MspectralDynamics

[Soarer]

May I ask: do you use MMultianalyzer actively when mixing or do you correct clashing and make space for the prioritized instruments using mainly your ears?

[astramistil]

Solo:
1-Unwanted resonances: I first guess by ear (singing it in my head) and seek+remove with good old resonant sweep
2-Tonal shaping: I close my eyes too so only emotion are involved (no compromise here on tone, I'll duck stuff later if it clashes in full-mix)

====

Fullmix:
1-It may not sound right for alot of people (what do you think jmg8?), but I try to use MStereoprocessor or M/S-EQ as soon as I can BEFORE eq-ing anything in relation to each other in fullmix (I use one instance per instrument busses (G1-G2-B-Keys-etc.).

I realized that if I dont position my stuff first, Ill cut clashes that wouldnt bother if sound were properly set in the stereofield. It can unclutter lows ALOT, and add life+clarity without any eqing (but *watchout for overuse*)

For me, MSP is one of the best tool for comparing other mixes, so referencing comparing ''L+R'', ''M'', or ''S'' is better than any analyzer. M/S Eq or MStereoprocessor almost always by ear (I check only after each band tweak if correlation is still good), this is the most personnal tool in my opinion.


2-Visual is good for me in mid-mud and very low (I dont have a sub and proper room treatment), but I try again first to ''sing'' what I dont like, then decide which instrument/s is/are gonna be slave/master.

Then I look at MMAnalyzer where I can find 'visual' clashes, I try to cut and see if it can help thing to ''breathe'' and bring some stuff alive, or break wanted layering (in that cas I would keep)


3-I dont know if you read about ''slope'' of mixes, but for Mastering this is a must tool where analyzer is really helpful


Otherwise, it may sound 'new age', but I try to eat-sleep-exercice well before an important mixing session, that way I feel Im in control intellectually-physically so able to make better decision. (When I dont feel well, I can waste HOURS on details trying to find how to ''feel good'' about what Im mixing, which is kind of cognitive dissonance)

'State of mind/body' is an incredible underrated tool, because how can you feel in ''phase'' with a tweak if your bad emotions are interfering making your mind bitching about everything you do?

[Soarer]

Thanks man and I really like your attitude about being in ballance and that these things are connected. Our body certainly affect our state of mind and vice versa. I meditate every day and I think it makes me very creative and of course able to concentrate better etc.

Is MstereoProcessor not only for a mono source?
I use mainly reverb now for setting the stereo width. I own MStereoSpread but find that reverb and chorus sounds more natural, used sparingly of course - wet set at 10-20% or using early reflections.
You're checking your mix in M and S modes as an analyzer? So you are hearing unwanted resonances more clearly comparing these modes, is that what you mean?
Oh, right, checking your mixes in mono...

[astramistil]

-MStereoProcessor is only for stereo source

-Checking mix in mono is not the main reason why I use 'MSP' 'M' and 'S' analysis. Its to hear where my sounds are, and compare better with reference tracks whats happening. You can use Eq sonogram in 'M' or 'S' mode too and 'see' and ear whats happening more precisely by sweeping bands ('zero mode' to isolate one or the other). Ideally, I would use M/S Eq but I like MSP's workflow so much that I keep M/S Eq only for mastering

-If you want to ''place'' a sound in stereofield, work on 'low-mid' band (watchout phasing issue; dont go too low (about 125hz-200hz is okay (I'm refereing here to a Dan Worrall tutorial, some may not agree)
-You can then Pan about 20-60% instead of 80% or worst Hardpan (best way to make a stereofield uncohesive imo, except for certain sound fx)
-If you want to spread/bring aliveness/clarity try 'high-mid' and 'high'
-Cut ''S'' (until mono if it sound better) that dont need to be centered (it help alot unclustering the lows)
-MMAnalyzer last window can help to 'see' where sound are going and how much spreading is happening. (I prefer Bluecat MultiStereo though (you can see peak/rms/sum/*difference*). I think this is a good way to see ''stereofield headroom'' which is sometimes less intuitive by ear (particularly low and low-mid)

-MStereoSpread is to simulate stereo from mono source, but I prefer to record 2 different take which is more natural then use MSP. If then I need more stereo, Ill try MStereoGenerator first, then last MSS. (I was using MSS first to make mono Guitar stereo but I always had weird problems with transient (like 'phaser/flanger' attack). Upsampling to ''4x'' can help alot for transient imo (jmg8?))

-Reverb can add ALOT of mud in low/mid areas, I try to keep it ''S'' as much as I can without losing cohesion ('M' can take mid-high/high verb from cymbals well imo, but in lowers part I personally dont like fightings that may occurs; dont forget, reverb is many delays randomized tonally (in best reverb), so it can mud things fast).

I personally only use verb as an effect, sound shaping layer (on voice and guitar), or as a final glue (convolution), not as a designate stereofield simulator (unless you are making indie-rock, you can go full-range)

-Checking mix alternatively in L+R, M, S = hearing whats happening from many decisive point of views. MSP is great for soloing band and seek by ear whats happening from one mix to another (keeping same audition settings). You can then hear from 3 points of view why your favorite artist has so much clarity in lets say 200-400hz, and compare why your mix is so cluttered in that area. Then, you can try spreading or cutting ''offensive'' instruments. Very intuitive

Eq are best for finding resonances in 'M' or 'S', but you must *cut statically*, and always compare by ear if a L+R dynamic cut is not a better choice (I havent spent alot of thing seeking resonance in 'M' or 'S' mode, but I will soon; so much stuff to grasp and try!)

