Why does this sound better with multiband limiting...?

[AnnihilationRob]

Here are two ITB masters (I am a noob/I have no money). My master bus is all waves: Linear Eq > Linear Multiband > L2. Compression in the LinMB is very light, and it essentially is just being used as a multiband limiter with the L2 catching the highest peaks (I think). The masters are identical in every way except that the multiband is bypassed in the second file maradona_nomb.mp3.

I think the master with the LinMB enabled sounds waaay better. The drums, especially, have much more top end punch. I know there is no right way to do anything, but I always thought a good eq, single band comp, and single band limiter was how most of the pros do it. Am I wrong about this? Should I invest in a real multiband limiter? Any comments on the mix/master are most appreciated.

- Rob

[mattyblue]

If it helps you out any the I liked it without the multi-band. The mids don't sound so forced and in your face and are much more musical. Remember don't over compress as it robs the music of its dynamics and its musicality to it. Less compression is always better

[AnnihilationRob]

i was thinking, if anything, the multiband would have lessened the overall compression. Like I said, i am basically just using the limiters in the LinMB. While I am doing some substantial limiting (its rock, it kinda has to be squashed) there is virtually no compression on the mix at all. Given the nature of the genre, I'm just wondering if I should add a real multiband limiter to my list like the L3 or if there are still some secrets to mastering with a one band comp and limiter that I have yet to learn. This is probably the closest I've come to a radio worthy pop-rock master and I want to know if I'm on the right track.

[sam guaiana]

This song sounds great, both mixes. I prefer the Multiband one a little more.
What did you use on drums and guitars?
Sounds awesome.

[AnnihilationRob]

thanks man. drums are steven slate samples + sm81s on OH. guitars were good musician > orange rocker something head > orange 4X12 > sm81 (weird?) > firepod. slight cut around 300 on gtr.

[dysenterygary]

I like the one w/out the multiband a little better, but I hear why you think the first one is better. I think you just need to toy w/it a little longer and get it to really pop a little better. Sounds really good though!

[AnnihilationRob]

the answer seems to be GClip. i think the multiband was actually soft clipping the peaks of the drums so they didn't get so squashed by the L2. heres a new mix with a dedicated soft clipper instead of the multiband and some drum bus compression.

[jsaliba]

just listened really fast through laptop speakers. the part with 2 lead vocals gets a little conflicted or confusing sounding. maybe work with panning or simply make one vocal track just a bit more dominant than the other?

if this is already panned and i cant hear that because my laptop speakers are only 6" apart from each other just ignore me.

[Pitherz]

Really good work ... I think You should put more treble on vocal or try to warm up little bit ... Just my 2 cents ... Killer guitar sound ... Keep that way ...

[Stepping_Stone]

Originally Posted by mattyblue

If it helps you out any the I liked it without the multi-band. The mids don't sound so forced and in your face and are much more musical. Remember don't over compress as it robs the music of its dynamics and its musicality to it. Less compression is always better

If that were true, why even have compressors at all? Less is sometimes not enough, and more is sometimes too much. It's about finding the balance, not just saying less or more as a general rule. And besides, certain styles of music actually sound better with more compression. (Oh, the HORRA!)