Some ?s on demo of MAutoDynamicEQ ... thanks!

[alexis1]

Hi -

I've been busy being amazed by MAutoDynamicEQ working with the demo, wow! I have some control-type questions, and was wondering if someone could maybe help clarify a few things for me please:

1) Is there any output level control so that after all the processing is done the output level matches the input? This is for A/B comparisons, that would be a dream come true for these inexperienced ears that keep wanting to drag me into the trap of "louder" = better".
- If there is no such "automatic gain control" for accurate A/B comparisons, if someone knows of a plug-in that does that, I might just take a long hard look at that!

2) This one has to do with what looks like unexpected behavior when editing the preset "Harmonic Control with Pitch Detector". When I try to limit the lowest frequency of Equalizer band 1 to 100Hz (from the default of 20Hz) in the Modulator 1> Parameters panel, instead of the expected behavior of the first "node/blob/circle" (what do we call them, just "bands"? ) continuing to track the first frequency, just not quite as low as with the default settings ... it actually stops tracking the 1st frequency completely, and jumps over to the right to what seems like a random position. I can even see that behavior even if the change in the lower value of the default value goes up just to 30 Hz - the band shifts over to the right just a bit off the actual note it is supposed to track (vocal mono). Of note, "Range Mode" is left at the default, "Interval", and the upper range is unchanged from default of 20 kHz.
- How can I edit the range "Value" of those bands so this doesn't happen?

3) Still using the same preset ("Harmonic Control with Pitch Detector"): I have some keyboard noise at a fixed frequency below the vocals that I'd like to filter out "non-dynamically". Melda does not identify it, so I drag Band 1 over there, and uncheck "Equalizer band 1 - Frequency 1" in the Modulator 1> Parameters panel so it stays at that frequency. Of course this leaves actual "musical" Frequency 1 "uncovered" (I'm referring to the actual sung note, which Melda identifies as Frequency 1). I do want Melda to filter that sung note, and so I tried to assign Frequency 1 to Equalizer Band 2 ... Frequency 2 to Equalizer Band 3 ... etc., but Melda was pretty insistent about keeping Frequency "n" assigned to Equalizer Band "n".
- How can I use the Preset "Harmonic Control with Pitch Detector", or something like it, so the sung note is filtered dynamically, while I have a "fixed frequency" Equalizer Band 1 set below it?

4. Same preset, "Harmonic Control with Pitch Detector": Sometimes I want to make the spectogram "redder" to see the targeted notes better, without changing anything about the processing or the sound. I know that increasing the "Input Gain" or "Output Gain" on the main panel aren't good ways to do that, because they also affect the balance of the track being processed with the other tracks, and affect how much dynamic gain change is made, even going into distortion if turned up too high.
- How can I make the GUI "redder" without changing anything about the processing/sound?
..... Is it OK to drop the "Prefilter" level to -20dB or -30dB in the Analyzer Settings window ... does that change the sound/processing too, or is it just a GUI thing? (Sorry, even after reading the manual, I didn't get a sense of when changing the Prefilter level would be helpful ...).
- If not, how else can I change the appearance of how "hot" the spectogram is, without changing anything about the sound?

Sorry for such a wordy post, I've spent a bunch of time trying to get to know this amazing plug-in, so all the questions are bunched up for now!

Thank you!

[MeldaProduction]

Hi, thank you!!

Ok, so:

1) Look more closely . You said "automatic gain compensation", so AGC, so look at the right side of the plugin .

2) Please check the docs about modulators. I'm not sure if I understand, anyway there are 2 ranges:
- Range of input frequencies, if your fundamental is out of range, then it's not detected (or a harmonic is taken)
- Range of output values, for most cases you should keep it default.
It seems you want it to go from min to max and if the fundamental is above that range, you want it to use max. I'm not really sure why would you want that, but you can do that using transformations (check the parameters panel). This is pretty advanced, so please check the docs first.

3) I have no idea what are you trying to do . If you want it to track the pitch and do something with it, start with the preset and then just enable another band to filter out the rumble. But you seem to overcomplicate it somehow, I'm not really sure why and how.

4) In the analyzer settings there are many ways to do that - I'd suggest "Resolution" or "Gain".

Cheers!

[alexis1]

Hi, thank you!!

