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Post your own Tips and Tricks here
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Joined: May 2000
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Not sure I qualify as one of the experts, but yes Warren, it is OK to see the signal getting limited (by the clip part of the meter).
This lets you know the signal crossed the threshold and is getting compressed.
Classic Compressor and some others use a simple light that turns on when the signal crosses the threshold and starts to get compressed .. PGDynamics does this in the meter display, which is pretty cool because you get a better visual representation of the compressors affect.
If you play the track and turn the Threshold down you will see it happen much more (the signal getting compressed), if you turn the Threshold all the way up it will do this much less.
In hindsight they should have used a different label than 'Clip' but I think you understand it's intent; it shows how much compression is taking place. I'm not sure what a better label would be, but Clip is misleading; it's simply showing the signal crossed the compressor threshold and is now being compressed and how much it is being compressed.
Yes it's different than most, but except for the label is a nice feature. You have to get used to the downward meter movement showing the compression, but at least it is there to see.
The amount of change that happens once it DOES cross the threshold is in the Ratio control.
Again, tinkering with this in combination with the threshold will make that clip meter behave differently (compress it more or less once it does cross that threshold).
Of course the attack and release are simply how fast it reacts initially and then how fast it lets go of any signal that did cross the threshold.
I still think, to this day, that a facelift of many of these PGPlugins would go a long way, even though the core performance hasn't changed in years. They do what they do, but they could look a lot better with minimal effort.
My bigger complaint is that the Parametric EQ never got converted to a DX (realtime) plugin and is only available as a hard write effect. Not sure why that one got abandoned .. there are plenty of other free options, but it was weird to me that they left this one plugin behind when they made the rest realtime.
Last edited by rharv; 07/16/18 01:43 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Post your own Tips and Tricks here
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 201
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rharv, you are an expert in my book. That's super helpful just knowing that clipping doesn't mean signal is being clipped but rather compressed. Any comment as to what the left and right boxes are saying when they light, and especially stay lit, in addition to the downward meter?
I'd say as a general guide, turn Threshold down until the loudest part of the track lights up the meter. I think it's OK to have Auto Gain enabled but then dial it back only as needed to make up for volume loss. Start with 2:1 or 3:1 ratios. Attack and Release are much trickier to determine but both can be slower when used for levellng out a tracks overall volume. Thanks rharv!
Best, Warren
Warren A. Keller- Woodwindist/Producer
Spontaneous Groovin' Combustion
Tune 9 Music- SESAC
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Post your own Tips and Tricks here
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Joined: May 2000
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Any comment as to what the left and right boxes are saying when they light, and especially stay lit, in addition to the downward meter? L/R are the true output of the effect back into the mix(er) I think. If your AutoGain is driving these into the red at the Track level, I'd probably want to over ride the AutoGain setting and turn down. This means that even after compressing (squishing) the signal the signal is still leaving that plugin too loud. Make up that volume difference further down the chain if needed; you don't want to risk distortion at this point. Boost that same track further down the line instead; like Track Volume .. I try to get the out signal on the L/R of this plugin peaking about -6 to -3. If the light above the L/R meters are lighting up (clipping) you are assuming certain risks (distortion or thwack), some of which may not show up until later in the process (like mastering). Keep those signals under strict control. Working on a mix, always leave headroom and don't push signals too hard at this stage. Gain Staging and Headroom are key ingredients at this point.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Joined: Jul 2017
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That's brilliant rharv, with that explanation I get the whole picture! I've noticed that although the Auto Gain is linked to Threshold, you can turn the gain down even when the automatic box is checked. Nothing important, obviously one can get best control working the two dials independently.
So in a nutshell, the downward directed, central red meter is a good thing as it indicates that the threshold has been exceeded and the compressor is working. When the L & R boxes up top light red, that's a bad thing as they show the output is too hot. From that point you can simply push the levels slider in the channel strip if necessary.
Your post should have a way to be highlighted as there's virtually no good information prior to this on the plugin's usage. Congratulations! Believe it or not, my intuition led me down this same path, but now I know why with confidence!
Best, Warren
Warren A. Keller- Woodwindist/Producer
Spontaneous Groovin' Combustion
Tune 9 Music- SESAC
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I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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