MOTU Spatial Maximizer presets

[Tripi]

I'm really interested in trying to incorporate the S.M. plugin in my mixes, but I'm a little lost on where to start. There aren't any presets to see how it's intended to be used, or how it could sound. I understand what Mid/Side processing does, and why you would use it. Guess the interface isn't the most intuitive one. Does any one have any suggestions, or presets they would be willing to share?

Thanks!

[MIDI Life Crisis]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ejvH_n4wk

[FMiguelez]

Tripi, the other day I used it for the first time, and it's really cool and intuitive, especially if you are already familiar with the Dynamic EQ MOTU plugin (the new one that looks very similar).

This is the kind of plugin where presets aren't particularly useful, since it's too program-dependent.

I used it to tame some annoying frequencies that were bothering me from a loop I was using. It was a bass groove with some nice percussion stuff (very stereo, coming from "the sides"), but some if it was killing my ears if I applied distortion.

So after a 2 minute glance at the manual, I soloed the side part of the signal, dynamically compressed the offending frequencies, and marvelled at how little it affected the meat of the audio (the bass), while getting rid of the annoying stuff that was in the sides.
Then I made it more solid by working on the Mid signal, where I managed to make the bass more focused and centred and powerful.
It really worked!

There are a couple of parameters that I'm not sure how they work (Minimum Gain), and the manual is useless for those parameters, since it's a one-sentence explanation that is not clear, at least to me.

You already know the concept behind M-S, so you probably should just jump to it and experiment for an hour or so with different material, including loops and full mixes.
I think it is VERY USEFUL once one gets the handle of it.


What the hell happened to my iguana avatar anyway ?!?!? First it appeared distorted, and now it's gone

[FMiguelez]

BTW, in the Dynamic EQ section of the plugin, be careful with how much you reduce the gain of the bands. It's too easy to exaggerate them if you view the the graphic with a 24 dB scale. I recommend you put it in 12 or 6 dB scale, so you really see how much dynamic gain reduction you are applying.
If something starts sounding weird, that´s the first place I´d look...

[MIDI Life Crisis]

What the hell happened to my iguana avatar anyway ?!?!? First it appeared distorted, and now it's gone

The dingos ate your avatar...

[mikehalloran]

What the hell happened to my iguana avatar anyway ?!?!? First it appeared distorted, and now it's gone

When that happened to me awhile back, I had to open my control panel and re-link to the image on the host. Something hiccupped and the server link had changed.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

What the hell happened to my iguana avatar anyway ?!?!? First it appeared distorted, and now it's gone

When that happened to me awhile back, I had to open my control panel and re-link to the image on the host. Something hiccupped and the server link had changed.

I prefer my dingo theory.

[mikehalloran]

I prefer my dingo theory.

I agree. It's a grand theory.

[Rick Cornish]

Tripi, check out this article from SOS…
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep13/a ... ?print=yes

It is an excellent walk-through of the SM (and Ensemble Chorus). The reviewer also provides a link to download a few presets he created for the Ensemble Chorus, but alas, nothing for SM. Still, a good read.

Cheers......

[FMiguelez]

I prefer my dingo theory.

I agree. It's a grand theory.

Yeah. Something happened to the picture host... I'll have to find a reliable one.

[Tripi]

Cool. Thank you for the tips and the SOS link. I get that magazine every month, but it drives me crazy how they never talk about DP. They reviewed DP9... but that was it.

Anyways, experimenting is about to begin.

thanks!

[monkey man]

What the hell happened to my iguana avatar anyway ?!?!? First it appeared distorted, and now it's gone

The dingos ate your avatar...

Perfect Aussie joke.

Wuddun, Magilla!

[billf]

I'm really interested in trying to incorporate the S.M. plugin in my mixes, but I'm a little lost on where to start. There aren't any presets to see how it's intended to be used, or how it could sound. I understand what Mid/Side processing does, and why you would use it. Guess the interface isn't the most intuitive one. Does any one have any suggestions, or presets they would be willing to share?

Thanks!

Here is a post from Magic Dave from a few years ago:

http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... 78#p473845

Postby magicd » Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:29 am
Working ok for me. You have three controls: Frequency, Drive, and Blend.

What this circuit does is add harmonic distortion. When applied to bass frequencies, the harmonics will enhance perceived bass response on smaller speakers.

Start with the Blend control. All the way counterclockwise turns the effect off. To really hear what it's doing, turn the Blend fully clockwise.

Drive determines how much harmonic distortion is created. Frequency determines the low pass cutoff point for the distortion. If you crank the Drive and raise the Frequency you will most certainly hear the effect.

Dave

[Shooshie]

What the hell happened to my iguana avatar anyway ?!?!? First it appeared distorted, and now it's gone

The dingos ate your avatar...

Perfect Aussie joke.

Wuddun, Magilla!

Over here on this side of the pond, it's a Seinfeld joke. An irritated Elaine said it to an irritating woman to sound as if she were a demented Aussie, I suppose. Which makes it an Aussie joke, once removed.

Shoosh

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Well I'm used to my jokes being once removed. Repeatedly.