4 band mastering compressor - does it exist?

[bewareofdogs]

Hi folks!

Is anyone aware if a special 4-band multi-band mastering compressor has ever been produced?

[lucey]

I hope not ...

[Chaellus]

Originally Posted by lucey

I hope not ...

+1 same here

[mrickaby]

The DBX Quantum II Multiband Compressor probably fits this description. It's a mastering compressor that has a 4-way crossover that splits the input into 4 separate channels which can be compressed, gated and limited individually. I've never used it and can't vouch for how well it works or what it sounds like, but it is out there.

dbx® Quantum II™ Digital Multi-Band Processor

[Empire Prod]

That would put the crossover point in the most audible (and thus the most crucial) part of the audio spectrum. Not goodtutt

[mrickaby]

I can't imagine it sounding anything other than messy either

[Virtalahde]

How special does it need to be? Ralph Wiggum "I'm special!" style or just regular special?

[mischa janisch]

The TC MD4 Mastering package for the System 6000 ? The Waves Linear Phase Multiband is even 5-band FWIW...

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by mischa janisch

The TC MD4 Mastering package for the System 6000 ? The Waves Linear Phase Multiband is even 5-band FWIW...

And the Waves C4. iZotope Ozone. Or how about the Voxengo Soniformer which has up to 32 bands I believe. Aphex 2020MKIII in hardware (if you can deal with the interface). There are many.

Alistair

[Online-Mastering]

If you go for multiband, then you should prefer M6000 or Waves Mastering-Tools or any other digital tool with phase linear reconstruction of the audio. As even the C4 will cause phase problems and audible loss of impact when just adding it to your audio chain. Splitting up a signal will -per definition- lead to cross-over point artefacts that you have to deal with. We for example have the analog Drawmer S3 3-band compressor, it's nice, but: It's definitely no general purpose tool and: It does not always sound good, when you put it into the chain. Because it brings some benefits against some problems. So it's up to you to decide, if it makes a mix BETTER or not.

Generally, it's recommended to avoid band-splitting. As said: If necessary (because you want to control a specific audio event), try to use a tool like the Weiss DS1, M6000 or any other phase-linear multiband software. Most important thing: Ask yourself WHY you need multiband compression on that specific track you work on. What's the sonic goal you want to achieve?

Arne

[mischa janisch]

Originally Posted by UnderTow

And the Waves C4. iZotope Ozone. Or how about the Voxengo Soniformer which has up to 32 bands I believe. Aphex 2020MKIII in hardware (if you can deal with the interface). There are many.

Alistair

32 bands? Sounds about as much fun as Mastering from 32 Stems...

Either way - a remix would be more appropriate.

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by mischa janisch

32 bands? Sounds about as much fun as Mastering from 32 Stems...

Either way - a remix would be more appropriate.

It is just a tool. You don't need to use all the bands but you can. It is basically a swiss army knife for sound. You can draw the graphical frequency curves for the threshold, attack, release, ratio, wet/dry mix, output, St linking, width and pan. It has an M/S mode, various detector algorithms etc.

Of course a remix is usually the best solution but that is not always possible. With Soniformer you can hone in on a very small problem area that other tools just can't address.

Here, have a look: Voxengo

Alistair

[Rappinghood]

Originally Posted by bewareofdogs

Hi folks!

Is anyone aware if a special 4-band multi-band mastering compressor has ever been produced?

No, but I found this

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by Online-Mastering

If you go for multiband, then you should prefer M6000 or Waves Mastering-Tools or any other digital tool with phase linear reconstruction of the audio. As even the C4 will cause phase problems and audible loss of impact when just adding it to your audio chain. Splitting up a signal will -per definition- lead to cross-over point artefacts that you have to deal with. We for example have the analog Drawmer S3 3-band compressor, it's nice, but: It's definitely no general purpose tool and: It does not always sound good, when you put it into the chain. Because it brings some benefits against some problems. So it's up to you to decide, if it makes a mix BETTER or not.

Generally, it's recommended to avoid band-splitting. As said: If necessary (because you want to control a specific audio event), try to use a tool like the Weiss DS1, M6000 or any other phase-linear multiband software. Most important thing: Ask yourself WHY you need multiband compression on that specific track you work on. What's the sonic goal you want to achieve?

