Beta version of MDynamicEq available, optinions?

[mljung]

Just gave it a quick go and so far I really like what it does. I can reduce treble without removing the life in the track, it seems, something I'm always looking for!
But it's only first impressions on a single piece of music - and first impression can sometime change. But If my ears are turned on the right way today, I think this could end up as a real favorite eq, along with a few others...

[MeldaProduction]

Just gave it a quick go and so far I really like what it does. I can reduce treble without removing the life in the track, it seems, something I'm always looking for!
But it's only first impressions on a single piece of music - and first impression can sometime change. But If my ears are turned on the right way today, I think this could end up as a real favorite eq, along with a few others...

Thank you!

[IIRs]

I think the added value will be very small, mostly for some special effects.

Not so much special effects as tweaky mastering tricks: not something you use every day, but just when you have a particularly difficult problem that nothing else can address.

I mean an equalizer for each band of an equalizer, this is way too much even for me .

No, just one filter band for each EQ band, as you have it now. I just want to be able to set the sidechain filter's frequency independantly of the EQ filter if needed.

I'll think about it, but honestly I'm not so into it...

Fair enough. Maybe try my IQ4 plug if you want to see what I mean: http://www.platinumears.com/iq4gui.html

I'll just have to keep nagging the Fabfilters I guess...

I have to admit though, I still don't understand this part:

The fact that it decreases dynamic range doesn't mean it is a compressor

Isn't that the definition of a compressor?

[MeldaProduction]

I think the added value will be very small, mostly for some special effects.

Not so much special effects as tweaky mastering tricks: not something you use every day, but just when you have a particularly difficult problem that nothing else can address.

Yep, anyway already done . There should hopefully be another beta in a few hours.

I mean an equalizer for each band of an equalizer, this is way too much even for me .

No, just one filter band for each EQ band, as you have it now. I just want to be able to set that filter to a different frequency if needed.

Done . A low-pass and a high-pass filter, both with adjustable Q.

I'll just have to keep nagging the Fabfilters I guess...

Such a provocation ...

I have to admit though, I still don't understand this part:

The fact that it decreases dynamic range doesn't mean it is a compressor

Isn't that the definition of a compressor?

Well, that's a good question . I don't think there actually is a real "definition" of a compressor. Personally I see a compressor defined by the standard set of parameters and by what it does. And since there is no threshold nor ratio here, I take it as it is not a compressor. But it's just messing with words. My main concert was that you seem really stuck with how the standard compressors work and trying to adapt the same usage for this plugin, which I believe isn't really a good idea .

[IIRs]

My main concert was that you seem really stuck with how the standard compressors work and trying to adapt the same usage for this plugin, which I believe isn't really a good idea .

More accurate to say that I'm really stuck with how my IQ4 plug works, but I want someone to make a better version than I am capable of!

Looking forward to the new beta anyway: off to a gig now, but I'll try it properly at the studio tomorrow.

[MeldaProduction]

More accurate to say that I'm really stuck with how my IQ4 plug works, but I want someone to make a better version than I am capable of!

Looking forward to the new beta anyway: off to a gig now, but I'll try it properly at the studio tomorrow.

Sure . Have fun and let me know tomorrow .

[IIRs]

Personally I see a compressor defined by the standard set of parameters and by what it does. And since there is no threshold nor ratio here, I take it as it is not a compressor. But it's just messing with words.

So, playing with words slightly differently: it is a compressor, but with less control over the transfer than one with the standard set of parameters.

Lots of compressors don't have the standard set of controls, like an LA2A for example. Generally these compressors tend to be less flexible however, and just do one thing well...

I think there is a good reason why the standard set of compressor controls became the standard for typical workhorse models: much like the standard ADSR controls for synth envelopes, its a minimum set of parameters needed to achieve all the most important types of setting.

Sorry to harp on about it, but I really want this plug to be an IQ4 killer!

[MeldaProduction]

Aaaa, that's a good point . Ok, let's make a compromise - it is partly a compressor . Anyway I'm gonna upload the newest beta.

[MeldaProduction]

Ok here we are, beta2:

32-bit: http://www.meldaproduction.com/download ... _setup.exe
64-bit: http://www.meldaproduction.com/download ... _setup.exe

[daxliniere]

Hi Vojtech,

In my opinion, there's not a single developer who has managed to nail a dynamic EQ in totality.
The most common problem is that they decide to provide an 'easy-to-use, one-knob-dynamics' control.

