KVR Audio

kilroy · Post by **kilroy** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:02 pm

See what happens when you turn all PDR parameters "off".

Aleksey Vaneev · Post by **Aleksey Vaneev** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:31 pm

mustgroove, you are using too low threshold (for example, like -48 while your track averages -12). But prolonged 'settle down' should be with 0.28 PDRs - not with 1.80.

If you want a good advice, please send me a clip to info@voxengo.com together with preset you are using. I do not think there are problems with the compressor itself - just an overlooked parameter or two.

mustgroove · Post by **mustgroove** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:34 pm

Threshold for those clips was -19.9, nothing too drastic...

I'll get a clip together and send it to you

Aleksey Vaneev · Post by **Aleksey Vaneev** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:40 pm

mustgroove, OK. By the way, all compressors and limiters (non brick-wall ones) usually have first attack 'burst' - especially if the achieved gain reduction is above 3 dB. So that the very first peaks is not compressed enough while makeup gain increases overall gain - a bit like expansion. It is how most compressors work. This can only be fixed by lowering attack time.

mustgroove · Post by **mustgroove** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:47 pm

Email sent Alexsey...

Aleksey Vaneev · Post by **Aleksey Vaneev** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:53 pm

You should also try using T1 mode instead of T3. T3 is a bit 'strange' to my likening (it was based on analog compressor schematic) - so I can't guarantee this behavior is something that 'should not be there' (0.28 PDR is a 'designed' value). I usually do not make compressors behaving like T3 mode.

mustgroove · Post by **mustgroove** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:57 pm

Hehe good to know Alexsey...

Problem is that T3 just sounds so good

The weirdness is perplexing, but I can learn how to contain the odd weird behaviour while keeping that T3 sound I'll be a happy man

Maybe it's really necessary after all to use a limiter after Marquis in T3 mode, to contain the weird level things that can happen...

Aleksey Vaneev · Post by **Aleksey Vaneev** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:13 pm

I've checked your clip. Of course, as I've replied earlier when PDR is 1.80 this problem mostly goes away (you've probably mixed up settings in your first post).

In overall, I should conclude that this is a 'feature' of T3 mode when high release times are used together with low PDR settings.

Limiter will help here for sure.

mustgroove · Post by **mustgroove** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:19 pm

Cool Alexsey, thanks for that... The only reason a limiter is a problem is mastering... If the track gets a proper mastering job (not sure yet) then obviously I'll be delivering un-limited mixes, in which case this will be more of a problem...

In my testing, the same effect was produced even when release was set as low as 880ms... so perhaps it's a feature of T3 mode with low PDR settings regardless of release times?

0.28 for all PDR knobs was something that came right out of your preset, and I recall a thread where you mentioned that those settings were the most accurate representation of the analogue compressor you modelled for T3... Would that compressor itself display the same behaviour? The difference between 0.28x3 and 1.80x3 is minor anyway, particularly for a house track like this, so I think I'll go the 1.80x3 route...

Thanks Alexsey

lucasherrero · Post by **lucasherrero** » Wed May 17, 2006 3:20 pm

I haved the same problem with Sonalksis CQ1. I don't know if it's the same thing but i think attack automation could be a solution.
My mixdown clips at the start of the track and after a breakdown (when kick comes in again).
I have readed a pair of reviews that explain how mix engineers change the compressor settings during the track.
Sorry by my english, i'm argentinian.
Cheers

Aleksey Vaneev · Post by **Aleksey Vaneev** » Wed May 17, 2006 3:48 pm

mustgroove, T3 was modeled after mix bus compressor - so, it may not be tightly suitable for individual tracks by design. I believe compressor may work the same way - at least, time constants are similar if you use release times between 150 and 250ms. 3000ms is way too much I think.

martian · Post by **martian** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:09 pm

Aleksey Vaneev wrote:You should also try using T1 mode instead of T3. T3 is a bit 'strange' to my likening (it was based on analog compressor schematic) - so I can't guarantee this behavior is something that 'should not be there' (0.28 PDR is a 'designed' value). I usually do not make compressors behaving like T3 mode.

i much prefer T1 and T2 modes personally. i cant find an application for the squashing i get in T3, i guess its good for smashing rock drums like in the compressor thread a while back?

so which mode was marquis originally made with, before the mode switch was introduced?

Aleksey Vaneev · Post by **Aleksey Vaneev** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:38 pm

T1 is the original mode. T2 is a variation over T1. T3 is a totally different mode.

Marquis issue - takes a while to "get started"