Remember seeing this when it came out. Just worked on a mix/master on -9LUFS and lost all my transients and impact. Rewatched this an made it work so much better. The Pro L 2 limiting mode I used initially took away all transients I added, so I had to scroll through a few different modes to find one that reduced this effect. Also dialing in my compressors to let more attack through really helped. Without limiter you'd feel like you're adding way too much, but the limiter smooths it out again. Quite remarkable how "unlimited" you can make it sound with this strat. Thanks Dave!
It just dawned on me why there are only 147 likes or dislikes. I haven't clicked on like but I have watched video after video of Pensado's Place for hours. I wish I were in my studio right now. Dave always inspires me. Like or dislikes mean nothing when you are too captivated to remember to click any button except the next video.
Thanks, as always, Dave! I've been spending a LOT of time playing with the impact of transients and getting (and keeping them) through the final mix, and your videos have been extremely helpful, fun, and just plain enjoyable. You're doing a great service to us all, so thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you very much! I'm not sure I've got it. So first I pass thru a transient "enhancer" then thru a compressor then sent it to the limiter. Weird. I thought that I should pass thru a hard clipper to low those spikes before the limiter...
Wouldn't beefing up the transients before going into the compressor just make the compressor clamp down harder? Or is that why you set a slower attack time so the peaks can come thru?
I've been using a technique almost identical to this for almost a decade now, it works really well (most of the time). Interestingly, I think Steven Slate's limiter plugin has a technique very similar to this built into the algorithm.
Thank you sir. Very helpful. But what I really want to know is: where can I buy those Chrome Tube 2000 Speaker stands for the NS10's/Auratones?? I'm sure if I get a set of those I'll be able to mix just as well as you do! He he he.
A good tip is to use stuff like Slate digital or L2 without it being distorted and then put a DSM to max out the volume even more (like 2db). Sounds amazing that way.
so basically keep the transient loud as possible by doing non-destrcutive limiting & compression. aka fast attack and customise your release to sound natural. : )
Dave, Is all of your mixing ITB? What is your philosophy when it comes to mixing ITB? Is there anything that young engineers should be aware of when it comes to mixing ITB? Thanks!
Dave, did you had a chance to try Plugin Aliance Dynamic Spectrum Mapper? It's a very interesting compressor with a limiting option. I've stop using any other limiter plugin after I've tried DSM. Cheers!
very curious on crossing 0 the only way to do so is to NOT use a limiter ? if your ceiling is set at 0 or -0.2 you cant cross 0 so are these mastering engineers not using limiters when doing so?
Maybe clip the transients on the track then drive them with the transient designer on the buss then into another compressor or limiter? I think Dave's philosophy of compressing in stages would apply here. Just m 2 cents. As always, depends on the song.
Wave shaping creates distortion, using a TD before the limiter is not a good way to try to enhance transients that are squashed by heavy limiting. The right algo - and use - of saturation will do the job much better, increasing the perception of the transients and lowering their level at the same time. This way there's LESS gain reduction from the limiter, not more
I don't get it... if I'm mixing some fast hard rock and I run a transient designer before my master ssl comp it will pump like crazy! I see people doing exactly the opposite, like clipping the snare transients so they don't drive the compressor too hard! Damn I'm confused :)
terribly explained video guess you're using a transient shaper to do what the tin says - shape transients, but was the compressor doing the same thing or was it part of the process? you need to explain exactly what's happening in a tutorial for us mere mortals.
ye sperhaps th eexplanation of the fundemental principle of not haring a transient would be good but it is what it is and me n you know what he's talkin about ! he x
@Michael Heslop. Do you think starting your comments off so negatively on top of using poor grammar and punctuation will help get you the information you're looking for? Do you know who this is? I think you probably do. And if you do, it boggles my mind why you would be so disrespectful to one of the greatest mixing engineers of all time. Dave Pensado is not a professional television personality, teacher or performer. The guy is a brilliant mixing engineer and has been explaining things to us for years to the best of his abilities each time. We should all feel so blessed he has even shown his face on camera more than once. If you have a question, just ask - nicely. Try it out a few times and let us know which approach is working out better for you. Wishing you the best Michael.
Dave is a god! I am thankful everyday that this man is willing to bestow his knowledge for free!
Amen.
Remember seeing this when it came out. Just worked on a mix/master on -9LUFS and lost all my transients and impact. Rewatched this an made it work so much better. The Pro L 2 limiting mode I used initially took away all transients I added, so I had to scroll through a few different modes to find one that reduced this effect. Also dialing in my compressors to let more attack through really helped. Without limiter you'd feel like you're adding way too much, but the limiter smooths it out again. Quite remarkable how "unlimited" you can make it sound with this strat. Thanks Dave!
you are great Dave... and your humbleness make you also better. we love you Dave.
It just dawned on me why there are only 147 likes or dislikes. I haven't clicked on like but I have watched video after video of Pensado's Place for hours. I wish I were in my studio right now. Dave always inspires me. Like or dislikes mean nothing when you are too captivated to remember to click any button except the next video.
Thanks, as always, Dave! I've been spending a LOT of time playing with the impact of transients and getting (and keeping them) through the final mix, and your videos have been extremely helpful, fun, and just plain enjoyable. You're doing a great service to us all, so thank you, thank you, thank you.
