Cytomic 'The Glue' Compressor

[djanthonyw]

Andy, are you far enough along to possibly give an estimated release date?

[dj ray]

With regards to the ratios, I for one am sorta glad that this compressor isn't one of those 'endlessly tweakable' ones, but one geared toward getting the sound you want and moving on. Looks like the ratios picked are commonsense and practical and not unlike what was featured on the old school compressors.

[andy-cytomic]

To do with ratio stuff, I think in summary it's a poor unit to use for compression. I would prefer a % unit instead, say call it compression scale, which would be much easier to get to grips with, so for every dB you are over the threshold you know the compressor will turn the volume down by simply multiplying with the compression scale:

Code: Select all

25%: 10*25% = -2.5 dB
50%: 10*50% = -5 dB
75%: 10*75% = -7.5 dB
90%: 10*90% = -9 dB
100%: 10*100% = -10 dB

Those would be my choices of a useful spread of compression scales. This way it makes it clear that the difference between 90% and 100% is only 10%, whereas the difference between a ratio of 10 and a ratio of oo (infinite) seems like loads.

Andrew Simper

[Compyfox]

Hm... like I said, seen SSL desks, but never touched them. So I don't know what ratios they offer. I'm used to the concept of the 1176LN however, which has a ratio of 4, 8, 12, 20 and of course the possibility to activate all of them (making it a ratio of 44 or "unlimited" if you want to say so).


I see where you want to go for with "The Glue". It's definitely not a massive squasher, at least not intended like that which is good in it's own right. It's just that I see so many agressive settings in pop and rock productions lately (like ratio of 6 for bass, 4 to 8 for vocals!), especially from SSL consoles (thanks to video tutorials) that I ask myself "is that the only way to get a similar sound like everybody else to stay in competition?".

Of course there's always the involvement of the plugin behaviour, too. While I was using C.Budde's analyzer to read out some values from compressors, I sure was surprised how some of them handled in terms of ratio courves, and where they really bit compared to the settings I dialed in. This is also influencing of course.


Guess I'll have to wait and see.

[dj ray]

To do with ratio stuff, I think in summary it's a poor unit to use for compression. I would prefer a % unit instead, say call it compression scale, which would be much easier to get to grips with, so for every dB you are over the threshold you know the compressor will turn the volume down by simply multiplying with the compression scale:

Andrew Simper

This is very smart. A lot of audio engineering conventions have just carried on since the 'golden ages' even if they aren't necessarily easy to understand or even practical, just out of tradition. The whole Ratio thing is one of the least understood compression parameters because it has more in common with Maths than music. Audiodamage decided to call 'Threshold' on their free compressor 'Sensitivity' for the same reason: it makes more sense. I for one, am all for newer, more common sense conventions that help one understand just what is being done to the sound, and as a result get the most out of the processor.

I know I am not alone when I say I am really looking forward to this! Cheers!

[andy-cytomic]

Andy, are you far enough along to possibly give an estimated release date?

It is most probably less than two weeks before being on sale, but possibly earlier or later by up to a week. So, I'm still on target for before the end of Q1

I am also still waiting to hear back from Digidesign with approval for the Rtas version. I am using the juce framework, which already has an rtas wrapper, but I need official approval from Digidesign before legally being able to release an rtas version. I may have to release without an rtas version initally.

Andrew Simper

[djanthonyw]

The RTAS version doesn't effect me, just the AU.

[andy-cytomic]

Hm... like I said, seen SSL desks, but never touched them. So I don't know what ratios they offer. I'm used to the concept of the 1176LN however, which has a ratio of 4, 8, 12, 20 and of course the possibility to activate all of them (making it a ratio of 44 or "unlimited" if you want to say so).

FYI: I have done a model of the 1176, and the all button mode is not (edit: woops missed the not out first time) that same as simply adding the numbers on the buttons together. There are two voltage divider circuits in action in the 1176, one sets the scale (ratio) and one sets an offset to balance back out the gain circuit to the correct bias. Using the all buttons mode messes completely with the gain offset, which is to some extent balanced back out with the auto release, but it still causes much more drive through the gain reduction jfet.

I see where you want to go for with "The Glue". It's definitely not a massive squasher, at least not intended like that which is good in it's own right. It's just that I see so many agressive settings in pop and rock productions lately (like ratio of 6 for bass, 4 to 8 for vocals!), especially from SSL consoles (thanks to video tutorials) that I ask myself "is that the only way to get a similar sound like everybody else to stay in competition?".

Actually it can really smash the signal with very aggressive settings, there will be some presets shipping to do with this. The range knob really helps out here since you can set the threshold really low to get loads of compression on your whole signal, but still have it sound decent. You can also use the peak clip to get some harsher non-linear action going on to really slam direct signals.

Andrew Simper

[djsubject]

so it could be here i a week

good luck!

[Compyfox]

Definitely gonna need to demo it, whether or not I can buy it is a totally different agenda.

Much kudos to your creation however. This will surely add to the free market.

[Jay-Producer]

Good presets are a great time saver!

I agree but most are rubbish

[mystran]

You've pretty much nailed it It limits to total amount of gain reduction that will be applied, which is ultra useful for mastering and other subtle compression where you would previously be forced to use a parallel compression wet / dry knob. The Range knob, imho, is the most useful feature added to The Glue from the original.

I actually have a range knob in my prototype compressor (uh oh, now I told publicly I'm writing a compressor) which goes for the other definition (max above threshold before after which the envelope detector gives up.. results in the same thing, but the max reduction then depends on ratio, and has slightly different results on attack/release.. I just happened to like it more that way), and I gotta agree it's absolutely wonderful feature to have.

edit: oh and don't worry, it's not a competitor really, as it goes for rather different aesthetics I think ..

[andy-cytomic]

I actually have a range knob in my prototype compressor (uh oh, now I told publicly I'm writing a compressor) which goes for the other definition (max above threshold before after which the envelope detector gives up.. results in the same thing, but the max reduction then depends on ratio, and has slightly different results on attack/release.. I just happened to like it more that way), and I gotta agree it's absolutely wonderful feature to have.

edit: oh and don't worry, it's not a competitor really, as it goes for rather different aesthetics I think ..

Note that I didn't say where the limiting happened, just that it happens

Andrew Simper

[rhythmtechnologies]

hey andy, any thoughts on an introductory offer?


at that price its cheeky, i know , ill still be buying it at full price anyway if theres none!

[mystran]

I actually have a range knob in my prototype compressor (uh oh, now I told publicly I'm writing a compressor) which goes for the other definition (max above threshold before after which the envelope detector gives up.. results in the same thing, but the max reduction then depends on ratio, and has slightly different results on attack/release.. I just happened to like it more that way), and I gotta agree it's absolutely wonderful feature to have.

edit: oh and don't worry, it's not a competitor really, as it goes for rather different aesthetics I think ..

Note that I didn't say where the limiting happened, just that it happens

Hehe.. having tried 3-4 difference ways to do that, I guess it's largely a matter of taste (as in how you happen to want it to affect the dynamics), unless you want to match the character of a particular piece of vintage gear, which I guess is partially the aim here.