Ok, so:

1) Look more closely . You said "automatic gain compensation", so AGC, so look at the right side of the plugin .

2) Please check the docs about modulators. I'm not sure if I understand, anyway there are 2 ranges:
- Range of input frequencies, if your fundamental is out of range, then it's not detected (or a harmonic is taken)
- Range of output values, for most cases you should keep it default.
It seems you want it to go from min to max and if the fundamental is above that range, you want it to use max. I'm not really sure why would you want that, but you can do that using transformations (check the parameters panel). This is pretty advanced, so please check the docs first.

3) I have no idea what are you trying to do . If you want it to track the pitch and do something with it, start with the preset and then just enable another band to filter out the rumble. But you seem to overcomplicate it somehow, I'm not really sure why and how.

4) In the analyzer settings there are many ways to do that - I'd suggest "Resolution" or "Gain".

Cheers!

Thanks for your reply! I'm not a newbie, but definitely not a pro, sorry for all the questions, especially the poorly worded ones. I'm getting there, this is my first dynamic EQ, I am blown away ... in a good way!

1) I'll look up AGC ... cool!

2) Here's a repro for what I observed - Band 1 not tracking its intended frequency when I limit how low I want it to filter:
a) Enable that preset, "Harmonics Control with Pitch Detector".
b) Change "Value" to 100 Hz from the default 20Hz in the "Parameters" panel (after highlighting "Equalizer Band 1 - Frequency 1" in the upper portion of the panel), because you don't want it filtering below 100Hz.
c) Watch Band 1 while you make that adjustment of Step 2 - even while making that adjustment (track not playing), Band 1 flies over to the right of the screen!
c) Play your full spectrum track, watch Band 1 just sort of sitting over on the right of the screen, not tracking much of anything.
(PS - thank you for including this preset ... it is so uber cool!).

3) EDIT - OK, got it! Band1 can't be the one to cover the rumble ... it has to "stay home" on Frequency 1 if I want Frequency 1 to be tracked/filtered. But - Band 7 can get sacrificed to cover the rumble non-dynamically. Simple!

4) "Gain" to change the display ... but doesn't that also affect the filtering and the sound? "Resolution" - YES, THANK YOU!!!

So you've got me cruising great for 3 of these questions, thank you! Really just problem #2 I'd love some help with please, Band 1 not tracking its intended frequency when I limit how low I want it to filter.

Thanks!

PS This kind of almost real-time help from the developer, and instant "hot-fixes" like that RMS thing described in the other thread ... simply amazing! Of course if someone else knows the answer, please chip in, let's leave Mr. Melda time to develop new cool stuff!

[MeldaProduction]

Hehe no problem . I'm glad you like it!

Ok, so:

2) The main question is what you want to achieve - you are moving the ranges of input frequencies - the detector simply ignores everything outside this range, because it assumes the fundamental pitch just isn't there, that's why you set it up. Now the question is what do you want . If your fundamental pitch really was 80 Hz while you set the minimum to 100 Hz, then it will probably pick some harmonic or something, depending on the signal.

4) No, everything in the analyzer settings is analysis only .

[alexis1]

Hello - new question re: MAutoDynamicEQ here ... is it possible to emulate the Voxengo SPAN functionality of simultaneously displaying two signals' frequency curves? That can be helpful with using EQ to separate out the two sounds ...

Something to do with "Separate" in the "Automatic Equalizer Panel", I'd guess by looking at the manual ... but I didn't see a graphic that simultaneously displays the target and source?

Thanks -

[MeldaProduction]

You can indeed analyze one as Source (how it should sound) and the other as target (your audio). You will have 2 curves then and you can either make the target "sound like the source" or "avoid the collisions" (separate).

In MAutoDynamicEq you can also make it do the job automatically - check "MultiBand ducking (side-chain)" active preset - it basically creates a few bands, each of them analyzes the sidechain and with increasing level lowers the level of the input, so it essentially attenuates frequencies present in the sidechain.

[alexis1]

You can indeed analyze one as Source (how it should sound) and the other as target (your audio). You will have 2 curves then and you can either make the target "sound like the source" or "avoid the collisions" (separate).

