Multiband compression

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 10:50 pm

Hello, I play around with home recording, and I recently discovered multiband compression, and I'm wondering how many of you pros use multiband compression on the final mix? I use Audition 3.0, and the multiband compressor has four assignable bands. Assuming all the instruments and vox are fine tuned already, what 4 frequencies would you guys use in a typical "rock" recording (one guitar, bass, drums, vox.), nothing too hardcore. I play mostly punk and some ska, so you might describe the desired final product sound as agressive, yet not heavy, bassy, or dense. Just curious. I'm hoping for some suggestions to try out. Thanks.

Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:43 am

Trust me...

Do a search on this one.

Multi-band compressors are not thought of very highly in the mastering world and a LOT has been discussed regarding them on these pages.

Cheers-
J

Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 8:57 pm

Search for:
master AND multiband OR compression

Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 11:17 pm

Then search for "maul-the-band compression" --

Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 4:50 pm

It has its uses. Like cleaning up live recordings to reduce the plosives. Although I understand side chaining might work here, I don't have the software to do that.

Bearing in mind quality isn't what I have to work with and I don't make a living off this.

Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 5:07 pm

Alrighty, I get the idea that using multiband compression on a master track is, 99% of the time, trying to fix a problem that should have been fixed before recording, like a tighter bass drum or a fatter guitar, however, for those of us who are total DIYers, and do our darndest to get every instrument as perfect as can be, taking days just to dial in that sound, and taking every step to ensure the instruments mix well together, do any of guys think that a small amount of tasteful multiband compression on the master might help make a so-so home recording (no $4,000 mics, compressors, amps, etc... here Razz

) just a little bit more pro sounding? At least that's my thought. Maybe when I finish the demo I'm working on in Audition 3.0 I'll have a major label quality product, but you know, I imagine it will more than likely be good for a basic home studio Laughing

... Thanks all for your replies.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:09 am

If you're "DIY" then you should have absolutely no need for it. If you can go back and fix things at the track level and you need maul-the-band treatment of *any* kind (whether dynamics, imaging, etc., etc.) then you should find out why and fix it at the previous stage.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:54 am

NCDan -

The multi-band compressor is a limited-use tool that finds more use destroying mixes in low-level, so-called "cheap" mastering houses because they think it's a piece of equipment found in higher end mastering houses (a fact which marketing geniuses created and shoved down poor saps' throats.)

The reality is, it will not fix anything that can't be fixed better by some other, more appropriate tool.

The only use I've ever found for a multi-band compressor is while using the UAD Precision Multi-Band, I can use it as a multiband noise gate or expander, essentially allowing me to remove rumble from soft passages (such as delicate flute solos) while leaving the audio during full-tilt passages alone.

For this purpose, this particular tool works quite well. If I had paid more than $99 for it, it would have been WAY too much. Thankfully, this particular piece of software does this task quite well and finds regular use.

Otherwise...nah...I wouldn't touch the stuff.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:53 pm

A-M-E-N brother. The UAD PMBC is probably the ultimate frequency-conscious expander on the planet. And the "mix" control takes it even one step further. It's my go-to classical cleaner.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 5:06 pm

Thanks guys for the input. The points are definitely valid. I doubt I will end up using multiband compression on any master tracks, although, I do have quieter sections in my music, for example, I have a song that switches to a clean guitar and quiet vocals right in between very heavy sections, and I might try playing around with multiband compression there, as you state Cucco, "I can use it as a multiband noise gate or expander, essentially allowing me to remove rumble from soft passages (such as delicate flute solos) while leaving the audio during full-tilt passages alone." It's nice to be on a forum where I get expert advice rather some 16-year-old's opinion Very Happy

.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:41 pm

IMO the biggest problem people have with stuff is "I have it. What can I use it on?"

What was that quote...
"When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 9:28 pm

Quote:

I do have quieter sections in my music, for example, I have a song that switches to a clean guitar and quiet vocals right in between very heavy sections,

That should've been handled in the mix.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 9:49 pm

Yes, but when you're a one man band, it can be difficult to really get the volume right on every instrument take. Now I know what you'll say, record multiple takes and take the best parts from them. Well, I'm going for more of an organic sound, so since I have to overdub each instrument already, I try to go for one take all the way through with each instrument. Now, I just do the takes until I get one I really like, but since I don't have amazing filters and noise gates, I get humming and buzzing, which can be a bit noticable during one of the rare quiet sections in my music. So, I thought that I'd take Cucco's advice and see if I could get the multiband compressor to take out the hiss and hum residue in the rare quiet sections of my songs. Am I getting this right?

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:02 pm

It seems to me your hiss and hum comes from your liberal use of limiters, compressors and what not. I'm doubtful you can clean that up using even more.

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:01 am

NCdan wrote:

Yes, but when you're a one man band, it can be difficult to really get the volume right on every instrument take. Now I know what you'll say, record multiple takes and take the best parts from them. Well, I'm going for more of an organic sound, so since I have to overdub each instrument already, I try to go for one take all the way through with each instrument. Now, I just do the takes until I get one I really like, but since I don't have amazing filters and noise gates, I get humming and buzzing, which can be a bit noticable during one of the rare quiet sections in my music. So, I thought that I'd take Cucco's advice and see if I could get the multiband compressor to take out the hiss and hum residue in the rare quiet sections of my songs. Am I getting this right?

I still think you're misunderstanding. You're now confusing tracking and mixing.

Yes, you should aim for as good of a signal as possible while tracking and it can be difficult when you're the player, the engineer, and the janitor.

However, some things can be fixed (such as hum and hiss) in the mixing phase with corrective EQ, digital de-noise programs, etc.

In all of these cases, Multi-band compression/limiters are the wrong choice.

A dynamic EQ (such as the Weiss - probably WAY outside your budget, or the bastardized one in the UAD multi-band) may be a decent bet here, but still, when encountering noise, hiss, buzz on individual instruments' tracks, I never really resort to using such broad, resource intensive tools as a multi-band limiter/comp.

This reminds me very much of my son - he's 3 and quite amusing.

He saw me do some work on my drywall when we had a leak in the plumbing in the studio bathroom. I used a drywall saw to cut out some sections of the wall.

Now, my kid goes around picking up various things that are shaped like a saw (if even only remotely) and poking them at the wall saying "I'm fixing the wall, just like Daddy..." Well, usually he's poking a screwdriver at the wall, or perhaps his little Play-Dough tool, or a fork...

The moral is, with any one of the tools he's using, he could in fact poke a hole in the wall and make it big enough to fit his hand through to fix plumbing. However, none of the tools is the right tool for the job and none of them will do as well as the tool originally intended for that job.

Just some thoughts.

J.

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