Soothe/Smooth Operator vs Dynamic EQ.

[Igro]

I got one of these plugins during the sale. Had the time finally to try it out. And you know what, I cannot see any difference in action between an ordinary dynamic EQ. That means that I have achieved the same results with dynamic EQ. Do I miss something in understanding those in action. Or it is just a marketing thing?

[Uncle E]

They find the resonant peaks for you and should be cleaner, at least theoretically. Are you using Smooth Operator in M mode? Which dynamic EQ are you comparing against and how are you setting it?

[Igro]

They find the resonant peaks for you and should be cleaner, at least theoretically. Are you using Smooth Operator in M mode? Which dynamic EQ are you comparing against and how are you setting it?

I have MeldaAutoDynamicEQ. Resonant peaks are just some frequencies that got too much volume gain right? Well, in this case, using a dynamic eq, I just specify that area and supress them. So is Smooth operator (M mode is by default there). I Didn't hear any worth mentioning difference in their action, tbh.

[Uncle E]

Smooth Operator is constantly adjusting, whereas MAutoDynamicEQ is fixed. With that said, I'm not surprised you're getting good results with MAutoDynamicEQ. It's good.

[Igro]

Yeah, Melda EQ is good.
You said that the one is fixed and the other is not. Actually the dynamic eq triggers only when it needs it (defined by the threshold value). Hence the name - Dynamic. But, again, so is Smooth Operator, by dragging the node down. This makes me think that I have made a compulsive buy. Lol

[ampetrosillo]

Soothe, AFAIK, continuously analyses the incoming signal and suppresses resonance wherever it finds one (ie. it is not limited to specific bands). TDR Nova has a learning feature that analyses the incoming signal for so many seconds and then identifies up to seven bands to dynamically adjust, but it's not exactly the same thing (although it can get very close to the same thing, especially if only few resonant frequencies are present in the signal). That said, these automatic processors have the tendency to sanitise things a bit too much. It's fine if you want that super-polished sound, but some resonance often means character.

[Igro]

Soothe, AFAIK, continuously analyses the incoming signal and suppresses resonance wherever it finds one (ie. it is not limited to specific bands).

Maybe Soothe works differently then, cause I haven't tried it. I got Smooth Operator. And in a wideband mode (when you turn down the middle node only) it acts like a compressor. Once the overshoots detected - it reacts. It doesn't know what is resonance, it just reacts on volume spikes.

Does that mean that Soothe, when in wideband mode, reacts not on the volume spikes, but rather on harsh sounding signal (based on AI) even when that part of the signal is actually lower than other sounds in the frequency spectrum? If it does it, then that's cool, if not... then it's just a dynamic EQ/Compressor.

[ampetrosillo]

By the way, if you want this thing here:

[react] when that signal volume is actually lower than other sounds in the frequency spectrum

then what you want should be TDR Arbiter, which isn't based on absolute signal energy but relative.

[Igro]

By the way, if you want this thing here:

[react] when that signal volume is actually lower than other sounds in the frequency spectrum

then what you want should be TDR Arbiter, which isn't based on absolute signal energy but relative.

Oh, that's interesting. Will check this out, thanks.

[Uncle E]

Yes, basically just a dynamic EQ that provides AI assistance. It does things that MAutoDynamicEQ can't but Soothe, smart:EQ, and Neutron do more.

[SoftSynthLover99]

I got one of these plugins during the sale. Had the time finally to try it out. And you know what, I cannot see any difference in action between an ordinary dynamic EQ. That means that I have achieved the same results with dynamic EQ. Do I miss something in understanding those in action. Or it is just a marketing thing?

Soothe 2 is much more complex than just a dynamic EQ and goes far beyond what one can do. It’s constantly analyzing for harsh frequencies, and the control you have over catching and suppressing those harsh frequencies is unmatched. It just does the job better than anything else IMO. Kind of hate I waited so long to purchase it because it’s saved me tons of time mixing.

I wasn’t as impressed when I tried smooth operator, but Soothe just worked (vocals, guitars, drums you name it). Smoothe Operator is often mentioned alongside Soothe, but they are not in the same class if you ask me. Kind of like comparing an entry level audio interface to a high end interface with great converters. They both are audio interfaces, but are not of the same quality.

[Igro]

I got one of these plugins during the sale. Had the time finally to try it out. And you know what, I cannot see any difference in action between an ordinary dynamic EQ. That means that I have achieved the same results with dynamic EQ. Do I miss something in understanding those in action. Or it is just a marketing thing?

Soothe 2 is much more complex than just a dynamic EQ and goes far beyond what one can do. It’s constantly analyzing for harsh frequencies, and the control you have over catching and suppressing those harsh frequencies is unmatched. It just does the job better than anything else IMO. Kind of hate I waited so long to purchase it because it’s saved me tons of time mixing.

What do you mean by harsh frequencies? Those that at some point got higher gain at some point of time? Then this is exactly how a dynamic EQ/compressor works. Isn't it?

The only difference I see is in MeldaSpectralDynamics, where you can really "draw" the EQ curve by which the compression will be applied. Can't do that so precisely with the dynamic EQ.

[Uncle E]

What do you mean by harsh frequencies? Those that at some point got higher gain at some point of time? Then this is exactly how a dynamic EQ/compressor works. Isn't it?

Yes but the MAutoDynamicEQ bands never change. The compression amount changes but not the bands themselves.

[Igro]

What do you mean by harsh frequencies? Those that at some point got higher gain at some point of time? Then this is exactly how a dynamic EQ/compressor works. Isn't it?

Yes but the MAutoDynamicEQ bands never change. The compression amount changes but not the bands themselves.

Do the bands change in Soothe automatically? I thought you have to set them first (where you want them to supress) Because if you don't, then it is just a wideband compression... I will check some YT videos more if that is not the case.

[Uncle E]

Yes, they change automatically.