Free SynthMaker Compressor+EQ/Multi-stage distortion unit

[stefancrs]

Is it opto/vca ? What is the latency ?

vca. When ahead is set to zero there's no latency.

Sorry for bringing this up again. Is an opto mode of any interest? I implemented one and found that it often behaves quite nicely in the bass region, and the flavour is quite different from the vca mode.

[brok landers]

Ok, uhm The eq algorithm doesn't perform better or worse even if the signal is very low/very high. That's one of the advantages of floating point maths. In a simplified manner one can say that the EQ is just as precise if the signal is in the -0.001 to 0.001 range as it does if the signal is in the -1000 to +1000 range.

well, theoretically you're right, but:
i assume synthmaker has a buildt in denormalizer in each module (i assume that because the normal user is't aware of such missbehaviours, so i think it is just buildt in).or is it just applied to the output module?
in fact, i don't think that especially a filter/eq algoritm would produce usable results without a denormalizing stage, as the number size easily get very big very fast.
now, most denormalizers work at a level way below the audible range (about-400db or such), by adding a constant signal. the sad fact is however, a lot of them work at -120db or such ...
now:
when you feed a signal into the eq say at -40db,
applying eq, then boost the output to 0db, you'll have a noise at -80db, assuming the denormalizer works at 120db ...
that noise is quite audible then.
and depending on the algorithm used in the denormalizers (could be in each module, remember), that _can_ (not must) sound not pleasing.
also you have to remember that a compressor could be used after the eq (in real world ), thatone rises the signal at low levels even more (remember the release-stage) ...
so, to avoid any missbehaviours of the eq-algorithm,
just to be on the safe side in terms of audio-quality, an input slider could make one get rid of _eventually_ occouring misbehaviours in any way.
thats why i think it could be very usable ...
i might be wrong though, so please don't nail me on that ...
i just want to make sure the eq is on the safe side, as i really like it ...

when not having the saturation at 100% you can get signals well above 0dB after the saturation stage, that's why I thought an output gain _after_ the saturation stage and one before (input gain) would be of interest.

right, that makes sense ... if you could do it, it would be great ...
by the way:
how about peakmeters with readout for the meters, and how about a "staturation ammount-meter" with numerical readout, so one can really keep track about what's happening?

Would non-editable readouts but "double" Q handles be sufficient? That is, you'd be able to edit the Q in both ends of that "Q-line". Would it be even better to have a key modifier instead, for instance so that you could hold ctrl when adjusting a band and then you'd adjust Q instead of gain/frequency?

well, it would help of course, as i am then actually able to adjust the q the when frequency is set to max ...
but i am more into adjusting numerical (vial dragging up and down), it is simply more accurate than dragging graphically ...
i for one found it allways harder to achieve the desired gain and frequency by numrerical value changing, as to drag 2 dimensional in the graphics ... one time the gain is correct but not the gain, and while i try to get the gain ready, i accidentialy readjust the frequency and vice versa ...
to me the graphics are more to have a visual reference ...
ideally i find that if you implement both, every way to work will be satisfied.

Ok, point taken

great!
man, you're great!
just lemme know what you think ...
again:
i could be wrong, all i'm trying is to help to get the most out of these plugs, as i like the conception behind them ...

[brok landers]

Is it opto/vca ? What is the latency ?

vca. When ahead is set to zero there's no latency.

Sorry for bringing this up again. Is an opto mode of any interest? I implemented one and found that it often behaves quite nicely in the bass region, and the flavour is quite different from the vca mode.

i absolutely love opto style compression ...
especially when one can adjust the "inertia" of the opto-behaviour ...

[stefancrs]

1) I agree about the precision thingy due to denormalization safety mechanisms, so I'll take it into consideration

2) I have already added a saturation indicator on the compressor GUI, I could very well do the same for the EQ! So it'll be:
Input gain->eq->saturation amount->output gain. This way I think both you and I get what we want out of the EQ

The numerical entering of band settings will happen as well, just not as soon as the other stuff

3) Regarding opto compression, how does that work? The inertia ought to be a function mainly of the attack time, which still is fully tweakable.

[brok landers]

1)I agree about the precision thingy due to denormalization safety mechanisms, so I'll take it into consideration

ahh, great! thank you so much ...

2) I have already added a saturation indicator on the compressor GUI, I could very well do the same for the EQ! So it'll be:
Input gain->eq->saturation amount->output gain. This way I think both you and I get what we want out of the EQ

hey, thats really cool, cannot wait until i can get my hands on this ...

The numerical entering of band settings will happen as well, just not as soon as the other stuff

i'm so happy that you do all that ... that really will become my to.go eq ... i bet ...

3) Regarding opto compression, how does that work? The inertia ought to be a function mainly of the attack time, which still is fully tweakable.

no, it's not the attack time, it's the logarithmic/exponential curve (from -,to linear to +) of both, the attack _and_ the release that is affected ...

[stefancrs]

Yes, but what I meant is that the inertia is a function of the envelope follower and not something you can adjust in any other way than by affecting the attack/release time, no? If I am wrong please educate me on how it should be done a block diagram showing how it works would be good in that case

[sinkmusic]

I don't know much about that. But I know that the manual of digitalfishphones comperssor plugins are very well documented about that. Maybe you can have a look at it.
( http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.p ... &subItem=1 )

[brok landers]

Yes, but what I meant is that the inertia is a function of the envelope follower and not something you can adjust in any other way than by affecting the attack/release time, no? If I am wrong please educate me on how it should be done a block diagram showing how it works would be good in that case

i'm getting myself on really slippy ground here, as i don't really know the behave of the units that are used in an analog opto compressor ...
all i know from my knowledge is, that, depending of the age and the differences of each photocell, the inertia differs a lot between compressors ...
so, the clou would be, that one could adjust the "age/difference" (inertia) if this behave in one combined knob ...
and, as a compressor guru here told me, it's not the attack _time_ being altered, but, like i said, it's the attack+release _curves_ being altered.
now, the dynamic behave of the photocell, depending on the input-level, i don't _really_ know, but it seems, that the higher the input, the more exponential the curves get ...
sorry, i don't have more reliable info on that ... and, i was just told ... i can be wrong, as i didn't proove what i was told ...

[stefancrs]

Well, the more above the threshold the signal is, the higher the ratio gets, which when it comes to envelope followers make it seem like the curve is "more" exponential, but that's just a cool "side-effect". Thing is, most opto-compressor had locked attack/release time settings (which made their inertia locked as well), but mine doesn't, so the inertia can be altered by the user.

[stefancrs]

I guess the easiest thing would be for me to release an updated version and for you to give feedback upon it

[brok landers]

that would be great, but imo you should first get the eq finished ... i _think_ this is less work ...
then the compressor ... what do you think?

[stefancrs]

I think that I've already added a very flexible auto-gain thingy (goes from 0% to sustain to peak, so you can set what you want to end up at 0dB automatically, I usually end up between sustain and peak), opto-compression and could add a variable stereo link in a jiffy

[bengeorge]

hey stefancrs, i really like your compressor, it has character I think.

one thing i would like to suggest is a beat-syncable delay (not a feedback delay, like a latency) for the output to handle the latency when "ahead" > 0.

What I mean is: if "ahead" > 0, then i can set the delay to equal 1 full beat, synced to the master tempo. That way, I can sequence everything that's going into the compressor exactly 1 beat ahead, so that it can be sync'd back up with the rest of the non-compressed material.

[stefancrs]

Wouldn't PDC be better?

[bengeorge]

Yes... but I am a gimp and I don't know how to use plugin delay compensation.