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A 2 Part Question about the Dynamics Plugin. I'm trying to understand it better

1. As you know, it has four functions. Compressor, Limiter, Expander, Gate.

Do these work individually, or simultaneously? I'd prefer to use the Compressor only, or Limiter only, not both. But, it sounds as though it's continuing to apply both effects when toggling between both.

2. Can this plugin be used for Mastering? My project is simple; 2 acoustic guitars and vocals. Just need to even things out a bit, while keeping some consistent volume and punch to the overall sound. I checked out the MW Compressor (and Limiter ), and there's more bells and whistles in those two, than I'd care to mess with right now. The Dynamics compressor seems more straightforward for what I'm doing. 2:1 ratio.

Thanks.

1. AFAIK, yes only one at a time, as selected.
2. Real mastering is a deep task, for sure. But you can achieve something with a carefully tweaked compressor.
BTW, 2:1 is a ratio you can try, but you could give 1.5:1 a chance also, with a lower threshold. It's my preferred ratio when looking for *non obtrusive* compression.
Different attack time will lead to different results. I mainly go for low ratio and threshold and fast attack and release.

Daniel,

Thanks for clarifying. Since this is the case, I would ‘insert’ the plugin again if I wanted to use another one of the three remaining effects? Not that I need to, in this case. Just asking to understand the usefulness of this plugin better


Thanks also for the ratio tip.

Your compressor setting depends on a) how loud and balanced -- in this case, meaning peaks and whatnot -- the source material is already and b) what your target loudness/balance is. You can achieve a lot of this before even hitting a compressor or limiter just by some judicious volume automation and EQ cutting. For example, if it's just your voice and a guitar, try cutting about 80 Hz off of the vocals. You'll suddenly have fewer peaks, just by virtue of not having competing frequencies going at the same time on both vocals and guitars. The compressor won't have to work as hard and you won't risk getting odd pumping and breathing in your average levels because there won't be those unneeded frequencies.

As for the mastering part, again, it depends on how loud/even you already are and how loud/even you're planning on making it. Why not give MW Leveler a try? That's about as straight-forward a plug as it gets, and a tiny bit goes a long way.

JeffTronics wrote:Daniel,

Thanks for clarifying. Since this is the case, I would ‘insert’ the plugin again if I wanted to use another one of the three remaining effects? Not that I need to, in this case. Just asking to understand the usefulness of this plugin better


Thanks also for the ratio tip.

Yes, you can insert as many instances as you want, until the CPU can't take it anymore and runs away to Acapulco to retire by the beach. Each instance can use a different "face" of the dynamic plugin.