Arne

+1

.

[Waltz Mastering]

For software based multi band compression the The Waves Linear Phase Multiband is the way to go (5 band)

For outboard analog I swear by my Tube-Tech SMC 2B Stereo Multi-Band Compressor (3 Band)

Not sure of any 4 band worth using for mastering.

Waltzmastering.com

[Edward_Vinatea]

Originally Posted by Online-Mastering

Generally, it's recommended to avoid band-splitting.

Agreed - Assuming that there is process to the signal path even in idle mode or that the mb comp uses non-linear phase crossovers or that this mb comp does not use perfect-reconstruction crossovers {ITB} - you don't want to summon up a 5 band compressor if your intention is to compress 1 or 4 bands. I would also assume that the need to minimize phase linearity distortion and cross-over filtering issues is as important as the need to do the corrective eq. to the mix. Thus the benefits of such process should by far outweigh the risks.

Regards,

[Bob Olhsson]

Gee, I thought according to the software industry mastering is defined as four band compression!

I'd better crawl back under my rock...

[kjg]

I think Flux Alchemist should be mentioned here. Their Flux Solera comp is excellent and Alchemist is their new multiband that uses the same algorithms.

Besides that +1 on the Waves LinMB.

[Atomix]

Originally Posted by bewareofdogs

Hi folks!

Is anyone aware if a special 4-band multi-band mastering compressor has ever been produced?

I prefer to master one band at a time -

less chance of forgetting which songs belong to which band

[lucey]

Originally Posted by Atomix

I prefer to master one band at a time -

less chance of forgetting which songs belong to which band

Good one!

I've done 4 bands in a day .... wow, confusing!

[busytbp]

Oh Multiband?!

...it´s a no go on this board...what a mess...oh my Goodness...is this the end of music...is this makin everything loud and lose dynamics of Computer bounced mixes?!

....PLEASE

Ok...lets point this..14K for a modified EQ....another 15k for a 35kg heavyweight Compressor...another 20k for acoustics and 1 pair of ears that don´t hear a damn thing!

@ lucey: over 9000 posts "WOW"...and you still have time for testing equipment?

[lucey]

Originally Posted by busytbp

@ lucey: over 9000 posts "WOW"...and you still have time for testing equipment?

No I haven't tested much in the last 2 years, what does testing equipment have to do with anything in this thread?

4.5 posts a day for 6 years while taking a break in the studio ... what's the big deal? I'd think it was more posts, actually as I sit here most of the day. thethrillfactor has me beat in posts per day and total posts, over 11,000!

[macc]

Originally Posted by lucey

Good one!

I've done 4 bands in a day .... wow, confusing!

I work that way.

Do the lows then have coffee, the low mids before lunch, upper mids after and the highs before calling it a day.

[gregor z]

Did anyone used inserts on Crane song Ibis?

[lucey]

Originally Posted by macc

I work that way.

Do the lows then have coffee, the low mids before lunch, upper mids after and the highs before calling it a day.

First the high end on fresh ears, then coffee!


Funny stuff, thanks for that.

[tengu]

Do deleted posts count towards your post tally?

Which somehow reminds me.

What ever happened to binarybob?

His posts were very informative.

[bewareofdogs]

Thanks to all!

What I meant was an analog hardware compressor, though.
I was wondering if a good implementation of crossover filter design, so to be acceptable in terms of flatness for frequency response and acceptable in the phase response, might prove useful in a mastering process.

Thank you.

[Edward_Vinatea]

Originally Posted by tengu

Do deleted posts count towards your post tally?

.

I think that's the case ---

Regards,

[Online-Mastering]

The problems analog filtering and band-splitting brings, are already mentioned in earlier posts. What these machines can do: Try to make your own mind if you NEED something like this. Maybe have a listening test with the gear...

The ones I know (analogue multiband in-a-box):

Drawmer S3

Drawmer - S3 Multi-Band Stereo Tube Compressor

Tubetech SMC 2BM

|| T U B E - T E C H ||

Maselec MLA-3 (not heard this yet, don't know if it is available already)

MASELEC

Arne

[bewareofdogs]

Yes,
I knew those machines.
Thanks anyway.