multiband compressor?

[dx-9]

multiband / final mix... read this!!

http://www.acquitrecords.com/50699.html

regards y.

[DaveB]

Also read Rip Rowan's insightful and entertaining rant on Prorec...

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/articles.n ... 2E005DAF1C

...and use your mastering plugins with care.

Now I read on another forum <sharp intake of breath> that putting a multiband compressor in your final mixdown chain can cause more problems than it solves, which I found distressing as I had just started experimenting with the Sonitus multiband. People were saying it can pull the mix apart rather than squish it all nicely together.... Anyone have any idea on the facts behind this?

Multiband compressors can pull more volume out of your mix, and make it more "punchy" (like an FM radio sound). But when used incorrectly... well, read the article above!

Like any tool, a multiband compressor can be used or abused. It's not a "quick fix" to make your music sound better - it should be used subtly, as a tool to polish your final mix.

Multiband plugins use crossovers to split your audio into bands. These can produce phase distortion at the crossover frequencies or "smearing" of the audio due to the digital crossover filters. Those imperfections (together with pumping/distortion within the individual compression bands if you're pushing the levels too far) can sound quite nasty if you're pushing the levels too high.

It's generally better to fix any problem in the original multi-track mix, rather than try to "paint over the problem" with a multiband tool. For example, if the vocal sits too far back in the mix, don't try boosting band 3 of your multiband plugin - instead, fix it in the mix by applying some compression and EQ to the vocal track.

Also, avoid boosting track EQ and volumes EQ to fix problems in the mix. You will generally get to your goal quicker by cutting EQ/volume. Once you have a balanced sounding mix, use your multiband tool to bring the whole mix up to the desired volume level and add some punch.

Cheers,

--
Dave Brown
www.db-audioware.com
www.quantum-fx.com

[daniel-b]

Now I read on another forum <sharp intake of breath> that putting a multiband compressor in your final mixdown chain can cause more problems than it solves, which I found distressing as I had just started experimenting with the Sonitus multiband. People were saying it can pull the mix apart rather than squish it all nicely together....

Anyone have any idea on the facts behind this?

Yes, i put my fingers from this mastering things...

I think a good mixdown is "more important". I do soundesign, write beats and music, but mastering is something that i won't do. You can damage your mix really fast, if you don't know what you do...

Daniel

[Hunter]

As I'm the author, this is not strictly speaking a recommendation but here's a pointer to our multiband plugin...

http://www.db-audioware.com/dbm.htm

Our Quantum FX bundle also has a bunch of mastering tools, including distortion-free peak limiters, 3/5 band compressors & limiters, and a full multiband linear-phase mastering toolkit.

Cheers,
Dave

--
Dave Brown
www.db-audioware.com
www.quantum-fx.com

I know your buddy Colin (think thats his name???) from Edinburgh by the way! Had a nerdy chat with him as I do some work for Camel Audio and he was telling me about db-audioware. One of those its-a-small-world things as we have a mutual friend from Mnachester

Jim

And of course I meant I know Owen who knows you, not Colin...

[tuckermc]

here's what i was thinking of earlier. don't know about it's quality, but look ok and is going for a lot less than i've seen it:

akai multiband quadcomp

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 44643&rd=1

- tucker

[herodotus]

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/880.html

[IIRs]

This is not a multiband compressor but it can compress specific frequencies (4 at a time) offers mid-side processing, and won't cost you anything..

[PeterL]

For free: C3 Multiband
http://www.ismusic.ne.jp/slim_slow_slid ... ex.html#c3
For commercial: Voxengo Soniformer (a real good one)
http://www.voxengo.com/soniformer/
For dummies : Sinus TripleComp
http://www.sinusweb.de/triple.html

[boin]

I've got very good results from Waves C4 and LinMB but they are pretty $$$

Now when I need a multiband compressor I use mostly Voxengo Soniformer: it took some time to get used to it but then I began thinking how could I live without it before...

[androidlove]

I 2nd C3.