MeldaProduction

nosucherror · Post by **nosucherror** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 1:08 am

Sorry jmg8,
let me first elaborate: gating and ducking are two sides of the same coin, the difference being the attenuation is either applied above or below the threshold. I should have made that clear. I would expect a gate to have that functionality.
For reference check out chapter 20 of Mixing Audio by Roey Izhaki (Focal Press). The difference between a gate and a compressor is the gate attenuates by a set range whereas a compressor calculates its attenuation based on a ratio.

1. I'm looking at the gate on MDynamics.
2. The parameter knobs don't suffice.
3. I want to attenuate by 3dB when the sidechain overshoots the threshold. Gates don't have to attenuate to infinity.
6. I want to set the attenuation with the range control.
5. I don't mean sidechain compression or expansion, I want a fixed attenuation.
6. No.

Once again let me say that I know there are ways of doing this with Melda's modulators I just think it would be a handy addition to the toolbox to have a dedicated gate.

jmg8 · Post by **jmg8** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 4:32 pm

To be honest above and below the threshold processing has gone way beyond a gate. As you say attenuating the signal when it's above the threshold is actually compression not gating. What you are asking for is a gate that can also do compression and expansion. I guess a good name for this kind of plugin would be MDynamics?

nosucherror · Post by **nosucherror** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 2:31 am

jmg8, I'm not sure you and I have the same definition of a gate.
How can a gate not process above or below a threshold?
Gates are not compressors and I haven't said that.
A good name for this kind of plug-in is Fab Filter Pro-G or (hopefully) MGateMB.
With all respect I suggest you do some research on gating/ducking.

jmg8 · Post by **jmg8** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 12:17 pm

Gates only process below the threshold.

Could you explain what kind of processing you think happens above the threshold please?
It can really only be two things 1. Reduction of volume = Compressor or 2. Increasing the volume = Expander.
Neither are gating.

nosucherror · Post by **nosucherror** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 4:12 pm

Again, gating and ducking are the same process applied either below or above a threshold. A good gate (hardware or software) will be able to do both.
Here's the Drawmer DS501, notice the switch that says 'gate - duck'
https://www.studiospares.com/Studio-Gea ... 379270.htm

The software ProG has that switch too.

REAPER's ReaGate has a toggle labelled 'Invert gate (duck)'.

So one type of processing that happens above the threshold is called 'ducking' and it's related to gating which is why I brought it up. Its main use is in radio where the sidechain (voice) ducks the signal (music).

Again, gating is very similar to downward expansion the difference is the range which is a fixed amount not a ratio. You can do both at once and the distinction is blurred in modern compressors like MDynamics which feature both.

If you still think I'm talking bollocks head over to Wikipedia and get them to correct their definitions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise_gate
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducking

steve2KVR · Post by **steve2KVR** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:02 pm

....mmmmmm...the tone here has become a little harsh for me

...what something is "called" (duck-gate-cow-or mouse) is semantically in the ear of the beholder, from a technical/mathematical point of view what occurs between the input and the output (ITB) is nothing more than the specific state of the transfer function being employed at that moment..."names" are an agreed-upon linguistic social conventions, transfer functions are only just that, maths...

...so let's stay friendly

and contribute what we can.../s~

jmg8 · Post by **jmg8** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 5:42 pm

We can just disagree and leave it there.

MeldaProduction · Post by **MeldaProduction** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 11:30 am

I didn't read much, but if you want just to limit the reduction, then there's Range, on the edit screen though. It's not really a gate anymore then, rather the ducker, no problem with that, we could perhaps make another active preset for that... who knows...

nosucherror · Post by **nosucherror** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:24 pm

Hi Vojtech,
I've tried to emulate the Pro-G functionality by mapping Envelope Graph points to Multiparameters in MDynamics but found it's easier to just draw the transfer function in by hand each time I need it. It's a bit fiddly.
If you didn't read much of what I've been saying let me recap:

I propose that a dedicated gate would be a worthy addition to the Melda plug-ins suite.
I know there are ways of achieving gating/ducking with modulators etc, but I feel that a simple gate plug-in would speed up workflow and make signal chains clearer upon visual inspection in a DAW or MXXX.
I don't expect Melda to copy Fab Filter, however I do see the Pro-G as the benchmark of a software gate.
The gate needs to duck as well (process above or below the threshold).

I use gates all the time when I'm working on voiceovers for ads. If I'm in the minority here of thinking this is a good idea that's cool, it's just a proposition.

MeldaProduction · Post by **MeldaProduction** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:33 pm

Hmmm, I quite don't understand why are you using the custom shape?? There is a dedicated gate plus 2 processors, which can be set to downwards expanders, which is another way to make a gate, so I'm quite lost in what you are doing. The point of the easy screens (here in MDynamics) is that you don't need gazillion plugins for compressor, expander, gate... when you can have just one. So, sorry, I don't see absolutely any point in providing a dedicated plugin for something the existing plugins already can do and even have active presets. It's a single click to have a fully featured gate, what more would anyone want?????

nosucherror · Post by **nosucherror** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:49 pm

I'm using the custom shape like this:
Ducking:

Gating:

MeldaProduction · Post by **MeldaProduction** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 9:31 pm

Well, the gate then could be easily be created using the downwards expander and range, basically the Gate active presets plus range, I can easily add that to that active preset.

As for the ducker, an active preset like that could be added too.

So now please just check the Gate active preset (which could then be modified to ducking) and check what else you are missing (if anything).

sirmonkey · Post by **sirmonkey** » Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:27 pm

As far as a gate, isn't AutoVolume sort of gate-like? Maybe it's not exactly what the OP has in mind, but it is sort of like a specialized gate/leveler.... right?

Starship Krupa · Post by **Starship Krupa** » Thu Oct 05, 2017 5:27 pm

There are a couple of nice freeware and magware solutions out there that I use.

G8 can be had as part of the CM magware package (also gets you an antique but functional version of CMHarmonizer, too).

Lisp is my favorite DeEsser and is freeware.

As far as commercial gates, though, Boz Digital Labs' Gatey Watey gets my vote for King of All Noise Gates. Its best feature is simple: it lets you choose which frequencies get attenuated when the level drops below the threshold. So if you want to gate the hi hat out of your snare mic, but not the snare, you can do that and make it more natural sounding. I got a free introductory license, then it went for $10, now it's $49.

nosucherror · Post by **nosucherror** » Thu Oct 05, 2017 7:12 pm

Cheers Vojtech,
I've been using the MDynamics Processor 1 with Downward Expansion, Range at 1dB and using Ratio for what I would call range. It sounds really good. I've set it up against Pro-G and ReaGate and they all perform about the same.

I'm achieving the same results with the Gate module using the Dry/wet balance for Range.
I think an active preset that simplifies this would be really helpful for us headscratchers (probably just me).

I would prefer it if the actual Gate module Bottom had more of a range sweep than -80dB and a toggle switch there for ducking.

I still don't know how you achieve ducking with MDynamics, I look forward to finding out...

Anyway, I am happy to concede that MDynamics is a damn fine gate and apologies to jmg8 for doubting his wisdom.

MeldaProduction

KVR Audio

Any plans for a DeEsser and Gate? :)