multiband compression

[grinder]

Could someone explain what type of problems a multiband is used to fix.Or explain a senario where you would want to use one.
Thanks, Grinder

[regebro]

When you need heavy compression without pumping artifacts. The pumping typically comes from the treble being compressesed in time with the bass. Multiband compression fixes this by splitting the sound up in several frequency bands and compressing each separately. At least three bands is typically needed for it to be useful.

A typical application is in finalizing or mastering a mix.

[philsaudio]

Two types of application for compression.

1. Single instrument is compressed
2. A mix of instruments is compressed.

In 1 a single band compressor works well.
In 2 there could be a variety of ways the instruments are mixed.
A. Similar instruments mixed into a bus.
For instance several guitars thrown together, Bass and Kick thrown together. In this application a single band compressor would be fine, and possibly be better than a multiband. What happens in this situation the louder of the two will dominate the mix, and this could work great with say kick and bass summing in the compressor. When the kick wacks it can sort of duck the bass.

B. Various instruments and voices are thrown togehter.
In this case the multiband will probably be better since you would probably not want the kick to duck the vocal when it wacks.


Phil

[marsmgr1]

You can get a lot of info here: http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/guides.html

I have no relationship with these people (I do use their product) but the mastering guide has a good bit of info about multiband compression and limiting...