Makes me feel smart knowing Dave uses plugins like bittersweet when I've been using them all along...
I agree! I use Waves multiband Limiter (LL3-multi) to get everything more upfornt and then use DSM to bring it up even more, as you described.
the idea is to exaggerate the transient level (with saturation/compression) before it gets squashed by the limiter
Great stuff Dave!!
Thank you very much!
I'm not sure I've got it.
So first I pass thru a transient "enhancer" then thru a compressor then sent it to the limiter.
Weird.
I thought that I should pass thru a hard clipper to low those spikes before the limiter...
Thank you Dave! 🎶
Thank you so much for sharing all this.
Wouldn't beefing up the transients before going into the compressor just make the compressor clamp down harder? Or is that why you set a slower attack time so the peaks can come thru?
Someone answer this!
The peak of the transient will have more duration even if the compressor is clamping down harder. Sorry I’m a year late
Thanks for the info.
I've been using a technique almost identical to this for almost a decade now, it works really well (most of the time). Interestingly, I think Steven Slate's limiter plugin has a technique very similar to this built into the algorithm.
Thank you sir. Very helpful. But what I really want to know is: where can I buy those Chrome Tube 2000 Speaker stands for the NS10's/Auratones?? I'm sure if I get a set of those I'll be able to mix just as well as you do! He he he.
A good tip is to use stuff like Slate digital or L2 without it being distorted and then put a DSM to max out the volume even more (like 2db). Sounds amazing that way.
so basically keep the transient loud as possible by doing non-destrcutive limiting & compression. aka fast attack and customise your release to sound natural. : )
Dave,
Is all of your mixing ITB? What is your philosophy when it comes to mixing ITB? Is there anything that young engineers should be aware of when it comes to mixing ITB? Thanks!
Thanks Dave, I like the Bitter Sweet plug by Flux too, great bit of kit. Fanatstic insight, as always. Somehow I missed this.
Flux Bittersweet is free now
Would you use this on a master or just in the mix
Dave, did you had a chance to try Plugin Aliance Dynamic Spectrum Mapper? It's a very interesting compressor with a limiting option.
I've stop using any other limiter plugin after I've tried DSM.
Cheers!
great!
I have a similar CLOCK!!! reminder in the studio I record at too. Exactly the reason apag78 suggests.
is this the same as using upward compression with a gate?
very curious on crossing 0 the only way to do so is to NOT use a limiter ? if your ceiling is set at 0 or -0.2 you cant cross 0 so are these mastering engineers not using limiters when doing so?
You can use a limiter to squash the transients and another gain plugin after the limiter to go over 0.
U can use a maximizer
Maybe clip the transients on the track then drive them with the transient designer on the buss then into another compressor or limiter? I think Dave's philosophy of compressing in stages would apply here. Just m 2 cents. As always, depends on the song.
Exactly!
It’s leaking on your drum bus with ssl but not on your mixbus how so?
Are you adding the Flux before the Compressor?
the ghost snare sounds too loud because of the low freq on the main snare, maybe multi-band would be better?
EQ it in such case.
Wave shaping creates distortion, using a TD before the limiter
is not a good way to try to enhance transients that are squashed by
heavy limiting.
The right algo - and use - of saturation will do the job much better,
increasing the perception of the transients and lowering their level
at the same time. This way there's LESS gain reduction from the limiter,
not more
Correct
I don't get it... if I'm mixing some fast hard rock and I run a transient designer before my master ssl comp it will pump like crazy! I see people doing exactly the opposite, like clipping the snare transients so they don't drive the compressor too hard! Damn I'm confused :)
Yes it does
Bittersweet is free now!
What are your favourite Flux:: plugins?
what about TD into sat into limiter, moderate amounts of each?
That second snare has an irritating freq dave!
Don Jello Seriously! It sounds like a clap with a transient spike around 14khz 🥴
6W damn really, 14K? Have you heard a transient at 14 K?
You say some can cross 0 and get away with it but you can't. My question is, why does it matter?
mm but saturation adds compression
It’s different tho
anyone shot out flux with SPL transient shaper?
=D
terribly explained video
guess you're using a transient shaper to do what the tin says - shape transients, but was the compressor doing the same thing or was it part of the process? you need to explain exactly what's happening in a tutorial for us mere mortals.
ye sperhaps th eexplanation of the fundemental principle of not haring a transient would be good but it is what it is and me n you know what he's talkin about ! he x
@Michael Heslop. Do you think starting your comments off so negatively on top of using poor grammar and punctuation will help get you the information you're looking for? Do you know who this is? I think you probably do. And if you do, it boggles my mind why you would be so disrespectful to one of the greatest mixing engineers of all time. Dave Pensado is not a professional television personality, teacher or performer. The guy is a brilliant mixing engineer and has been explaining things to us for years to the best of his abilities each time. We should all feel so blessed he has even shown his face on camera more than once. If you have a question, just ask - nicely. Try it out a few times and let us know which approach is working out better for you. Wishing you the best Michael.
Mix much ?
Do not blaspheme the great Dave Pensado. Shhhh. We don’t want to hear your nonsense