Carly(Poohbear) wrote:
This is deja-vu to me and I'm glad I have just read this, as I opened up an old project this morning and guess what I have done this, must have seen that video when it came out and thought that sounds like a good idea (still trying to learn all this stuff, I'm a man with a little bit of knowledge and I know that is very dangerous as you will see with one of my questions, DOH!!!!).. but then while I was cleaning this afternoon my brain was more worried that I'm missing the bits I want to compress as the signal has already been processed and this thread has confirmed that, so thank you.
So a question more related to this thread, surely there is no reason that you can still have you master effects in the master section (except for the final maximiser, like you I have that between the master out and audio in and again like you mainly for the dithering, so at least I have had that bit right
) and on the final master effect have that going through say a Spider audio splitter, splitting one signal back to the master bus and the other going through your stereo splitter which turn goes to the Sidechain input? (and I'm talking inserts pre-compressor here)
This thread has set other thoughts in my head and this is going to make me sound very ignorant but what is the real point of filtered sidechaining on the master signal, as I have a filtered signal and compression will only happen when that signal is present on the sidechain but when it is, the whole signal on the master bus is processed, e.g I have a bass and bass drum playing, then a high note from a synth comes in and as I'm filtering high end freq. the bass and drum will now have compression applied as well, is this for real subtle compression? i.e helps with the leveling of the whole mix?
(I just been playing with my mix I think I used the master compressor more for the make up gain, which was a bit silly as later on I'm reducing the gain, maybe my ears ain't that good in my old age as I turned off the master compressor and reduced the gain I was reducing (too many negatives there) and it sounded the same...)
Thanks..
You can still have effects in the master section, but they will all be "pre compressor". If you want "post compressor" simply put them between the Master Output and the Hardware Interface inputs with your limiter etc.
If you use a Stereo Imager for the side-chain filtering, you don't need a spider - just use the main outs to feed the "From Devices" jacks.
Filtered side-chain allows low frequency instruments to compress the same as high. In some cases, many cases actually, the kick will cause more gain reduction than other instruments, which "pumps" the mix. If you raise the threshold so the mix doesn't pump, you ONLY get compression on the kick. BUT, if you filter the side-chain by the correct amount, you can get equal compression on ALL main instruments.
There is another application for this concept, on a vocal channel where you EQ the side chain signal by boosting the sibilance range. Then you compress with a fast attack/high ratio/fast release so that ONLY the sibilance causes compression. Instant "de-essing". You don't actually hear the EQ, so you don't end up boosting the sibilance in the mix. You then set the threshold so that you get compression only on sibilance, and set the ratio so that you get the desired about of sibilance reduction.
And yes, sometimes after messing with a compressor for hours, you can "level match" it, bypass it, and find you're not really adding anything of value. On those occasions, I find it best to bypass the compressor and move on!