MOTUnation.com

Is anyone else having trouble using the stock dynamics plugs in DP. When I try to use either the Masterworks compressor on a mix or the dynamics plugin on a single track I get extremely un-useful "pumping and sweating". Even with the compressor set to 1.25:1 it pumps even with low threshold. What am I doing wrong or do I need to buy some plugs? Thanks, Bruce J.

Try the compressor in the preamp plug. It's better. Bypass everything but the compressor.

I agree with the above post. The MW compressor and MW limiter are not very good.

Check out PSP's MixPack, it features several good compressors with an an analog tape flavor. I use these quite a lot:

http://www.pspaudioware.com

For a little more than the MixPack you can get PSP's VintageWarmer which is a GREAT compressor and analog tape saturation emulator/eq.

The Waves Musicians Bundle features an excellent compressor, and again it is relatively low-cost.

Well, that's what I thought, the MAS plugs suck. I have used the Renaissance compressor and it is my all time favorite, so smooth, but I don't have it on my MAC. Here is what I am thinking, I think I would like the Wavearts Trackplug since it is easy on the CPU since I only have a G4 733. Also, I would get a gate and EQ to boot. Then, later, I would like to get the PSP Vintage Warmer. To me a GREAT compressor is more necessary than a great reverb or anything else for that matter. So compression and EQ, very important to me. You guys seem to like the Trackplug, Is it as great as everybody makes out? I did notice the Waves Musician Bundle II with the RC, very tempting. Thanks, Bruce J

Well, not ALL of DP's MOTU plugs suck. The Echo and Delay plug-ins sound pretty good to me and I use them a lot, especially Echo which is mono on a mono track or stereo on a stereo track and is useful for vintage echo effects like you might hear on old Led Zeppelin or Elvis records. The beat-synced and note-synced delays work really well. Maybe it's me but PreAmp1 sounds a bit better to me in DP 4.6 than it did in DP 3.11, I don't consider it in the same league with AmpliTube or Guitar Rig but for modern distortion and overdrive effects that you would use on synths or drums or even vocals it works well.

The real unsung gem among all the MOTU plugs is Sonic Modulator. It's a great sound design tool, not as deep as Antares Filter but certainly in the same ballpark. I don't think many people use it because, since it's a mono effect, it's easy to forget that it's available, and you have to use a trial and error approach with it. The results of some work with it can be very very intriguing and unique. Combine Sonic Modulator with the Ring Modulator and you can really get some "special sauce" on a track.

I think people tend to be amazingly lazy regarding plugins.
It's not that difficult to get reasonable results from any Motu plug
if you make even a bit of an effort.
Having said that, I do tend to use them less these days..
(except Sonic Modulator which I still use a fair bit)

sdfalk wrote:I think people tend to be amazingly lazy regarding plugins.
It's not that difficult to get reasonable results from any Motu plug
if you make even a bit of an effort.

But even with a bit of effort, their compressors still bite.

True, the delays sound fine and the reverbs are OK but I really can't believe how bad the compressors are. Nothing subtle there at all. Bruce J

Tim wrote:

sdfalk wrote:I think people tend to be amazingly lazy regarding plugins.
It's not that difficult to get reasonable results from any Motu plug
if you make even a bit of an effort.

But even with a bit of effort, their compressors still bite.

Yeah unfortunaley I'd agree with that.

www.digitalfishphones.com has a free compressor plug called Blockfish that kick righteous ass. Go get it.

Ok, let me chime in here.

I really thought the Masterworks Limiter and Compressors were unusable until I got a demo of them from Magic Dave at the last MacWorld show in Boston. He was getting some great results from them with no pumping or breathing. They are extremely fussy and very unforgiving. I have found that presets are useless with them (which in retrospect only makes sense - every mix has it's own unique demands). But if I spend the time and really think about the material I am applying them to, I can get some great results.

I also like Trackplug and FinalPlug from Wave Arts. I find them much easier to use and very transparent but the more I dig into the MasterWorks MOTU's, I have to say they are edging out in front a little.

Note, I have gotten my best results from the Masterworks by applying automation to them. I vary the Threshold a bit while mixing depending on what's happening sonically.

I also use Waves C1 on individual tracks and for vintage feel, I adore IK Multimedia's T-Racks.

Thom Cox
Boston, MA

dtobocman wrote:www.digitalfishphones.com has a free compressor plug called Blockfish that kick righteous ass. Go get it.

i concur

but the automation is dodgy


waves renaissance comp is great as are the ua comps. psp delay is great. the MW eq is good for surgery but tonally try URS eq. i still think the waves finalizers are the best mastering comps(wavearts seemed nice till i listened back to the mixes after a few weeks) but the more i work in this world the less i like the whole concept. for me, keeping the tracks nice means a good mix. i prefer leaving mastering to people who really do that when necesarry and available. all of this still doesn't answer the question.....is your threshold too low? i've found 4.6 a little quirky. maybe try dumping prefs or shutting off beat detection?

I too have found that the secret to using the MW Master Comp & Limiter is to use automation on the Threshold and create very carefully crafted custom settings for each song I master ( a lot of work).

On another note - does anyone have any experience and/or opinion on the Elemental Audio Mastering plugs?

Thanks,
Ken

Thomboy wrote:Ok, let me chime in here.

I really thought the Masterworks Limiter and Compressors were unusable until I got a demo of them from Magic Dave at the last MacWorld show in Boston. He was getting some great results from them with no pumping or breathing. They are extremely fussy and very unforgiving. I have found that presets are useless with them (which in retrospect only makes sense - every mix has it's own unique demands). But if I spend the time and really think about the material I am applying them to, I can get some great results.

I also like Trackplug and FinalPlug from Wave Arts. I find them much easier to use and very transparent but the more I dig into the MasterWorks MOTU's, I have to say they are edging out in front a little.

Note, I have gotten my best results from the Masterworks by applying automation to them. I vary the Threshold a bit while mixing depending on what's happening sonically.

I also use Waves C1 on individual tracks and for vintage feel, I adore IK Multimedia's T-Racks.

Thom Cox
Boston, MA

Thanks for the perspective.
Obviously I didn't try hard enough.

Any chance you could show us what those presets you gave in Boston are?

I too have found that if you really sit don and tinker with the MW plugs, you can get very good results. It is just a difficult bullet to bite when most of use are used to getting a setting with the turn of a few knobs and viola! Perfect track...

Cheers...