MAutoVolume - how to use it with Cubase?

[qbaser]

I've downloaded the MAtuoVolume plugin, installed it but haven't a clue how to use it?

I want to be able to simply ride a vocal so that it stays just on top of the main stereo mix. I have made it simple as in I have created a stereo mix of the music minus the vocal, and I also have the separate mono vocal track. So can someone please point me in the right direction on how to ride this vocal against my stereo backing track please? I am using Cubase 6 latest version but cannot work out how to set this up using the side chain function. Hopeing to hear from someone.

Thanks
Al

[SGWork]

Read this and if you are still puzzled, I certainly was when I read this first, then I'll try post something else.

Side-chain panel controls the side-chain input. Normally the plugin stabilizes the input volume to a predefined level. When you enable side-chain input, the plugin will also detect its volume and adjust the level accordingly. For example, when you process lead vocals, you can route all other tracks into the side-chain and the plugin will ensure the vocal volume will always be approximately as loud as the background, so that the vocal will always stay on top.

Background sensitivity
Background sensitivity is used to control how much the plugin listens to the side-chain signal. The higher the background sensitivity is, the more the plugin is affected by the side-chain level instead of some predefined constant level.
Range: 0.00% to 100.0%, default 50.0%

Background gain
Background gain virtually amplifies or attenuates the side-chain signal. This may be useful, when you want to compare the processor with and without side-chain. When side-chain is disabled, the output is leveled to a predefined volume. But your background may have very different volume, so that when you start switching the side-chain on and off, the requested gain would quickly change every time you do that. With background gain you can tweak your background to avoid these changes, hence being able to optimally consider whether it is good to use the side-chain or not.

On sidechaining:

Make a music only bus and route all tracks to it except for the vox track then send it's output to the mains as usual so you can hear the back tracks. Send the vocals to the mains or through a buss if you wish before they hit the mains. Put an instance of mAutoVolume on the Vocal fx bin and enable it to listen to it's side chain. Then in that music only buss you created at the first, insert a send from it and the mAutoVolume side chain input should be an available buss destination. Now play your track and set the sidechain sends to where you like it and the vox output level. You will find that your vox just sits there perfectly audible but not too loud ever and all the time.

Good luck!

[qbaser]

Thank you so much for that detailed reply.

I'll give that a go later and let you know the results!

Cheers
Al

www.aljamesproductions.com

[qbaser]

Hi again, ok Ive tried this but seem to be getting a flanging effect?

To be clear, am I setting this upas you suggest? Here is what I've done.

1. Sent the Stereo backing track only to a new Group Channel.
2. Set up an 'FX channel track' to which I added MAutoVolume.
3. On the Backing Track Group channel I added the 'send' of MAutoVolume.
4. On the Vocal only track I also added the 'send' of MAutoVolume.

Sorry for my ignorance here, is this correct?


Thanks you again.

Al

[qbaser]

Also, what would be the average settings on Mautovolume just to get me started?

Thanks
Al

[SGWork]

I could post a Logic template and you would have to distil a Cubase version from it. I'm not at all familiar with Cubase, sorry.

[qbaser]

That would be great thanks SG Work? Or a screenshot?

[SGWork]

That would be great thanks SG Work? Or a screenshot?

Yea, that's what I meant anyway, give me a fewminutes

[qbaser]

Thanks so much

[SGWork]

Do you know how to post a screenshot on this forum?

[SGWork]

Never mind here it is:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/81272260/ScSho ... olume.tiff

Let me know if it needs more clarification.

Cheers

[qbaser]

Thank you so much for that I appreciate it.

Can you shed any light on the other setup I mentioned above? Am I doing this correctly given those 4 steps I mentioned?

[SGWork]

Thank you so much for that I appreciate it.

Can you shed any light on the other setup I mentioned above? Am I doing this correctly given those 4 steps I mentioned?

I'm not sure…….

I can tell you what I do, here we go from right to left:

Audio 1 ordinary audio track with on it the signal to be leveled (voice in my case) by AutoVolume;
The Output gets routed to Bus 1.

Audio 2 ditto track with on it the signal AutoVolume will reference to level a signal;
The Output gets routed to Out 1-2 (Stereo Out);
FX send to Bus 2;

Aux 1 AutoVolume is inserted here and the side chain is fed by Bus 2 (don't forget to activate the side-chain)
Input gets Bus 1
The Output gets routed to Out 1-2 (Stereo Out)

Aux 2 Input gets Bus 2
No Output!!


Now in the AutoVolume main menu under General you adjust the gain parameters, start with what you see on the picture I posted.
With some luck it should work!

[qbaser]

Thanks again.

I really really wish I could make sense of this, the bit where you're talking about Aux's throws me. I understand routing to Bus's but the mention of Aux throws me, are you saying I need to utilise my soundcards extra outputs?

I have a vocal mono track, routed to Stereo out.

I have a stereo backing track, routed to BUS 1.

I set up a new FX channel where MAutoVolume is inserted.

I then add a 'send' of the Autovolume on the BUS 1 backing track.

Then follow the rest of the instructions/

I dont want to take up any more of your time, this probably is down to my lack of understanding rather than your instructions.

Al

[SGWork]

Translating Fx channel to Aux channel should do the trick. You get phasing because identical audio reaches the stereo output, so check if the two signals are routed to the stereo out only once!