[astramistil]

one last thing: I tried recently to spread Guitar like this:

(Lets say I want G1 to go L, but wide)
-Low = mono (panning here is obligatory)
-Low-mid = 20%-50% widen
-High-mid = 30-100%
-High = 80-200%

Transients became unfocussed, less punchy, more phasy/flangery

At 4x, it helped but I guess its not good to spread percussive instrument too much (I use alot of palm mute and guitar string sound)

Tried too with a snare to spread high, but again Transient became less punchy and focussed, even if it is only noisy air

[jmg8]

one last thing: I tried recently to spread Guitar like this:

(Lets say I want G1 to go L, but wide)
-Low = mono (panning here is obligatory)
-Low-mid = 20%-50% widen
-High-mid = 30-100%
-High = 80-200%

Transients became unfocussed, less punchy, more phasy/flangery

At 4x, it helped but I guess its not good to spread percussive instrument too much (I use alot of palm mute and guitar string sound)

Tried too with a snare to spread high, but again Transient became less punchy and focussed, even if it is only noisy air

Why don't you try using the level crossover. If you modulate the level with a mod in follower mode and then increase the transient modulation, you will be able to find the transient. Then apply the 4 band widening but leave the whole transient mono. Also those amounts above to me seem very high, watch your stereo meter and make sure it doesn't go into the red.

[jmg8]

May I ask: do you use MMultianalyzer actively when mixing or do you correct clashing and make space for the prioritized instruments using mainly your ears?

Great question. I have a slightly controversial answer for you.
Most people say that your ears are the most important thing when mixing. I disagree.

I'm not saying that my ears are not important, far from it, I always use them when mixing and they will be the final judge. Because at the end of the day you mix will sound good or not. It is supposed to be listened to, I don't know anyone who made an album to watch it back through an analyser.

However I trust my eyes more than my ears.
My ears can often fail especially when combined with my brain. For example I might have a cold, or my ears are a bit blocked. When I'm in a bad mood I will be more critical of the way a mix sounds and when in a good mood, things can sound very different. I'm lucky to have good monitors with a sub in a well acoustically treated room. But what if I'm out with my surface pro and I'm mixing through headphones, or I'm checking the mix in the car. It can all sound very different and reveal things in the mix that your ears missed. Then there are psychoacoustics, not everyone will hear the same mix the same as each other. Also our brains can sometimes play tricks on us.

Now the beauty of MMultiAnalyzer is that it is consistent. It doesn't matter if I'm sat in my warm cosy studio or travelling close to the speed of light eating a lasagne. I will ALWAYS get the same results EVERY time. So I use this consistency to teach my ears.

In short I use my eyes equally as much as my ears when mixing.

[astramistil]

I know these are very high, but it was the only way to get the amount I wanted. Correlation was always between 60-100% fullmix, its more about the processing artifacts. Now I use 2 different takes in crossover panning L and R to get more natural spreading (I was only using one G1 track Left, then widen it so it reach R so that 'low' and 'mid-low' remain mostly on L, but some highs spread on R so it sounds larger)

With crossover panning though, if I have to later tweak R volume knob it will shift G1 L placement, and G2 R has to fight more for its dominance. Cutting/ducking G1 R too much sounds weird

Any idea for compromise?

(I havent tried Level Crossover yet (in fact, I dont understand what you propose; could you go more in details? Wouldnt it be easier to use MTransient in 'M' mode zero S?)

[jmg8]

I made a video:

[mccy]

Impressive! I like the simple grey colours! Thank you!

[ZentralmassivSound]

Great tut!


I am wondering why there isn't a follower included in the crossover. Actually it could better be called "externally controlled crossover", because by default it does nothing and you can plug any control signal into it.

[jmg8]

Impressive! I like the simple grey colours! Thank you!

Thanks. I use plain flat grey in metro style, with an accent colour for each category.
Red = Distortion
Orange = Dynamics
Yellow = Reverb/Delay
Green = EQ/Filter
Blue = Modulation
Cyan = Stereo
Magenta = Pitch/Time

[Soarer]

May I ask: do you use MMultianalyzer actively when mixing or do you correct clashing and make space for the prioritized instruments using mainly your ears?

Great question. I have a slightly controversial answer for you.
Most people say that your ears are the most important thing when mixing. I disagree.

I'm not saying that my ears are not important, far from it, I always use them when mixing and they will be the final judge. Because at the end of the day you mix will sound good or not. It is supposed to be listened to, I don't know anyone who made an album to watch it back through an analyser.

However I trust my eyes more than my ears.
My ears can often fail especially when combined with my brain. For example I might have a cold, or my ears are a bit blocked. When I'm in a bad mood I will be more critical of the way a mix sounds and when in a good mood, things can sound very different. I'm lucky to have good monitors with a sub in a well acoustically treated room. But what if I'm out with my surface pro and I'm mixing through headphones, or I'm checking the mix in the car. It can all sound very different and reveal things in the mix that your ears missed. Then there are psychoacoustics, not everyone will hear the same mix the same as each other. Also our brains can sometimes play tricks on us.

Now the beauty of MMultiAnalyzer is that it is consistent. It doesn't matter if I'm sat in my warm cosy studio or travelling close to the speed of light eating a lasagne. I will ALWAYS get the same results EVERY time. So I use this consistency to teach my ears.

In short I use my eyes equally as much as my ears when mixing.

Makes total sense, thanks. I really need to get the total bundle! I discover new tools every week in this legendary Melda realm that i just must have
Thanks for the video, I had no idea about this level crossover mode.

[jmg8]

Yes, try if you can to go total. I am so happy I did it.
Once you have learned the modulators, multiparameters, crossovers and analyzers you will know all the plugins deeply and the workflow becomes incredibly fast with almost unlimited flexibility. I only use melda exclusively now.

[steve2KVR]

^^^^^^...and you thought that first one was free...... ...ya, me too.../s~