Melda rec for mix bus comp

[alexis1]

Looking for a mix bus comp with: VST3; external key for sidechaining; parallel "Mix" option; hpf; M/S; clean - i.e., no mandatory, distortion).

Knowing most Melda comps do most or all of that, do you guys use one that, for one reason or another, is best suited to be a mix bus comp?


Others I have looked at:

I see the Slate VBC package is selling for $149. Though no single one of the three comps there has all the above features, they can be chained together to build a composite comp that does. By report, however, they are not clean sounding, and they do hit the DAW's CPU hard.

I came this close to buying Cytomic's The Glue for $99, but there is no M/S option, and at least for now there is no VST3 option (do only limited direction in Cubase).

Similarly with Cubase's multizone compressor (free!) - no M/S, or parallel "Mix" option.

Thanks for any thoughts!

[jmg8]

MTurboComp is perfect for you. Unlike "the glue" you can completely turn off the distortion. So I believe it is probably the only SSL BUS COMP emulator on the market with optional distortion.
MTurboComp has all the features you mentioned right on the easy screen. But if you want to go deeper, the edit screen will let you access options like: Pre/post saturation, 4 followers, 4 processors, a dynamic EQ!!!!
The thing is a beast.

[alexis1]

MTurboComp is perfect for you. Unlike "the glue" you can completely turn off the distortion. So I believe it is probably the only SSL BUS COMP emulator on the market with optional distortion.
MTurboComp has all the features you mentioned right on the easy screen. But if you want to go deeper, the edit screen will let you access options like: Pre/post saturation, 4 followers, 4 processors, a dynamic EQ!!!!
The thing is a beast.

Thx, jmg8! Since my OP, I've reviewed the vid on MTurboComp, it does indeed look feature-rich.

Do you (or anyone else here) happen to use it for that purpose (mixbuss compression)? I'm wondering what real-world experience for that is. Also, how hard it his the CPU, with a bit of oversampling.

Thanks!

[steve2KVR]

...have/are you using the trial?...should help answering most of your questions...it is a "beast".../s~

[Boone777]

It came out recently so people just started using it. Whit all the different flavors and options certainly there is something nice for BUS compression.

[alexis1]

...have/are you using the trial?...should help answering most of your questions...it is a "beast".../s~

Thanks for your response, steve2KVR!

I do always trial before purchasing, Melda products included, but I also like to ask around first.

Wondering if anyone is having any glitches, hearing any artifacts ... how close the emulations are to the modeled amps ... CPU hit (especially if multiple instances are used, with a little oversampling), etc.

It does look like a beast! Are you using it for mixbuss compression, by any chance?

[ZentralmassivSound]

I use it on everything. Tracks, Groups, Sum. For every situation there is a model. Used in parallel mode on the sum, it can work out the groove nicely.

Low CPU, no glitches, but there is the initial huge volume jump on first attack with many models.

[steve2KVR]

...I have been "subbing" it into "known mixes" for other Melda comps in all positions...channel, sub/group bus, and the 2bus...have not noticed any cpu usage problems, even with a dozen or more instances running, otoh, each instance is being run in place of another melda comp ...I personally have no interest in "emulatons," and so, can't offer any comment, 'cause I don't have a clue ...hth.../s~

[alexis1]

Thank you, gentlemen! I will be trialling it next week. I wonder how long the introductory price is in effect for ...

Will also keep an eye out for this:

... but there is the initial huge volume jump on first attack with many models.

I wonder if that is something that will be addressed in the first update, or if it is a feature ...

Thanks again!

[steve2KVR]

...in my experience, the "initial big bang" occurs with several (all?) gain modifying plugins...when first using MAutoVolume I nearly had my head ripped off until I got the "look ahead" parameter set properly ...the gain cannot be changed until there is something to change passing through the plugin...this does induce latency, however.../s~

[jmg8]

Yes I use it on bus. There is an SSL BUS COMP emulation that sounds great. BTW cytomics "the glue" is also an emulation of the same compressor. It is perfect for gluing the mix together. However there are plenty of other great models too.

The beauty of this compressor is that it already applies a decent amount of compression by default. This allows you to very quickly move through the different models to find which best suits your material.
Also its like two completely different compressors on one!
Easy screen gets you to great sounding results in seconds, It's really easy to use.
Edit screen gives access to the most feature rich compressor I have ever seen!
Oh and just one more thing...... It has a dynamic EQ under the hood too! No brainer. Just buy it.

[ZentralmassivSound]

Thank you, gentlemen! I will be trialling it next week. I wonder how long the introductory price is in effect for ...

Will also keep an eye out for this:

... but there is the initial huge volume jump on first attack with many models.

I wonder if that is something that will be addressed in the first update, or if it is a feature ...

Thanks again!

I think that is a feature, since the real models also do that. It just depends on the settings, and the sweet spot of compression is reached with relatively high GR taking place, thus the initial strong attack.

[MeldaProduction]

Thanks folks!

As for the "volume jump" - it really depends on the audio, compressor and settings . The only one where it always happens is the Meldy Road, where, it just, well, happens...

[alexis1]

Trialed, and purchased. Thank you everyone! I've got the MSL on the master bus now, clean with just 1-2 dB gain reduction, some minor edits, sounds very nice.

A couple of questions please, if anyone has a moment (that manual is hard to navigate for me ...):

1) M/S: Not sure I understand the display ... When I click the M+S button ("processes the mid and side contents separately") and make adjustments: how do I know/control whether it is the M or the S that is being processed? As part of the same problem ... the "Mid" has a slot in the bar graph, between the In and Out, but there is no activity there, and I don't know how to make "Side" appear there.

2) What is the difference between a "Follower" and a "Processor"? In the MSL Bus compressor, the "Follower" panel has attack and release controls, the "Processor" has threshold and ratio. As those seem to me to be a somewhat random division of standard comp controls between the two panels (the Follower and Processor panels), I'm guessing I'm missing something conceptual between the two terms. Any help gratefully accepted.

3) Newby question here - the "make up gain" is controlled with the "Output gain" controls, right?

4) Is there a way to "Unset" the gain matching button? In other words, I was wondering how much quieter it would sound without the set button being activated (having pushed it earlier).

Thanks!

[jmg8]

Ok:
1. I'll get back you

2. All compressors use a follower it's basically a way to measure the incoming signal, so controls like attack, peak hold, rms and release etc are all relevant.
The processors are how the signal is changed. So ratio, threshold etc are relevant. I can go into more detail if you need?

3. Make up gain is controlled by the output yes. However if you use the "compression" parameter it is automaticity done.

4. If you click the set button it modifies the output parameter, just right click it to reset it.