I'm about to give your plugin a test and I'll let you know how I go with it, but without dedicated ratio and threshold controls, I fear this will be just another dynamic EQ in the pile. Sorry.

Vojtech - you have the chance to change this!!


I'll be in touch soon.


All the best,

[daxliniere]

Incidentally, this is an excerpt from an email I sent to Dirk at Brainworx on the ways that BX_dyneq could be perfected:
BX_dyneq already has separate threshold and ratio controls (but they're not labelled as such).


BX_dynEQ ideas:

*Multiple bands: Currently, de-essing multiple frequencies requires multiple plugins. This is a poor workflow especially for vocals which often have sibilance at 2-4 different frequencies.

*Spectrum analyser: I find the quickest way to find an offending/target frequency is to check with a spectrum analyser. If a sufficiently slow decay time is set in the spectrum analyser, it allows you to visualise very short transients. Once the frequency is found, fine-tuning by ear is always done, but often not necessary, proving the effectiveness of this method.
So, I propose the addition of a zoomable spectrum analyser window. The added bells and whistles could include a way to set target frequencies directly from this display.

*Sidechain input: This is easy to implement in VST 2.4 plugins and has many uses, such as using a hihat track as key input to remove hat bleed from the snare track. (I was mixing an album last week and I wish I'd had a plugin to do that...)

*Improved filter/key EQ: I would like to see a more flexible EQ (with variable Q for peak/bell, plus Q control for shelf) in the filter and key sections.

*Enabling the 'Link' control for Key and Filter controls should take into account the last tweaked control as 'master.': Example: assuming the Key and Filter are unlinked, if I adjust the Key frequency, then the decide to adjust the Filter frequency, enabling Link should use the Filter frequency's value. Similarly, if I adjust the Filter frequency, then the decide to adjust the Key frequency, enabling Link should use the Key frequency's value.

*Linear-phase mode: Have you considered adding a linear-phase mode to BX_dynEQ? I'm sure that it would make this plugin even more attractive to mastering engineers.

[abstractcats]

DAmnIT man!! Stop that!! I mean the great plug ins!! Yup! anther great one Just trying on Geist drums. I'm going to give it a go on KarmaFX next.

[daxliniere]

Hi Vojtech,

As I suspected, the combined Threshold and Ratio controls are severely limiting this plugin's maximum potential.
For some vocal deessing, I wanted to set a high threshold and high ratio, to only cut the extreme sibilance, but to cut it quite strongly.


There are 2 other key points that should be addressed to make the ultimate dynamic EQ.

1) Ability to set 'trigger frequency' and 'target frequency' to different frequencies,
2) Ability to monitor each band's 'trigger frequency'.

Both of these functions are available in BX_dyneq. I think it would be a very good idea to demo that plugin.
In particular, play around with the 2 solo buttons in the EQ section. From memory, one of them you can only hear once signal exceeds the threshold, which was excellent because you can hear exactly what is being taken out.


All the best,

[manducator]

Sorry for going a bit off-topic, haven't tested the plugin yet, but can someone explain the difference between a multiband compressor and a dynamic eq?

They both have different bands and they both compress those bands, right?

[daxliniere]

Hi Manducator,

They both have different bands and they both compress those bands, right?

A multiband compressor splits the incoming signal into multiple bands (bandwidths) using a crossover.

For a 3-band processor, this results in 3 separate streams of audio. The frequency content of these bands is defined by the crossover points. (For a 3 band crossover, you have 2 x-over points, for a 4 band, you'd have 3 points, etc)

Each of the 3 bands is then processed by a standard compressor.
The 3 bands are summed together and you are left with what you started (well, almost. You have crossover distortion added).


A dynamic EQ works different and can do very different things.
A compressor (basically) works like this: You have an 'envelope follower' which tracks the incoming audio signal's level and generates a control signal which is fed to a gain controller or VCA. This signal is modified with ratio, threshold, attack, release and sometimes other controls.

A dynamic EQ takes this control signal and 'connects' it to the gain control on a single band of EQ. This can be set to perform either boosting or cutting and the other controls of the EQ are left static (frequency & Q).

In the case of a dynamic EQ, the envelope follower will often have a filter in front of it to force it to only 'hear' the frequencies you want it to hear. In most dynamic EQ designs, this frequency is locked to the same frequency as the band being dynamically cut/boosted, but in BX_dyneq these can be set to different frequencies.


HTH,