Audio comparison MUX attempt: help needed

[SparkySpark]

Hi,

I'd like to be able to compare different effects, and try to build a MUX to do so.

Like this:

I run a sound source (synth, voice etc) to the MUX. It divides the signal into two paths. In one, I run (say) TDR Nova. In the other, I run MEqualiser. I then set each effect's settings to the same amounts (like +2dB at 5kHz).

So far, so good. It's in the next step I don't know what's possible to do with MUXes.

What I want to do is to compare the outputs from the two effects, to see that, say, MEqualiser creates less overtones than TDR Nova. I would assume this would be done by inverting polarities and then do effect 1 minus effect 2.

I hope it's clear what I'm after. Exactly how it should work is not important, I just want to spot the difference between the two units, and get some sort of readout (this would be the Freq spectrum module).

What are the options here?

Thanks!

[pljones]

If you've got an audio analyser that takes multiple inputs, you could feed the output of both paths into that.

[Michael L]

And to analyse one at a time: https://ddmf.eu/plugindoctor/

[dakkra]

Yes, taking the source audio, splitting it, invert one, add effect to the other, and then sum, you will get the difference of the signals.

[SparkySpark]

Thanks all! Michael, yes it's been a while since I heard of plugindoctor, but I see I need to have it!

Dakkra: I assumed you'd pitch in, so thanks! I'm not sure what MUX module to use to invert the source audio. Could you please enlighten me? If nothing else, it would be cool to give this a shot (rather than solely rely on plugindoctor).

Thanks again.

[SparkySpark]

splitting it, invert one, add effect to the other, and then sum

A question: wouldn't that introduce latency for one of the audio paths? Or is MuLab taking this into account and compensates for plugin latency, so they both end up in the summed version at the same time?

[dakkra]

splitting it, invert one, add effect to the other, and then sum

A question: wouldn't that introduce latency for one of the audio paths? Or is MuLab taking this into account and compensates for plugin latency, so they both end up in the summed version at the same time?

Most plugins are 0 latency (your samplerate and buffer size will usually induce a large enough time for plugins to compute by a deadline). That being said, yes Mulab and MUX have modular APDC, which you can even tweak manually should you find the automatic compensation doesn't work as intended.

[dakkra]

Here's a quick video showing off the process of setting this up.

EDIT: You can also use things like a vector scope or oscilloscope to analyze

[SparkySpark]

Here's a quick video showing off the process of setting this up.

EDIT: You can also use things like a vector scope or oscilloscope to analyze

Oh - that's beyond awesome. Truly helpful, interesting and overall great video.

Thanks a bunch!