Subject:Mastering w/ Wave Hammer

Posted by: Love Buzz

Date:7/31/2006 12:42:10 PM

Hello all.

I have Sonar and ACID Pro and usually record in Sonar. When I have mixed down my recording I bring it into SF to master it.

The only FX that I have found that has decent compression is Wave Hammer. I generally use Wave Hammer within Sonar to really bring out vocals, drums, guitars, etc.

However, I like to add compression to the entire mixed project in SF. @ times Wave Hammer/Smooth Compression makes the drums sound almost like it's adding noise gate. The drums and @ times other tracks sound a bit diminished.

Any ideas of a better way to add compression to avoid any clipping & still 'balance out' all of the instruments for a high quality end product?

Thanks.

Subject:RE: Mastering w/ Wave Hammer

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:7/31/2006 5:11:02 PM

Have you tried twiddling the settings for the exact effect you want ? or just teh presets ?

geoff

Subject:RE: Mastering w/ Wave Hammer

Reply by: BradlyMusic

Date:8/1/2006 8:03:18 AM

What you need is a multiband compressor. The Sound Forge Multiband Dynamics would be a good starting point. Goto Effects>Dynamics>Multiband in Forge. Other third party plugins like Izotope's Ozone is probably a better option. The problem you're explaining is pretty typical when you are trying to over compress an entire mix. Usually Mid frequency ranges can be heavily compressed without much noticeable side effects, while higher frequencies when heavily compressed will sound pretty bad, and Low frequencies are somewhere inbetween as far as the amount of compression that can be applied.

This is why you need to use a multi-band compressor so that you don't over compress the higher and lower frequency ranges. A normal compressor does not compress the different frequency ranges differently. Wavehammer is not a multiband compressor.

Subject:RE: Mastering w/ Wave Hammer

Reply by: leedsquietman

Date:8/1/2006 6:50:11 PM

What you have to remember is that Soundforge is a good tool for editing and mastering but it's plug-ins while being functional and useable to a point, are not going to compare with UAD-1 or Waves plug-ins costing hundreds (and thousands) of dollars.

You can use many direct x or vst plug-ins from many 3rd party sources, Izotrope Ozone being one example mentioned. You should check with the 3rd party first to ensure it will be compatible as some vst's (particularly those with copyright protection keys etc) are not always compatible.

Wavehammer is mostly viewed as a limiter, although it incorporates a compressor some people often use their own compressor plug-in and bypass wavehammer's compressor. Multi-band compressors can be useful but they also wreck a mix if placed in the hands of a newbie - by all means experiment but multi-band isn't always the answer but they help to correct bad mixes quite a bit if used properly. Wavehammer is actually a pretty decent limiter considering it comes in the box IMHO. But most plug-ins have a specific sound, you could try the free compressor and master limiter from kjaerhus for free (some people like them a lot, I like the compressor better than soundforge's and the limiter is super easy to use but is set to limit at -0.2 db with no variation). Voxengo also make a nice range of compressor, elephant 2 is a popular one.

http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-series.php

see also Tweakheadz labs tips on compression/limiting...
http://www.tweakheadz.com/mastering_your_audio.htm

Subject:RE: Mastering w/ Wave Hammer

Reply by: Love Buzz

Date:8/3/2006 11:31:25 AM

Thanks for the responses and links.

What about using an effect like Wave Hammer on each track? There are presets for Voice, Drums, Bass, and Guitar. I haven't tried that. I like the fact that Wave Hammer really gives the song some umph.

Thanks again.

Subject:RE: Mastering w/ Wave Hammer

Reply by: vespesian

Date:8/5/2006 7:51:03 AM

Cheap trick...try using some dense reverb, with low/small reflections and then using multiband compression....I do this to get crunchy, crisp AND bassy sounds (house tracks).

Subject:RE: Mastering w/ Wave Hammer

Reply by: JeffreyPFisher

Date:8/19/2006 8:55:52 PM

Nothing wrong with using WaveHammer on tracks. I like Ozone for mastering along with the UAD plug-ins, too. Check out the Katz book Mastering Audio for great insight!

JPF

Subject:RE: Mastering w/ Wave Hammer

Reply by: danika

Date:9/2/2006 11:36:57 PM

If you already have Sonar, you can't do any better than the Sonitus:fx Multiband Compressor/Limiter.