Trackspacer - still the king or any alternatives?
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- KVRAF
- 4367 posts since 2 Jul, 2005
I still think track spacer is the best and fastest tool for the sort of tasks one would use it for. I use it quite often in a very gentle (1-1.5 dB) way to pull my lead through the rest of the track for a rough mix. It often ends up staying there through the final mix.
Don't F**K with Mr. Zero.
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- KVRist
- 61 posts since 4 Dec, 2023
Do you do your mixes in real time? A lot more pro is to render everything and mix the wave files. Then you don't have to worry about e.g. latency, and can use better tools, e.g. SpectraLayers.
- KVRian
- 612 posts since 10 Jan, 2017
I've also wondered this. My hunch would be it's ducking the resonant frequencies detected from the sidechain source - the manual seems to imply this ...worldfever wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2024 9:58 am as someone who uses soothe2 a lot, i dont really understand how the sidechain works - will it duck resonant frequencies from your sidechain in the audio you apply it too? and if so, is that really an effective alternative to trackspacer?
"You can route an external input into Soothe and use it for resonance detection by toggling on the sidechain."
If that's the case then no, it's not exactly the same mechanism as Trackspacer, but end of the day if it carves out space then it's doing it's job. I've had good results ducking with both Soothe2 and Trackspacer - though tend to use Trackspacer more these days.
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- KVRist
- 227 posts since 22 Jan, 2022
I have never heard that bouncing VSTi's in pre-production is "more pro" than just running them live during 2-bus export. I always thought it was more about managing CPU and capturing the right take if random outputs are in play.
Anyone else want to elaborate on this one?
- KVRist
- 145 posts since 5 Oct, 2004 from Brooklyn, NY.
Anytime you read the words "more pro" just press skip. I've been mixing for my 9-5 for over 30 years now and pro is whatever it takes to do the job well. That's constantly changing from project to project, day to day.. hell, track to track.
- KVRAF
- 3374 posts since 6 Aug, 2009
trackspacer is great, been using it for years. simple, and... it works (and works well).
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- KVRer
- 17 posts since 5 Sep, 2024
- AcousticHippie
- 4577 posts since 12 Mar, 2003
I use Trackspacer and sometimes SmoothOperator in sidechain mode….
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- KVRist
- 348 posts since 12 May, 2023
Fuser is similar to Trackspacer but has some other features like phase rotation and mid/side processing. I tried it out a while ago but I can’t remember if it sounded better.
- KVRAF
- 1621 posts since 18 Feb, 2005 from Serbia
Tried Mix Space, didn't like it.
IMO Trackspacer is still the king, the closest alternative was MSpectralDynamics with a LOT of tinkering, and then Fuser. FAST Reveal was meh, PureUnmask was terrible, FireSpacer was not bad.
I have set up a sidechain testing project in Live, so if anyone has a worthy non-iLok alternative to suggest I am willing to test it.
New users PM me for a 10% FabFilter or 20% MeldaProduction discount
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- KVRist
- 91 posts since 16 Sep, 2023
Anyone used TheMasker for that purpose?
- KVRAF
- 1621 posts since 18 Feb, 2005 from Serbia
Just tried it and did not like it.
I just tried Smooth Operator by Baby Audio and it was ridiculously easy to dial in. Trackspacer still sounds better, but this was a very user friendly experience and the plugin was sounding pretty good.
/edit
I also tried TDR Nova and was positively surprised, it's a great free alternative.
New users PM me for a 10% FabFilter or 20% MeldaProduction discount