Using MAutoVolume either before EQ or compression of a "voice" signal

[carloscadu]

Hi,
I'd appreciate your advice.
I'm a newbie in audio production trying to master MAV.

According to the manual:
"In most cases all you need to do is to put MAutoVolume as an insert onto the particular track, preferably as the last item in the chain."
From the manual, I'm getting I should use MAV after compression as a general rule of thumb.

a) I also tested MAV before compression, what seems to be handy, leading to apply lighter compression since the dynamics are tamed already by MAV.
Actually, in this use case, I'm wondering if just a "limiter" (e.g. ceiling -6dB) would be recommended after MAV, instead of regular compression.

b) From the foundations of audio production I'm studying, you generally deal with dynamics after equing.
So it makes sense MAV's manual recommendation mentioned above, and positioning MAV before compression as well.
But what about putting MAV before EQ, for Equing over more stable voice signal?

Could you please share your experience regarding points (a) or (b)?

Thank you!
Carlos

[MeldaProduction]

I'd personally recommend EQ -> MAutoVolume -> compressor. This will make the plugin process the "correct signal" and compressor will be useful for "character" adjustment.

[steve2KVR]

...mmmmm, interesting...I generally go the other way around eq>comp>mav...tone>leveling>smooth out to sit in the mix....../s~

[carloscadu]

Thank you all for sharing experiences and recommendations

I'd appreciate to hearing further from you regarding a last point, which is positioning MAV in relation to a channel-strip with noise gate.

Since the channel-strip wraps eq+compression, there is only the option for positioning MAV before or after it.

From the manual and previous discussion, I'd use MAV last in the chain, after the channel-strip.
Nonetheless, I was experiencing MAV before the channel-strip, and I've noticed the noise gate benefits from MAV processing, when MAV's "noise gate" is set either "enabled" or "no attenuation".

I processed this workflow in a wave editor, and by seeing the wave shape I noticed:

- MAV's noise gate, even with low noise floor values set, takes proper care of not harming the beginning-ending of words, mainly the voiceless ones (e.g. "the smooth life"). Outstanding!

- After MAV processing with gate, the level of the beginning-ending of words are raised, while the remaining noise (e.g. breath) becomes clearer separated and easier to be caught by the channel-strip's "noise gate" (or even a regular "noise gate").

- So using another noise gate after MAV removes exactly what is expected, mainly breaths, even the noise gate threshold-tolerance is roughly set. If I remove MAV, with the same "rough" settings, the noise gate cuts undesirable parts of words. Without MAV, I do need to set very carefully the gate's threshold-tolerance.

So by using MAV before the gate has made me much more relaxed knowing parts of my words will have a much less likelihood of being cut.

What do you think about using MAV's before a channel-strip with noise gate?
And generally before any noise gate even in a regular chain (MAV -> Noise Gate -> EQ -> Compressor)?

P.S.: The notes above were made using the following MAV's settings over an input signal of 24dB RMS.

Cheers!

MAV.png

[steve2KVR]

...simple answer to all your questions?...try it and see!

Yah yah yah, I know, that makes me "that guy on the forum." But the "best" solution will always depend on the actual source material (and the outcome you prefer), not "some guys formula off the web." Just because I do somethings doesn't mean you should.

And here's the really good news. It can all be non-destructive to the original source material! So go ahead and experiment, it's not fatal to anyone! ..hth.../s~