Chapter 10: Beyond Compression
AUDIO FILES -- LINKS -- FURTHER READING
AUDIO FILES (To download all WAV examples at once: 15MB ZIP)
- Dedicated Transient Processing: Here are a couple of contrasting real-world kick-drum processing examples which demonstrate the power of transient-driven dynamics processing. The first is a soft-sounding sample (Ex10.01:WAV/MP3
) which I heavily processed to increase attack and reduce sustain (Ex10.02:WAV/MP3) for this Mix Rescue project. For this Mix Rescue, on the other hand, the original kick-drum sample (Ex10.03:WAV/MP3) was softened and lengthened by reducing the attack and adding sustain (Ex10.04:WAV/MP3). Notice here that some mild distortion has been introduced as well, by virtue of the transient processing attempting to track some of the low-frequency waveform movements, but in practice this caused me no concerns within the context of this mix. One final common application of transient processing is in taking the edge off pick noises on acoustic-guitar recordings. Here's an example to demonstrate how effective this fix it: this is the unprocessed recording (Ex10.05:WAV/MP3), and here's the transient-reduced version (Ex10.06:WAV/MP3). - Tempo-driven Balancing: Here's an example to show how tempo-synchronisation can serve useful mix-balancing purposes. Here is an electric guitar part with lots of recorded-in delay (Ex10.07:WAV/MP3). By synchronising U-He's flexible Uhbik T tremolo plug-in to the project tempo, I can use it to reduce the note sustain between the sixteenth-note picking transients (Ex10.08:WAV/MP3).
- Affordable Expander/Gate Plug-ins: Most DAW systems have some kind of expander or gate built in, but if not then Cockos's freeware ReaGate
is worth consideration, as it's very well-specified. There are also three different expander algorithms lurking amongst the Cockos's freeware ReaJS presets. - Affordable Threshold-independent Transient Processor Plug-ins: Threshold-independent transient processors are getting more popular, but I find that each one has a slightly different sound, so it's worth having access to a few. As far as freeware is concerned, check out Flux's BitterSweet 2
or the Transhape and Transient Controller algorithms in Cockos's freeware ReaJS. Other reasonably-priced options include SPL Transient Designer, Stillwell Audio Transient Monster, Voxengo Transgainer, and Waves TransX. - Affordable Tempo-driven Dynamics Plug-ins: I love U-he's affordable Uhbik-T for tempo-driven dynamics effects, but there's also lots of freeware available, such as MeldaProduction MTremolo, AraldFX StormGate1, Tweakbench Cairo, and Oli Larkin Advanced MIDI Gate and LFO Chopper.
- More Information On Gating: You can read in detail about the theory and practice of gating here and here. The second article also talks about how to use gates to produce tempo-triggered dynamic effects.
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