What are your favorite “glue” plug-in’s?

[imrae]

If the tracks sound too musically independent and need to bounce off each other more, then compression with MJUC, Kotelnikov GE or NI solid buss comp.

If the sources are too different tonally due to different recording/synthesis sources then some saturation can help: generally Busscolors4, SDRR or Karacter.

In both cases it's a corrective measure applied at a late stage; I used to mix into FerricTDS but didn't like dealing with a changing compressor response as parts are added.

[Mr. Spock]

king of glue IMO: MJUC (barely kissing the GR needle) in mk2 mode.

haven't found a way to replicate this with any other plugin.

[plexuss]

king of glue IMO: MJUC (barely kissing the GR needle) in mk2 mode.

haven't found a way to replicate this with any other plugin.

I see what you mean - it presents the audio as if it's in a room with a warm defined space. I added a little drive and brightness for more openness. subtle stuff to be sure but gives a nice acoustic glue - thats how my ears hear it. Could just be the weed.

[The Chase]

I like to duplicate the mix bus, and on a parallel channel, overdrive it an unhealthy amount, then subtly mix it in at low levels alongside your original master. I've found nothing else that provides a better glue. Pre and post EQ are necessary.

[MogwaiBoy]

I like to duplicate the mix bus, and on a parallel channel, overdrive it an unhealthy amount, then subtly mix it in at low levels alongside your original master. I've found nothing else that provides a better glue. Pre and post EQ are necessary.

Yes! Devil-Loc Deluxe is up for this task. Maxed out it pumps and breathes around the transients and completely crushes the signal but in a kind of pleasing and musical way. Just mix it in 2-5% and voila "that special something" that was missing.

[donkey tugger]

I like to duplicate the mix bus, and on a parallel channel, overdrive it an unhealthy amount, then subtly mix it in at low levels alongside your original master. I've found nothing else that provides a better glue. Pre and post EQ are necessary.

Also a great trick for vocals in busy mixes. You shouldn't be able to hear the distorted version, but add enough so it gives bite and presence.

[AnX]

Turn off all compressors. Works a treat.

[MogwaiBoy]

Turn off all compressors. Works a treat.

I have to admit - if I volume match post/pre compressor and then do a blind test I often prefer the non-compressed version.

If you can get to where you want to go in less steps... do it!

[dark water]

Not sure it's been mentioned here already (I've only read pages 1, 2 and 5) but a little bit of delay - about 4% - can often help to achieve a 'gluing effect' too, sometimes better to my ears than a comp or saturation etc. Go for delay rather than reverb in this situation.

On a sidenote, talking of glue I used to love smearing Copydex all over my hands and creating a second skin as a child. Not sure the yuff of nowadays would get into such cheap, but rather kinky, pleasures...
To nick a Stranglers lyric: "Spread it all over my peelin' skin baby,
That feels real good"

[s28]

Turn off all compressors. Works a treat.

I have to admit - if I volume match post/pre compressor and then do a blind test I often prefer the non-compressed version.

If you can get to where you want to go in less steps... do it!

Great to go with what your ears are telling you!

Out of interest do you level match by numbers or by ear?

I used to always feel compression had adverse effects and felt similar to this, always liked the bypassed more. In the last year or so though I've really come around to it and find I'm enjoying compressing for subtle tone rather than GR, though squashing some things for creative effect can be great/parallel can also be very nice. I guess it depends what your using and what your compressing - finding a few that I really get on with has helped a lot.

I don't go crazy with the gr, usually pretty low and used quite sparingly round a mix. On busses though it can really help things groove, especially something program dependant like TuCo. Can definitely lend itself to the gluing of parts in the way they move as well as tone.

[jpga]

Never fail.
In combination.
First BX_Opto
Second Elysia Alpha Compressor

Please do not say anything to anyone!

On the Alpha you have a clipper funktion use that to shave some peak’s and get some extra db’s

Love.

[Drew Lake]

Slight amount of compression with Nomad Factory Busdriver on the mix Bus but I also use FXpansion DCAM FreeComp on groups of tracks again only with a slight amount of compression.
You start using to much Compression on Busses and Tracks you smash the original signal into a messy, muddy pile of crap.

[Bouroki]

Call me ignorant if you want, but if the elements overall don't seem to 'glue' nor feel that they stick well together in the final mix, isn't a problem that should be taken care of at the source? Meaning, the sounds themselves with correct EQ, balance & mix? How can a compressor or a saturation plugin can magically 'glue' unbalanced things that don't mix well together?

A big part of what glues a mix together in my opinion is IMD, and there is no other way to achieve that than master bus compression/saturation.

It's kind of like why a guitar power chord played through an overdriven amp sounds so nice and glued and "one", whereas if you separate the root and the fifth to different amps they will sound nowhere as glued. That's IMD.

[jbarish]

A big part of what glues a mix together in my opinion is IMD, and there is no other way to achieve that than master bus compression/saturation.
It's kind of like why a guitar power chord played through an overdriven amp sounds so nice and glued and "one", whereas if you separate the root and the fifth to different amps they will sound nowhere as glued. That's IMD.

I say GFY to people who use acronyms that only they know

[Bouroki]

A big part of what glues a mix together in my opinion is IMD, and there is no other way to achieve that than master bus compression/saturation.
It's kind of like why a guitar power chord played through an overdriven amp sounds so nice and glued and "one", whereas if you separate the root and the fifth to different amps they will sound nowhere as glued. That's IMD.

I say GFY to people who use acronyms that only they know

Intermodulation Distortion