"lookahead" compressor / dynamics tool ?

Discussion in 'Working with Sound' started by flworius, Oct 10, 2016.

  1. flworius

    flworius Member

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    great explanation.png
    If i have a lets say snare track where some strokes are too loud, is there a tool that look ahead when those peaks occur and levels down the WHOLE signal, not only everythin above the threshold ?
    Like if signal above xx, gain down everything, starting from 0db, dont push the transients into the sustain/whole signal, insteadadjust the whole signal down.

    Made a great paint for further explanation ^^.
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2016
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  3. jayxflash

    jayxflash Guest

    Many compressors have a lookahead function (FabFilter Pro-C for example). But to achieve what you describe, try a simple increase of the release time.
    You can also experiment with chaining with 2-3 compressors each shaving just a tiny bit of the peaks. You can also try https://www.soundradix.com/products/drum-leveler/ . And you can simply clip the peaks - I bet you can shave 4-5 dB of the peaks without noticing any change in the sound.
    Finally, if everything fails, draw gain automation on your track.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 10, 2016
  4. flworius

    flworius Member

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  5. Backtired

    Backtired Audiosexual

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    Maybe it's a bit off topic, but why a transient shaper wouldn't work here?
    EDIT: Nevermind I'm retarded
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2016
  6. SyNtH.

    SyNtH. Platinum Record

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    I think an autogain plugin/ drum leveller with lookahead is the best solution. Basically instead of compression, you are just applying the gain reduction at some threshold so nothing is squashed, just the transient is kept in. Also this will ensure loudness consistency but would come at a cost to "reality" of playing the drums. surely you would want them to stay dynamic, unless the difference between quiet hits and loud hits is so drastically different, in that case i would use a dynamic multiband EQ/Comp.
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2016
  7. rhythmatist

    rhythmatist Audiosexual

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    I have not tried this, but couldn't you use parallel compression? Make two identical tracks. Let the peaks from one one track/copy channel trigger a parallel compressor for the other track/channel. You should be able to set the so the threshold setting on the 1st runs the compressor for the copy.
    when you play back, you just monitor the second and record or apply that compression.
     
  8. n0xin

    n0xin Rock Star

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    for that you will need "gain/fader riding" instead compression! :winker:
     
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