Who uses Voxengo Soniformer

[rhavinga]

So what your saying is I need both. I am presently using PSP Vintage Warmer for a main mix plugin. But I would like to to fix the valleys and peaks in my mix. I saw one post where he is using Voxengo combo Mastering set and just using the Har-bal in demo mode to monitor the eq spectrum. Would you say that this is a good approach. I guess what I am saying is I am on a limited budget so I am trying to make good use of the plugins I have so far. So far I am very impressed with what the PSP has done to the mix so far. I would like to get a smooth mix and get my average rms up to a decent level. That is my ultimate goal and get the best bang for my buck.
Thanks for the quick input.
Cheers,
Rick

Soniformer is a brilliant multiband mastering compressor. Absolute overkill for track compression, but is capable of anything from very subtle compression all the way to unbelievable squashing. I don't know of any other multiband compressor, software or hardware, that offers as many bands or as much control. It does require a learning curve, however ...

Hi, I'm new to the forum. Just wondering if you have used Har-bal and how it compares to Soniformer. My application would be for pre-mastering and improving existing mixes. I seen some posts where Har-bal is the favourite but I don't think the users have used Voxengo's products for mastering. Anyways your thoughts are welcome here.

Cheers,
Rick

Apples and oranges here...

Har-bal is a parametric EQ (and a very good one at that), while Soniformer is a multiband compressor... Har-bal is great for leveling out peaks'n'valleys, while Soniformer is great for achieving that overall sonic balance across the spectrum.

Hope that helps.

[advaya]

Multi-band compressors are not really ideal for any 'surgical' work, such as the leveling of peaks/valleys. It would certainly work to use Har-bal as a visual reference (for where the peaks may be), and then use some other parametric EQ to remove them... It wouldn't be nearly as elegant as actually using Har-bal itself though...

But if it is only a visual representation of the spectrum that you are after, try Voxengo's SPAN... It's helpful to put that one on the master-effects bus, and then fix those peaks in the mix (before the actuall mixdown).

Hope that helps.

[kilroy]

You know, the thing that puzzles me, is the notion that a multiband dynamics processor of any sort would be purposely employed to make significant *frequency* domain alterations on audio files when the equalizer is clearly the better tool for such tasks.

[rhavinga]

Thanks for the responses and you are definitely clearing up things for me.

This probably should be on a new thread but my next question would be, Voxengo Mastering Suite vs say Har-bal and most likely another acommpanying product.
If you were to compare options and features, which would make a comparable set of Mastering Tools that would compare with the Mastering suite by Voxengo.
I have tried his free plugins and I am amazed at the quality that goes into these little software apps.

Sorry to be a bit of a comparison freak but I am unfortunately on a time limit and I wish I could just try these things out all day long and see what suits me best. Again budget too plays a part.
Hopefully these questions will also help another user.

Also I would agree that compression should not be used to resolve EQ problems.

Your knowledge is much appreciated.
Rick

[rhavinga]

By the way, anyone using PSP Vintage Warmer.
Any thoughts and ideas that you would suggest work great with this software plugin. How would you compare it with other products on the market.

Newbie here
Rick

[Aleksey Vaneev]

kilroy, multiband compressor can lower spectral dips and notches by means of reducing dynamic range at several frequencies. It performs two tasks at once, and does this dynamically. Static EQing may not always succeed - if its EQing is based on average estimate, in some places in the track that may create a hollow sound.

So, if you have plenty of dynamic range left after mixing session, Soniformer multiband won't usually hurt - you may achieve 'glueing' and at the same time remove audible dips and notches, without much effort overall.

[kilroy]

kilroy, multiband compressor can lower spectral dips and notches by means of reducing dynamic range at several frequencies. It performs two tasks at once, and does this dynamically.

Hi Aleksey...yes, certainly this is true, you can target a range of frequencies and compress/expand that range. My main concern with multiband processing however, has always been how to deal with crossover "modulation" artifacts that become an inevitable result of the processing itself. You will know the problem well. We know crossovers are basically two or more adjacent filters with a defined slope. If we assign filters with gentle slopes we minimize crossover artifacts at the expense of "sharing" some of the dynamics processing assigned to one range, with that of its immediate neighbour. If we sharpen the slope of the filters to more carefully isolate the range being processed, then the steepness of that crossover itself becomes the problem. A linear phase design should, in theory, minimize these issues but rather seems to substitute one form of processing "byproduct" for another.

The best solution seems to be getting rid of the crossover networks altogether...I just don't know how that could be accomplished...just dumb I guess.

Static EQing may not always succeed - if its EQing is based on average estimate, in some places in the track that may create a hollow sound.

Also true, though arguably if such an extreme static shaping were to appear necessary, neither an EQ nor a multiband dynamics approach would seem well advised. Probably a dynamic EQ model such as the Weiss or your own GlissEQ would be the better option...that is, if remixing the track is not possible.

Almost every experience I have had with multiband dynamics tools has left me unimpressed...they seem to really tear at a mix in any case where you might be tempted to see the need for such a process. Of course, we all know what they do to the feel of a track when they are used in a dramatically heavy handed fashion...

Possibly I should just shut up and try this plugin.

*edit* And by the by Aleksey...I do hold your innovative programming skills in the highest regard. The fact that you do not tether yourself too unnecessarily to so called conventional modelling approaches is a beacon in the night for other developers.

Cheers.

[bmanic]

Soniformer is definately one of the most transparent multibands. It's very hard to hear any true alteration to the original signal when inserting one (although I think I do hear some now but I've yet to ABX test myself on this).

Cheers!
bManic

[Aleksey Vaneev]

bmanic, Soniformer does add its own coloration, but it is usually unobtrusive.

[Melodioso]

I've been playing with the demo of AAMS 2.0 ( http://curioza.com/curioza.html ) and I am wondering if these two products are similar in the result or if they complement each other?

[DenisvanderVelde]

AAMS does a completed master, DSP-EQ, DSP-Compressor and DSP-Loudness.

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

Soniformer + CurveEQ = happiness for me! I've managed to clean up some stereo wave files a friend sent me with that combination, even though the original mix was frankly crap.

I tend to put most of my Voxengo plugs on the stereo buss rather than in a track - I find them excellent for mastering purposes. Very high quality plugins!

[John Vulich]

I hear that Dick Cheney uses it... when he's not shooting people that is.

[Kingston]

*bu-bum* *tsisss*

[gizmo]

Another very happy Soniformer - Curve EQ user for mastering. Agree that Soniformer takes a while to learn: its very intuitive really, but incredibly powerful. Once you get the hang of fine tuning with it, you'll be laughing.