Multiband Comp?

[ecktronic]

Can anyone tell me how the Steinberg ME compressor (multiband compressor) works?
There are 2 sections. One is the graph at the right hand side and the other is the bands where you can have up to 5 different bands.
When i have been using it i have just been setting the bandwidth i want in the left part of the screen and then reducing that bands gain to try and compress that band. But does this actually compress the band or just decrease that frequency range like an EQ? Do you have to use the right hand graph to acheive compression?
Any comments would be greatfully received
Cheers.

 

[Massive Master]

The one I remember was a simple, "maximizing" compressor (a "Maul-The-Band" compressor).

You lower the threshold, it automatically made-up the gain, and Presto! Your mix sounded really irritating and scratchy (you can probably tell that I'm not a big fan of MBC's most of the time).

 

[masteringhouse]

A multiband compressor works like a de-esser only on multiple bands.

I may help to understand how a de-esser works first. A compressor's threshold can be driven by the audio you are feeding into it, or via a sidechain. If you take the original signal, run it through an EQ so that only the 6-8K range of the signal is coming though (the sibilant part) and feed this into the side chain the overall level of the signal will be compressed whenever the 6-8K exceeds the threshold. In effect reducing the signal when the sibilance is at it's greatest.

A multiband works the same way only reacts to multiple bands. Before you just throw one on the mix, decide if there are elements that are related to both the frequenciy and dynamics or if it is a single component. If it's only frequency related, use an EQ, if it's a dynamic issue only use a compressor or limiter.

Times where a multiband is useful:

- Sibilance or some other nasty frequency that is inconsistent and "comes in and out".
- A kick drum that is dominating the bottom end.
- Plosives in vocals
- Guitars recorded with close micing and have too much proximity effect.

 

[XLR]

Ecktronic, it sounds from your description like you've been using the multiband comp as just an EQ. I tried the demo a while back and if I remember right, the graph on the right shows threshold and ratio. Don't remember if it has gain reduction meters, but have you got it set so any bands with excessive dynamics have their thresholds set to get the peaks knocked down with some compression?

I think a multiband comp can do good things if used gently. But if there isn't any excessive dynamic activity in particular frequency ranges, you might be better off using a regular EQ to avoid the filters the multiband uses to split the frequency ranges up. To my ear, those filters are what mess with the sound the most.

Tim

 

[ecktronic]

Cheers Tim. i just cant understand how to set the graph on the right to actually make it compress rather than just reduce the gain with the right hand side multi band selector.
There is no ratio setting or threshold setting so how are you meant to compress without these? the only setting you get is input gain and output gain in the form of a line graph. Cant really understand how you are meant to acuratrly compress with the Steinberg ME compressor

 

[XLR]

The graph on the right is called the "characteristics" window and you just click on the diagonal line and drag it where you want. Click along the line to set the threshold for whichever frequency range is highlighted at the left and drag the top right end of the line lower to compress at a higher ratio. There's a yellow dot that moves rapidly along the diagonal line that shows the band's changing level.

If you click on the question mark at the top right of the compressor's window, the directions for use are displayed. But just looking at the presets and playing with changing them is a good way to learn what the multiband comp does.

I've always found Steinberg's manuals and help files to be hard to understand. Maybe it's because they're translating them from German. Keep in mind too that verbiage about ratios and thresholds and the like won't really mean anything to you until you get a feel for how their settings affect the sound. So just play with it.

Tim

 

[ecktronic]

Cheers Tim. Seems like not the best plugin control wise, but could just be me needing to get used to the graphical representation.

 

[XLR]

You should really give the Waves Linear multiband, or the C4 multiband comp a try. Fully functional demos good for a couple weeks. I use the Linear multi and the graphics clearly represent the levels and what you're doing to them with the comp - I mean the visuals correspond to how it actually sounds.

For less $, the Izotope Ozone multiband sounds good if used with finesse, and is good for learning how one works, as it shows gain reduction along with everything else. They've got an excellent pdf tutorial that's free that you should look over, whatever you use.

Oh, almost forgot the freeware multiband comp by "slim slow slider". It's amazingly good sounding if you use the linear phase filter option, and it's visually very clear and simple.

Good luck,
Tim