Best Plug In Expander?

Keith Moore · 11th November 2009, 08:50 PM

What have any of you found to be the best plug in expander? TDM/RTAS. If there's a hardware suggestion I'm open for suggestions. Mostly for use on snare drum.

j2dafo · 11th November 2009, 08:56 PM

I always got good results with the standard Waves gate/expander. Once I dialed in the attack time anyway. Even the digi gate gets used on occassion.

Recently though, I picked up a Valley Gatex (4 channel) and although it is not packed with features, is now my go to gate. Using the variable range control allowed me to more quickly and more musically gate me snare drums, toms, kicks, drum rooms, etc.

I always thought that I would never need/want hardware gates, as I was completely satisfied with software, but the difference was enough to make me take one more step down the path towards a majority stake in hardware over software.

Keith Moore · 11th November 2009, 09:13 PM

Can anyone offer information on the differences between an expander and a de-esser?

j2dafo · 11th November 2009, 09:31 PM

an expander is, simply put, a type of gate.

a de-esser is a de-esser. use it to control sibilance on vocals.

RiF · 23rd November 2009, 11:55 PM

For all my gating/expanding, I use McDSP Channel G. The gate/expander is very similar to the Digirack one, but without the latency.

T_R_S · 24th November 2009, 12:01 AM

Drawmer Dynamics TDM. Lots of expander plug-ins are not smooth when the close.
Drawmer is totally smooth

kittonian · 24th November 2009, 02:14 AM

McDSP Channel G. The plug just rocks.

Keith Moore · 1st December 2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kittonian

McDSP Channel G. The plug just rocks.

I have the Channel G, never even realized it had an expander in it. Duh! I also have a Valley People Dyna-mite I'm gonna try as well. I'm mainly looking for getting some of the cymbal bleed out of the snare without having to gate it too much.

Keith Moore · 1st December 2009, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_R_S

Drawmer Dynamics TDM. Lots of expander plug-ins are not smooth when the close.
Drawmer is totally smooth

From the looks of the Drawmer expander there doesn't seem to be a way to sweep through frequencies. Am I not seeing it or do you just use the gate with the frequency selection?

b0b · 1st December 2009, 12:58 AM

My favorite expander would be the Flux Solera II (full dynamics) or just the Pure Expander. All the Flux plugs are top class.

china jam · 1st December 2009, 12:58 AM

Sonalksis.

Their Expander/Gate is seriously good. Well thought out.

Keith Moore · 1st December 2009, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by china jam

Sonalksis.

Their Expander/Gate is seriously good. Well thought out.

The SV-719? I have a few of there plug in's. I wonder if I have that one.

Sigma · 1st December 2009, 01:13 AM

any gate --no biggie whatever i see first..waves ..oxford ..drawmer

a downward expander is just a gate whose range is bet like -2 and -9 rather than -80 great for toms when ya wanna set them apart from the constant bleed

11th November 2009, 08:50 PM	#1
Keith Moore Gear addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 325	Best Plug In Expander? What have any of you found to be the best plug in expander? TDM/RTAS. If there's a hardware suggestion I'm open for suggestions. Mostly for use on snare drum.

11th November 2009, 09:13 PM	#3
Keith Moore Gear addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 325	Expander vs De-esser Can anyone offer information on the differences between an expander and a de-esser?

24th November 2009, 12:01 AM	#6
T_R_S Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canuk Posts: 3,861	Drawmer Dynamics TDM. Lots of expander plug-ins are not smooth when the close. Drawmer is totally smooth __________________ === PCIe HD1 Core Card - 192 Analog I/O Plus a Surplus Sale DONATE TO HAITI RELIEF TODAY

24th November 2009, 02:14 AM	#7
kittonian Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,191	McDSP Channel G. The plug just rocks. __________________ Joshua Aaron President/Chief Engineer AudioLot/AudioLot Studios High End Pro Audio Sales & Consulting Recording/Music Production/Mixing http://www.audiolot.com AudioLot is now located in Los Angeles, CA. If you're in the LA area and are interested in coming by to see any of the gear we carry in person, please let us know.

1st December 2009, 12:58 AM	#10
b0b Gear nut Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Berlin Posts: 105	My favorite expander would be the Flux Solera II (full dynamics) or just the Pure Expander. All the Flux plugs are top class. __________________ Andy

11th November 2009, 08:56 PM	#2
j2dafo Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 328	I always got good results with the standard Waves gate/expander. Once I dialed in the attack time anyway. Even the digi gate gets used on occassion. Recently though, I picked up a Valley Gatex (4 channel) and although it is not packed with features, is now my go to gate. Using the variable range control allowed me to more quickly and more musically gate me snare drums, toms, kicks, drum rooms, etc. I always thought that I would never need/want hardware gates, as I was completely satisfied with software, but the difference was enough to make me take one more step down the path towards a majority stake in hardware over software.

11th November 2009, 09:31 PM	#4
j2dafo Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 328	an expander is, simply put, a type of gate. a de-esser is a de-esser. use it to control sibilance on vocals.

23rd November 2009, 11:55 PM	#5
RiF Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 316	For all my gating/expanding, I use McDSP Channel G. The gate/expander is very similar to the Digirack one, but without the latency.

1st December 2009, 12:58 AM	#11
china jam Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kent, England Posts: 539	Sonalksis. Their Expander/Gate is seriously good. Well thought out.

1st December 2009, 01:13 AM	#13
Sigma Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: phallicdelphia Posts: 3,106	any gate --no biggie whatever i see first..waves ..oxford ..drawmer a downward expander is just a gate whose range is bet like -2 and -9 rather than -80 great for toms when ya wanna set them apart from the constant bleed __________________ I believe that we have to content ourselves with our imperfect knowledge and understanding and treat values and moral obligations as a purely human problem - the most important of all human problems"....alberta weintsein "The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes, ah, that is where the art resides." Artur Schnabel http://www.myspace.com/miketarsia http://miketarsia.com

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