Upward expansion vs. compression with gain boost

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:56 pm

I use all 4 in the attempt to do my mixing properly!

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:59 pm

So, you prefer these for mixing, instead of mastering? Are any of the "other three" techniques useful for mastering?

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:08 pm

No, these are general techniques that should be in any engineers toolbox, like EQ and reverb.. I don't presume to give mastering advice though, as I am not a mastering engineer. Wink

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:23 pm

great thread.
I've not seen any plugins that offer expansion, aside from the MX5 for powercore and I can never hear it *doing* anything so I never turn it on. Is that because this plugin inherently compresses the signal.
So, links to some plugs that perform this operation?

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:18 pm

.. but that one only works in Tracktion Wink

Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:28 pm

.. or you could try my very own Danamix: (windows only VSTs)

.. and the external side-chain version:

made with Synthmaker

(yes my name is Dan Wink

)

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:27 am

I use downward expansion to deal with dialogue tracks that were recorded in reverberant spaces. It cuts down on the reflections. Here is what I always wondered; what is the difference between gating and downward expansion. I'll hazard ny own guess. Gating is a strict cutoff below a certain threshold, expansion works more like a compressor, gradually lowering material below the threshold. Let me know if I'm wrong.

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:01 pm

That sounds about right. With downward expansion the gain reduction increases as the signal drops in level, while a gate will apply a set gain change whenever the signal drops below the threshold.

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:13 am

I sometimes use a little tiny bit of upwards compression when mastering. The Sonalksis CQ1 gives the most fantastic low end. Anyone else tried this?

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