At 7/22/12 02:22 AM, Trampzy wrote:
Who would've thought that a multiband could do SO MUCH?!
I agree. I've just started using multiband compression seriously, and damn, once you know how it works, shit gets good. Here's a handy tip on using iZotope Ozone's multiband compression. Dubspot also has some other youtube vids on Ozone's limiter and harmonic exciter. Really helpful if you don't know much about the software. Hell, I'd probably do one of Dubspot's courses if I had enough money to justify it.
Anyway, back onto multiband compression... Rampant pretty much summed up what a multiband compressor is. I'll give you a tip though: take advantage of the attack and release times... and solo out the bands as you work on them. A nifty trick I've just started doing (kinda similar to that youtube link above), is bussing the drums to multiband compressor, and compressing the low frequencies (20-60hz or thereabouts, whatever sounds good), and applying compressing with a medium attack and release. That way, the low end kick you get out of a sub has a small delay, giving a more full and tidy sound. Of course, this depends on how it sounds with the mix.
Just remember, whenever working with compressors, or anything in music, judge by what you hear, not what you see. Many people may have views such as, to get a professional sound, I must compress this real tight!, and end up compressing more than their ears like it, but because they think having a higher ratio will make their mix sound more pro. That's just one hypothetical example.
Point is, remember that people LISTEN to music - they don't bring out the meters and judge your tracks on the visual data.