Doug Jane Maximiser

[manman]

Is there a way to demo it? reminds me of AAMS in terms of auto/semi-manual processing. Looks interesting, it says it does not use compression, which can lead to cleaner sounding tracks, because compression creates harmonic distortion.

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by manman

it says it does not use compression, which can lead to cleaner sounding tracks, because compression creates harmonic distortion.

Any process that reduces dynamic range will necessarily create harmonic distortion
Still, would be interesting to hear what this one does/did under the hood. Does anyone know?

[Mattrix]

Originally Posted by manman

Is there a way to demo it?

Not sure, I do not think so, I think the process is to contact Doug via email.
Be good if Doug has some Audio file comparisons on his site.

The version I have trying to remember 1.0 I think, is OS9 and only has sound designer II option and only 6db gain, it works better with files that are not maximized, or limited with square peaks.
I remember junior engineering with Billy Kristian, and he would go through each file in pro-tools and draw down excessive peaks only, then export each file of each track, run it through the DJM import back into pro-tools.
I remember a chat with Doug Jane at a party, and he basically explained that his Maximiser does a better job at bringing up the overall loudness of a Audio file than what a compressor could do, or what Normalize/Auto-gain could do, without effecting the integrity of the sound, there is a limit to how far the loudness of the file can be achieved, but that does come down as mentioned before prepearing the file.

I only had a look on his website to see if he was still selling the program, and it has definitly been updated, with extra options.

[Mattrix]

Originally Posted by 24-96 Mastering

would be interesting to hear what this one does/did under the hood. Does anyone know?

Remembering back the program shows the wave form on screen and shows a red drawing following the wave file, and slowly draws the wave file, it provides a statistical info at the end, how many peaks, and how much level of gain has been achieved. I remember the MAC was a G3, so it was slow process back then, I am not sure how fast the process is with the latest version running on OSX.

Is there any other program out there that analyzes the file, and redraws the wave form?

[Kayo]

No PC versions, to try …. Dang!

KAyo

[Mattrix]

The only way I could help would be to fire up my old G4, and restart up in OS9, and workout some sound designer II files, run through the old version I have of DJM, upload before/after see what I can do.....TBC

[Mattrix]

Messages from Doug Jane:

M1:
Price is $150NZD. It will operate with OSX, not sure whether this is Snow leopard?
The program is now broken into two versions and does SD2, AIFF, and WAV files.
There is no difference in the amount of processing, (from previous versions) max 10 db.
I don't have any file examples.
Regards,
Doug Jane.
M2:
I am not sure what versions of OSX the system works on. I do know it works on early versions (pre-Leopard).
No reason to think it won't work on later versions.

It is a register to use version, and requires a key.

The program uses no compression or eq. It assumes that you have eq'd your mix to the sound you want.
The program only adjusts levels to increase the mastered level. It uses no clipping.

Be aware that as with any processing for level, you will remove dynamic range in the material. This may and does make much modern music sterile sounding.

My whole reason for writing the Maximiser was to give me a tool to raise the level of my masters and make them consistent, but not to make them the loudest on the block. That's why I would normally only use 4 dB.

Loudness is not what matters, music and performance is what matters. Without that, you have recorded garbage, and there is so much of it these days.

Doug Jane

[waldie wave]

This sounds very interesting. I am going to enquire about this from Doug.