Parallel Compression

[richardein]

Anyone doing parallel compression here? What compressors are you using? I tried it with the Masterworks Limiter and got what I think were phasing problems. Any tips?

[Shooshie]

Anyone doing parallel compression here? What compressors are you using? I tried it with the Masterworks Limiter and got what I think were phasing problems. Any tips?

Parallel compression with a look-ahead compressor/limiter will definitely get you phase problems. Within MOTU's plugin delay compensation, look-ahead limiters will typically stake out about 80ms of time before the sequence even begins. You're asking it to compensate for the same track twice, and that is most likely going to lead to problems. It may work better if you duplicate the track and try blending those after the plugins. That's just an idea; I don't know if it works.

Maybe someone here does parallel compression all the time and can offer better advice. I'm just saying that I'd expect this to be a technical problem, and if there is a solution I wouldn't expect it to be extremely simple.

Good to see you, Richard. Been a while!

Shooshie

[mikehalloran]

When I read the OP, my thought was how could you not?

[Dan Worley]

Many compressor plug-ins now have parallel compression built in, you just adjust a wet/dry control to balance it the way you want.

But if you don't have that, or want more control, parallel compression in DP is easy.

I'll use a stereo instance as an example.

- Assign the source tracks to a stereo bus (bus 1-2).
- Create two Aux Tracks and assign bus 1-2 as their input.
- Insert a compressor on one of the Aux tracks but not on the other one.
- Or, alternatively, insert a compressor on both Aux tracks, compress one lightly and compress the other heavily.

[Shooshie]

Many compressor plug-ins now have parallel compression built in, you just adjust a wet/dry control to balance it the way you want.

But if you don't have that, or want more control, parallel compression in DP is easy.

I'll use a stereo instance as an example.

- Assign the source tracks to a stereo bus (bus 1-2).
- Create two Aux Tracks and assign bus 1-2 as their input.
- Insert a compressor on one of the Aux tracks but not on the other one.
- Or, alternatively, insert a compressor on both Aux tracks, compress one lightly and compress the other heavily.

I used to do that a lot, especially to create fatter bass tracks, but I haven't done it in a long time, and I have forgotten whether auto-delay-compensation takes care of it when you split it across two auxes that way, what with look-ahead processing and all.

There was a time when I knew this, and it seemed like it worked, but then I had some experience with Waves compressors that just didn't want to line up with other Waves compressors in parallel arrangement. THAT, however, was about 4 version numbers ago. Maybe it all works now. Are we beyond those problems?

I've been doing straight-ahead recording/mixing for the past 4 or 5 years, without pushing any envelopes, disk or processor limits, and I am just not comfortable with my memory on all that fancy stuff, now, since it seems like we were still having to work all that stuff out back when I was doing it. So what say you? Will ADC take care of all our parallel aux tracks?

Back to Richard Einhorn, you ought to try Slate Digital's FG/X compressor. Once you figure out how it works (you have to set the working range of each module within it before you start hearing results), it's an amazing tool, and if I recall correctly it offers parallel wet/dry processing.

Shoosh

[Dan Worley]

So what say you? Will ADC take care of all our parallel aux tracks?

I use Parallel compression in most of my projects, and I almost never have a problem with phasing. I say almost, because once in a great while (like two or three times a year, probably), DP's ADC will get confused and things will not line up, but a reboot takes care of it. There is always a chance that some lone plug-in will cause trouble, but I can't even remember the last time that has happened.

I say go for it.

[richardein]

Shooshie, Thanks for the tip on the Slate compressor.

Dan, what compressor do you use that does not - or rarely- creates a phase problem?

[buzzsmith]

Am I remembering correctly that the FG-X is still 32 bit?

Grazie...

Buzzy

[Kurt Cowling]

The various compressors from PSP all have mix knobs for parallel processing. Vintage Warmer 2 on drums works great in this application!

[Tobor]

Am I remembering correctly that the FG-X is still 32 bit?

Grazie...

Buzzy

Still 32 bit and almost August.

[Killahurts]

Seems like this would do the trick perfectly, and it woks with DP's ADC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JjAWGsx ... f&index=46

I've not used it for parallel compression, but I have used it in the primary application, lining up mics. It gives you tremendously precise control over the phase relationship, and it won't affect the tones.. plus, you already have it!

[Dan Worley]

Dan, what compressor do you use that does not - or rarely- creates a phase problem?

Gee, uh, let's see:

* = has built-in parallel control, but I have used them routed as described.

- Fab Filter Pro C*

- Klanghelm DC8C*

- Kush Audio UBK1*

- NI Vintage Compressors (I use the old versions through Guitar Rig because I can't get the new ones to activate, neither can NI. I think (though not sure) the newer versions, which are independent of GR, have built-in parallel compression.)

- Any of the Nomad compressors, but I don't remember if I've used any as of late.

- Some IK stuff (but because of the way they do the Custom Shop, and how all the plug-ins show up in the plug-in menu whether they're licensed or not, I forget what I have licensed, so I tend not to use them anymore. It's irritating.

- PSP OldTimer

- Tokyo Dawn Labs Feedback Compressor* (freeware)

Note: I don't use DP's Dynamics or MW Compressor.

I really haven't had any trouble with parallel compression within DP. I mix a lot of funk and jazz, so if it's not dead on, I'd be fired, not that it would be tolerated in any other genre.

Hope this helps.

Edit: Tokyo Dawn Labs Feedback Compressor II does have Wet/Dry. Pick it up, it's free.

[richardein]

Thanks, killahurts, that looks like it could be very helpful

[Dan Worley]

I just quickly tested the MW Compressor in parallel. It causes phasing, probably (not sure) because it's multiband, which isn't a good choice for parallel compression anyway.

The DP's Dynamics plug-in seems to be okay, even when tweaking the attack and release.

MW Limiter (which you said you used) causes phasing, especially after changing the lookahead and release times. But I don't know why you'd use the MW Limiter for parallel compression.

[bayswater]

Isn't that because the MW is meant to be used on the master channel?