed to be used on your master bus or final mix track to enhance the overall sound of your audio. To use Detailer on your master bus, simply insert it as the last plug-in on your master fader. You will see a simple interface with three knobs: Input Gain, Output Gain and Width.

The Input Gain knob allows you to adjust the input level of your audio before it goes into Detailer's processing. You can use this knob to match the input level with the output level of your previous plug-in chain. The Output Gain knob allows you to adjust the output level of your audio after it goes through Detailer's processing. You can use this knob to match the output level with your desired loudness target or headroom.

The Width knob controls the amount of dynamic widening that Detailer applies to your audio. Dynamic widening is a process that enhances the stereo image of your audio by adding subtle differences between the left and right channels based on their spectral content. This creates a sense of depth and space in your audio without affecting the phase or mono compatibility[^4^]. You can use this knob to dial in the amount of width that suits your taste and genre. A higher value will create a wider stereo image, while a lower value will create a more focused and centered image.

Detailer also splits your audio into three frequency bands that are processed independently by a 3-band limiter. The limiter ensures that your audio does not exceed a certain threshold level while preserving its dynamics. The limiter settings are automatically adjusted by Detailer based on its spectral harmonic detection algorithm[^4^]. This means that Detailer will apply more limiting to the frequency bands that have more harmonic content, such as vocals or guitars, and less limiting to the frequency bands that have less harmonic content, such as bass or drums. This creates a balanced and natural sounding audio that does not sound over-compressed or distorted.

Using Detailer on Individual Tracks

Detailer can also be used on individual tracks to add clarity and loudness to specific elements in your mix. To use Detailer on individual tracks, simply insert it as one of the last plug-ins on your track fader. You can use the same knobs as described above to adjust the input gain, output gain and width of your track.

However, you may want to use different settings for different tracks depending on their role and frequency range in your mix. For example, you may want to use more width on tracks that are panned wide or have more high-frequency content, such as cymbals or synths,