MeldaProduction

ZentralmassivSound · Post by **ZentralmassivSound** » Mon May 16, 2016 9:48 am

Hi Vojtech,

MDynamicEQ is one of my favourite mixing tools. I use it a lot to carve out room for each element in a mix. It works perfectly frequency-wise, but concerning timing there is a problem when I need quick reaction. It would be awesome to have a look-ahead for the dynamics detection.

I have difficulties to e.g. cut the bass to make room for the bassdrum (via sidechain). If I choose attack to be very small, even zero ms, then the bass it cut from the first moment of the bassdrum hit and I get a clear transient of the bassdrum. However, as attack is so fast, the dynamic EQ reacts very hectically to any signal dirt, of which there is often a lot in acoustic bassdrum recordings. If I set attack time higher, the behaviour is smoothened out and dirt doesn't get through, however I also lose the transient of the actual bassdrum hits.

Of course I tried adjusting threshold, level etc., but couldn't reach a satisfactory solution.

So, what would solve this is a look-ahead. (BTW I use this setup very successfully with the gate of MDynamics. I choose zero attack but a large look-ahead, so I get all the transients of the actual signal but don't let through any noise and dirt.)

Cheers, Thorsten

DarkStar · Post by **DarkStar** » Mon May 16, 2016 10:40 am

+1
Sound like a good idea to me.

steve2KVR · Post by **steve2KVR** » Mon May 16, 2016 1:30 pm

...in this particular instance, kick vs base, how does "look ahead" help? The eq would then just know it was going to the same reaction ahead of time. Seems to me as gate of some sort is the solution.../s~

ZentralmassivSound · Post by **ZentralmassivSound** » Mon May 16, 2016 3:36 pm

steve2KVR wrote:...in this particular instance, kick vs base, how does "look ahead" help? The eq would then just know it was going to the same reaction ahead of time. Seems to me as gate of some sort is the solution.../s~

No, look-ahead actually helps. If you specify some non zero attack time together with a large look-ahead, then the dynamic EQ isn't pushed by every little bump in the bassdrum track, but still reaches full gain right in time for the bassdrum transient.

You are right though that it could be done by inserting a gate with lookahead on the bassdrum send, but that would require extra setup hassle. A gate directly on the bassdrum track is not always leading to good results, if there is a lot of bleed it often sounds unfavourable with a gate.

steve2KVR · Post by **steve2KVR** » Mon May 16, 2016 3:57 pm

ZentralmassivSound wrote:
steve2KVR wrote:...No, look-ahead actually helps. If you specify some non zero attack time together with a large look-ahead, then the dynamic EQ isn't pushed by every little bump in the bassdrum track, but still reaches full gain right in time for the bassdrum transient...

...actually never considered that before...verrrrrry interrrresting....mmmmmm....

.../s~

ZentralmassivSound · Post by **ZentralmassivSound** » Mon May 16, 2016 9:03 pm

steve2KVR wrote:
ZentralmassivSound wrote:
steve2KVR wrote:...No, look-ahead actually helps. If you specify some non zero attack time together with a large look-ahead, then the dynamic EQ isn't pushed by every little bump in the bassdrum track, but still reaches full gain right in time for the bassdrum transient...
...actually never considered that before...verrrrrry interrrresting....mmmmmm.... .../s~

It also works with the RMS size. If you make it small, the detector reacts to any short noise blip, if you make it large, it only gets the real signal, but its too slow and misses transients. Compensating that with a look ahead, you get the perfect setup, stable against noise / dirt but perfectly in time on the actual signal. MDynamics is the best gate I have seen, don't know if other plugs can do this.

steve2KVR · Post by **steve2KVR** » Mon May 16, 2016 9:22 pm

...thank you, gentlemen, I use MD all the time because of/with the gate, but never thought about/noticed the sorts of issues raised here...otoh...almost most all of my drum/perc tracks come into me as midi sessions.../s~

ericzang · Post by **ericzang** » Tue May 17, 2016 8:24 am

I have also felt look ahead would be a nice addition. I also instead use MMBDynamics when look ahead is needed.

mesaone · Post by **mesaone** » Wed May 18, 2016 11:34 pm

Until this is implemented, just copy the track that you use to trigger. Then nudge the material on that track earlier in time, and send it to the sidechain.

MeldaProduction · Post by **MeldaProduction** » Fri May 20, 2016 11:25 am

I'm afraid this is very unlikely to happen. It's extremely complex already... and this with the induced latency and stuff would be horrific...

ZentralmassivSound · Post by **ZentralmassivSound** » Sun May 22, 2016 8:47 pm

mesaone wrote:Until this is implemented, just copy the track that you use to trigger. Then nudge the material on that track earlier in time, and send it to the sidechain.

Ah yeah, simple enough workaround, thanks for reminding me!

MeldaProduction

KVR Audio

FR: Look-ahead for MDynamicEQ