Any Thoughts On TC MD4 Native?

[PAK]

The other factor to keep in mind, in terms of TC VSS4, is that it prompted Relab to take VSR S24 off the market and redo their take on it. So there should be some major competition to VSS4, from Relab, at some point in 2022..

[Muziksculp]

[PAK]

Hehe, yep!.. that one. Takes its design cues from the System 6000 version too (which I prefer the look of Vs the "Star Trek" UI)
Will be interesting to see how they compare (sound and CPU wise) when finally done.

[Muziksculp]

My guess it's done, but not sure why Relab is not releasing it.

[dreamvoid]

My guess it's done, but not sure why Relab is not releasing it.

My guess is, there are either legal problems if they rebuilt the Quantec algorithm or it is still too computational intensive for CPUs.
It must be very hard to get something out even with 80% of the Quantec hardware quality. That seems why they chose the old Quantec from the 1980ies. The newer ones have much more computational power and the reverbs are so dense that these sound more 'real' then real ones - so to say.
(I own one of the last Quantecs and one from the 1990ies.)

[Muziksculp]

My guess it's done, but not sure why Relab is not releasing it.

My guess is, there are either legal problems if they rebuilt the Quantec algorithm or it is still too computational to intensive for CPUs.
It must be very hard to get something out even with 80% of the Quantec hardware quality. That seems why they chose the old Quantec from the 1980ies. The newer ones have much more computational power and the reverbs are so dense that these sound more 'real' then real ones - so to say.
(I own one of the last Quantecs and one from the 1990ies.)

But how would Relab have access to the Quantec algorithm ?

[dreamvoid]

But how would Relab have access to the Quantec algorithm ?

Probably they wouldn't, but the technology behind the Quantec sound is known as descriptions. I don't know if these are patented - I assume they are.
What I understand is, that Relab rebuilds the results of the algorithms with own technology. They don't get it licensed. The Quantec results cannot be mimicked ('easily'), hence the need to somehow rebuild the underlaying algorithm, which could infringe patents.
Ok, that is some speculation on my side, something which I usually don't like to do. But, this is too interesting on many levels and I always wondered what Relab is actually doing.

[Muziksculp]

I guess, we just have to wait and see what Relab does next, release it or announce something about it.

[jens]

I don't understand the connection between the TC 6000 and the Quantec? How did you guys suddenly jump (basically mid-setence it seems to me) from a Relab-emulation of the former to one of the latter?

[jens]

'kay - thanks for clearing that one up.

[dblock]

I own MD4 and like it but compared to my Softube DS1 and EQ1 the sound just doesn't seem to have any depth or dimension. Just sounds flat to me. I still like it but not enough to use it. When the EQ1 is too heavy for a track cpu wise, I'll alternate with Ivory 5.

[v1o]

For Mastering in Wavelab 10 I would look at the DMG Limitless and Eventide bundle by Newfangled which I think is still on sale. I just don't see that combo getting beat.

There's no comp in the Newfangled bundle, either single or multi band.

[jens]

He didn't mention the word "comp" in his post which you quoted and replied to, so what is it that you are trying to communicate here? That Elevate is not really suitable for mastering because there's no "comp" in there? Speak freely! We're all ears! (just hang on for a moment while I go and fetch some popcorn)

Oh, and let's momentarily ignore the fact that technically a limiter is a special type of compressor. I'm pretty sure banal technalities like this aren't really your thing....

[v1o]

He didn't mention the word "comp" in his post which you quoted and replied to, so what is it that you are trying to communicate here? That Elevate is not really suitable for mastering because there's no "comp" in there? Speak freely! We're all ears! (just hang on for a moment while I go and fetch some popcorn)

Oh, and let's momentarily ignore the fact that technically a limiter is a special type of compressor. I'm pretty sure banal technalities like this aren't really your thing....

Not at all. You should compare things like for like. A de'esser is technically a compressor but who uses a de'esser to shape the envelope of the signal. In the mastering process limiting and compression are often separate stages. For instance you may decide you want the gentle character of a Varimu comp on the stereo bus, you're not not going to be able to achieve that sound by slapping on a limiter that has infinite ratios and fast attack times. The main reason engineers use MD4 is the sound of the multiband compressor. The limiter is probably not a patch on newer stuff like Ozone and only recently in this native version was able to prevent ISPs. I see Elevate as being complementary but not comparable to MD4. Since it does limiting, clipping, transient shaping and EQ. But doesn't have a multiband comp.

[jens]

Ah, got you now - fair enough - it's a valid point well made actually...

albeit I don't think Elevate ist really comparable to conventional limiters either.