KVR Audio

aldoofbanga · Post by **aldoofbanga** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 6:49 pm

hi

Is there a plugin that will set an incoming signal to a fixed db level? For example with speech, where the signal varies by 20db, everything would be "normalised" to 0db... if the signal is already at 0db, then it is untouched.

Sort of like an autodetect compressor gain?

cheers
al

kode_poet · Post by **kode_poet** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 6:54 pm

I think that any sound needs to have a little dynamics on them. So for speech you probably wouldnt want everything at 0db. U can achieve good results tho, by getting a good mic, and mic positioining. Then get a good hi quality pre amp, and a good compressor.

aldoofbanga · Post by **aldoofbanga** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:01 pm

Thx. However this is for regular recording where I do not have control over the mic or positioning, and the input signal randomly changes from loud to quiet regularly. So I frequently have to apply volume automation (as well as dynamics). I'm wondering if there's a way to stop having to apply volume automation. To keep dynamics, it doesn't all have to be the exact same db level but at least closer would be good. Because of the large difference in volume, compressing doesn't quite to the job I need to change gain.

Fredrikgroth · Post by **Fredrikgroth** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:49 am

Try a limiter/maximizer made for mastering. Like the free Waves L1-clone... you can find it here: http://www.yohng.com/w1limit.html

It will do what you want.

aldoofbanga · Post by **aldoofbanga** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:27 am

"maximizer"... sounds like it might what I'm after. So I take it that it will add gain to low signals and leave alone louder signals ? thx mate look fwd to trying it.

Warmonger · Post by **Warmonger** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 1:53 am

aldoofbanga wrote:"maximizer"... sounds like it might what I'm after. So I take it that it will add gain to low signals and leave alone louder signals ? thx mate look fwd to trying it.

Actually, a maximizer will usually lower signals that are above a certain threshold (say, -6dB), and then raise the gain the appropriate amount. The net effect, however, is just as you described.

aldoofbanga · Post by **aldoofbanga** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:34 am

Thanks mate, that's a good tip and sounds exactly like what I'm after, I wondered what a maximizer effect does. I have Sound Forge 6, and I believe it also has a maximizer, need to check it again. But I pref to use cubase for this task, so the "w1" thing sounds pretty good too...

kode_poet · Post by **kode_poet** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:06 am

I love Voxengo's Elephant Maximiser, Great uncolored sound. At first I was using it as a compressor in some instruments, and I got pretty good results, now I just stick it on the master channel since I got another favorite compressor.

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:15 am

I actually recommend two things.

1: automate your mixer channel manually
2: use the Blue Cat Digital Peak Meter (http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1288.html) to record your audio signal into your channel as midi CC data. Then you can simply raise the low volume parts, lower the high volume parts, and assign this data to your volume slider.

Experiment with these two techniques, you might need to compress it afterwards. I'd recommend that over any maximizer.

aldoofbanga · Post by **aldoofbanga** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:33 am

interesting... I am of course compressing the final mix, and am automating the volume already... this is what I'm wanting to shortcut (this is a regular task for me) with a plugin. time is actually more important than a perfect mixdown in this case.

I'm trying to get a cubase template that will do most of the work for me and give a nice, listenable result where the volume doesn't noticeably change.

aldoofbanga · Post by **aldoofbanga** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:52 am

Thanks everyone the W1 effect is doing the job nicely.

Kingston · Post by **Kingston** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:24 am

This trick might work. It's sometimes called 'leveling compression' aka 'Auto Gain'. Seems like people forget just what compressors are.

Take any stock standard compressor that has attack, release, threshold and ratio controls.

1: threshold and ratio completely depend on your source material, but -20 and ratio of 3:1 should work as a starting point.

2: set it to really fast release (around 20ms)

3: set attack to something above 500ms. start moving the dial towards faster attack and back off slightly just when starting to hear the effect. This way the leveling stays "invisible".

When you understand how this method works, it'll give you best results while still preserving the sounds internal dynamics. Limiters and maximisers will simply kill em all. Of course a limiter set up after a leveling compressor will give even better results.

stefancrs · Post by **stefancrs** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:12 am

Kingston: dang spot. The first thing I thought when reading through this thread was "what the heck is up with these suggestions? a compressor will do exactly what he's after"

aldoofbanga · Post by **aldoofbanga** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:30 am

hi, compression is what ive been using in combo with volume automation, but to be honest the w1 is really doing the job much better. I still have a limiter afterwards, but theory aside the overall volume of the speech is quite consistent and at an acceptable level now. I was just using the SX Dynamics compressor.

auto gain plugin?