In MAutoDynamicEq you can also make it do the job automatically - check "MultiBand ducking (side-chain)" active preset - it basically creates a few bands, each of them analyzes the sidechain and with increasing level lowers the level of the input, so it essentially attenuates frequencies present in the sidechain.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Melda!

Does the display show the frequency curves display across the spectrum of the two (source/target), or is it all done without showing it graphically?

[mesaone]

Does the display show the frequency curves display across the spectrum of the two (source/target), or is it all done without showing it graphically?

Source curve shown in red, destination curve shown in blue. Each curve is superimposed on the spectrograph.

And one thing Vojtech didn't mention about using this plug-in with source and destination (which is one of the things that makes it so useful)... Once you use the "sound like" or "don't sound like" buttons and it plots the bands for you, you can use the Dry/Wet control to adjust the strength of the EQ matching.

[alexis1]

Does the display show the frequency curves display across the spectrum of the two (source/target), or is it all done without showing it graphically?

Source curve shown in red, destination curve shown in blue. Each curve is superimposed on the spectrograph.

And one thing Vojtech didn't mention about using this plug-in with source and destination (which is one of the things that makes it so useful)... Once you use the "sound like" or "don't sound like" buttons and it plots the bands for you, you can use the Dry/Wet control to adjust the strength of the EQ matching.

Wonderful, thank you very much, mesaone!

[alexis1]

OK, thanks, that helped a lot!

Another fantastic Melda function. I used it to carve out conflicting frequencies among harmony voices. It was so easy, and sounded so much better.

I am embarassed to ask, for risk of sounding ungrateful/greedy ... but :

It would be so awesome if the display were not limited to two curves, but rather there was a menu of several curves that one could bring up and display/EQ from the same window (like the Span can do, for example).

So - Compare Voice 1/Voice 2, EQ ... close down Voice 1, and bring up Voice 3 so now can compare Voice 2 with Voice 3 ... etc.

Anyway, thanks for your help!!

[alexis1]

Oh, and while I'm being greedy with suggestions :-q ...

1)How about a light blue curve to show the effect of the EQ on the target ... a post-EQ curve (displayed of course with the dark blue pre-EQ curve as currently shown)?

2) And also the ability to toggle the screen between editing the target/blue curve as the case is now, but also the source/red curve, all from the same screen.

Thx!

[MeldaProduction]

Hehe , I love denying greedy requests :

- More curves & etc - sorry, too complex. BUT you can already store comparisons in files, so it's only up to you to make the workflow well . There are also A-H presets etc. Many options .

- "Effected curve" - sorry, rather not, already denied, in fact I don't want to make people follow the analyzer. It is good to get you started, but eventually it's always better to use your ears rather than relying on an analyzer, which can be very misleading. You can already show Pre/Post analysis though (check Analyzer view/Settings).

- I don't follow the "editing target curve" - it doesn't make sense to me really, it's your signal, it's not logical to edit that one.

[alexis1]

Hehe , I love denying greedy requests :

- More curves & etc - sorry, too complex. BUT you can already store comparisons in files, so it's only up to you to make the workflow well . There are also A-H presets etc. Many options .

- "Effected curve" - sorry, rather not, already denied, in fact I don't want to make people follow the analyzer. It is good to get you started, but eventually it's always better to use your ears rather than relying on an analyzer, which can be very misleading. You can already show Pre/Post analysis though (check Analyzer view/Settings).

- I don't follow the "editing target curve" - it doesn't make sense to me really, it's your signal, it's not logical to edit that one.

I figured you'd say most of what you did ... . Just to point out, even our Cubase stock EQs show the pre/post curves. But yes, it is our ears (or what lies between them) that is important, I agree.

I will look at the stored comparisons, A-H presets, thanks for the heads up.

Re: the part in bold: what I meant was: sometimes in editing the blue curve, one decides the red curve needs to be edited as well. I don't think that can be done without leaving that window ... can it? If not, it would be nice!

Thanks again!

[MeldaProduction]

Hmmm, I just don't follow - the blue curve CANNOT be edited, it's the analysis of your signal to be processed, so editing it doesn't really make sense.

[alexis1]

Hmmm, I just don't follow, - the blue curve CANNOT be edited, it's the analysis of your signal to be processed, so editing it doesn't really make sense.

???

The two buttons on the right, "Make blue sound like red", and "Make blue not sound like red". I thought that was editing the blue curve?