So, basically just multiband compression.

 

for me, it depends on audio source,
(heavy-handed) EQ can do wonders on basically every musical instrument,
compressors are mostly useful on uneven performances and inconsistent sources like human voice,
as I mostly do drums, I'd say EQ and comp is equally important for proper modern sound

 

thanks stevie

you mean that CLA has his PULTECs before the RED7 compressor on his stereo buss?
I was pretty sure his stereo buss chain is
-SSL bus compressor (1dB of compression or less)
-RED7 2-3 dBs
-then PULTECs with that 5-6dB boost on low end

can you confirm or maybe I am wrong?

 

The Pultec is after the compressor and you're correct with the order and low end boost. He choose between the SSL Bus & Focusrite Red depends on the song. The Pultec is on from the beginning of the mix, that low end boost, if you gain match it, you'll endup with darker sounding mix, then the 8kHz boost fiesta begins on individual channels on the console to get a good balance. So technically the Bus compressor didn't "hear" the Pultec low end boost because it is placed after compressor, same goes to every compressor in his mix that mostly placed after the EQ where he boost that 8kHz. He'll try to get a good balance like usual, but what's going on during the mix is a overly bright mix which compensated with the Pultec at the end so everything sound balanced and normal on the monitoring. Every compressor (all those 1176s, Distressor, LA2As) will hear the sound that's overly bright and react to it accordingly, so low end play no part in the detection (and not getting compressed because it's only the high end that's been triggering the compressor) if it makes any sense. When he's compressing hard, he's actually compressing the high-end of the track hard. In one of his videos, he said he never like compressed low end sound and it reflects on all of his mix.

@patatern just want to add that I have tried the Focusrite Red style on the TBTech Cenozoix and quite like it, give it a try and see if you like it. Now you can even mix and match different emulated saturation in the plugin, really like that plugin.

Also CLA SSL style bus compression is more to compress the "meat" of the track rather than peak. rat 4, att 10, rel Auto push until the low mid feels tight. CLA admits he copied this from Bob Clearmountain when he saw him mix once. The meter usually hit 4db GR or more and the total real gain reduction is 2.5db (for make up) considering it is a FB style. It will feel like a lot of compression if you add the plugin after the mix (not recommended), but when you are mixing with it is on, it's tight af. The setting is tailored for mixing with G Bus ON all the time with 1-2db GR and only push at the end to tighten things up and make everything pop out, so you need to always check on it after you done processing one track and repeat till end. Also if the track has low end sidechain up to 150Hz or else it will pump. Just things to consider.

 

Last edited: May 20, 2024

Hey Stevie, this is amazing info! I’ve already tried the compressor trick, using a variety of Nebula and AA compressors. I haven’t quite figured out the perfect blend yet, but the results are almost immediately noticeable. It’s quite easy to colour and control the main vocal now, and then add back in to taste. There’s a definite de-resonance to it. The best way I can describe it is intimate. There’s a thickness, smoothness and creaminess, but the high end is like stained glass, letting in light and variety of colours.

I will definitely try out the SSL and Pultec technique as well. When you say the early MWTM series, do you mean through their subscription service. I was only able to find newer stuff on the sister site.

 

Glad you're enjoying it and manage to get good result.

About the MWTM & Puremix, you can check the russian tracker, the whole catalog is there, someone just updated it.

 

Here's the plugin list included with the "evolution" video. It's probably different by now, but still gives a good idea of what is in the template. I wish every video came with this information. It leaves out his Binson hw.

Michael Brauer Temple Plugin List

Acustica Pensado EQ2
Audio Ease Altiverb 7
A.O.M Plugins Invisible Limiter
Craddle The God Particle
DDMF Magic Death Eye Compressor
Fuse Audio Labs VCL-864U
Kazrog True Dynamics
Komeff Audio Pawn Shop Comp 2
Kush Pusher
Kush Goldplate
McDSP EC300
Pulsar Echorec
Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack
Slate Digital VerbSuite Classics
Sonnox Oxford Dynamics Comp/Lim
Avid Trim
Fabfilter Pro-Q3
IK Multimedia Sunset Sound Studio Reverb
PSP Spring Box
PSP Lexicon PSP42
PSP Vintage Warmer 2
Plugin Alliance SPL De-Esser
Plugin Alliance Black Box Analog Design HG-2
Plugin Alliance Maag EQ4
Plugin Alliance Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor
Plugin Alliance Shadow Hill MAstering Compressor Class A
Plugin Alliance bx_console SSL 4000E
Plugin Alliance bx_console SSL 9000J
Plugin Alliance bx_digital V3
Process.audio Decibel
Softube Chandler Limited Curve Bender
Softube Summit Audio TLA-100A
Softube Chandler Limited Germanium
Softube Tube-Tech EQ
Slate Digital Trigger 2
UAD Korg SSD-3000
UAD Manley Variable Mu
UAD Distressor
UAD Hitsville EQ Mastering
UAD EP-34 Tape Echo
UAD Neve 33609
UAD AKG BX20
UAD Struder A800
UAD EMT 140
UAD Capital Chambers
UAD Precision K-Stereo
UAD Studio D Chorus
UAD Pultex EQP-1A
UAD Avalon VT-737sp
UAD Manley VoxBox
UAD Ampex ATR-102
UAD UA 1176 Rev A
UAD Fairchild 670
UAD UA 1176LN Rev E
UAD Fairchild 660
UAD SSL G Bus Compressor
UAD Oxford Inflator
UAD Oxford Envolution
UAD Zener Limiter
Waves Kaleidoscopes
Waves Brauer Motion
Waves dbx-160
Waves H-Delay
Waves NLS Channel
Waves Manny Marroquin Reverb
Waves Abby Road Plates
Waves REDD17
Waves REDD37-51
Waves REQ 4
Waves RD56
Waves S1 Shuffler
Waves Smack Attack

 

oh ok now I understand what you meant

thats what I learned watching his MWTM videos or other tutorials flying around, and I have the same concept on the stereo buss with that Pultec setting from the beginning, obviously. The different chain "EQs into compressor" is on the console channels, with CLA's legendary boosts at 8kHz or 12dbs ad 12kHz lol almost impossible to clone as it is in digital imho, but I copied this concept years ago and I still use it very often.

 

* I updated the post above about CLA.

Yeah that 12db boost seems ridiculous that's why I try to find how and why and after watching I think 5 of his videos repeatedly, I figured it out. LOL. He's gatekeeping that trick hard that guy.

 

I have few fears on my life and this CLA 12db parallel boost at the high end into a compressor is one of them...

 

here you go


he has 2 couples of Pultecs probably because he tries 2 different settings of the 3kHz bost: first couple at around +3 and second couple at +5, the +5 at 70Hz is the same on all the units