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Old 07-23-2015, 02:25 AM   #1
Mind Riot
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Default Dynamic EQs - isn't there some rule against it being this easy?

I've been intrigued by dynamic EQs since I first heard about them, and the different and broader capabilities they offer over multiband compressors, so I've been interested in picking one up for a while. I know there's only a few available out there, and even less that are affordable. I tried out Toneboosters' offering and it was pretty cool, but Melda's Dynamic EQ's greater customization really caught my eye. I've been waiting for it to come around in the rotation of their weekly sales, and last week it finally did, so I snatched it up for a bit over $38, and I consider that an absolute steal for this plug.

I don't know how late I am to the party on this, if I'm like the last one to know, or if there's still a lot of people who aren't familiar with dynamic equalizers and what they can do, but holy crap. The doors it opens in mixing, the problems it allows you to get around so easily that took such complex workarounds before, the totally new creative possibilities it affords, it's just really exciting. It takes a bit to wrap your head around how it works and interacts with everything else at first, but once you really understand it, it almost feels like cheating.

Anyone else taking advantage of these kinds of tools, either Melda's, or Toneboosters', or someone else's? How've you been using it?
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Old 07-23-2015, 02:55 AM   #2
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Yes, TB Flx is awesome indeed.
Dynamic eQ is a secret weapon of choice, when used à propos. I don't use it daily, but it is perfect for fixing issues while mixing.


Last edited by sinkmusic; 07-23-2015 at 12:43 PM.
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Old 07-23-2015, 03:43 AM   #3
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Here's a little known tool that does a great job at narrow band dynamics control (and other things). I use it in mastering quite a bit.

http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php...imiter&id=2105
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Old 07-23-2015, 03:52 AM   #4
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Here's a little known tool that does a great job at narrow band dynamics control (and other things). I use it in mastering quite a bit.

http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php...imiter&id=2105
Oooooooh...cool.

Don't mind if I do.

Thank you. Boy, you're just a font of useful plugs.
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Old 07-23-2015, 04:05 AM   #5
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I love TB FlX and use it a lot.

VladG made one for the KVR Dev Challenge last year. Haven't used it much since I have FlX but it seems pretty awesome and it's free. The interface is a bit eye searing but IIRC it can be skinned.

http://www.kvraudio.com/product/nova-67p-by-vladg-sound
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Old 07-23-2015, 04:41 AM   #6
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Interesting... eye-searing is not at all what I'd call that soft pastel blue with soft gradients and plenty of negative space. :O
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Old 07-23-2015, 05:32 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bladerunner View Post
Here's a little known tool that does a great job at narrow band dynamics control (and other things). I use it in mastering quite a bit.

http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php...imiter&id=2105
Very nice - thanks! wasn't aware of this one.
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Old 07-23-2015, 05:10 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Mind Riot View Post
I've been intrigued by dynamic EQs since I first heard about them, and the different and broader capabilities they offer over multiband compressors, so I've been interested in picking one up for a while. I know there's only a few available out there, and even less that are affordable. I tried out Toneboosters' offering and it was pretty cool, but Melda's Dynamic EQ's greater customization really caught my eye. I've been waiting for it to come around in the rotation of their weekly sales, and last week it finally did, so I snatched it up for a bit over $38, and I consider that an absolute steal for this plug.

I don't know how late I am to the party on this, if I'm like the last one to know, or if there's still a lot of people who aren't familiar with dynamic equalizers and what they can do, but holy crap. The doors it opens in mixing, the problems it allows you to get around so easily that took such complex workarounds before, the totally new creative possibilities it affords, it's just really exciting. It takes a bit to wrap your head around how it works and interacts with everything else at first, but once you really understand it, it almost feels like cheating.

Anyone else taking advantage of these kinds of tools, either Melda's, or Toneboosters', or someone else's? How've you been using it?
MDynamicEQ Kills it imo. Ugly gui though. I even bought a nicer skin for it!! Excellent utility plug. M/S per band and some nice saturation if needed. Check out the harmonics function. Very cool.
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Old 07-23-2015, 07:26 AM   #9
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No love for GlissEQ?

It is one of my favourite EQs by a long shot. Sounds great, amazing and unique filter selection, oversampling, dynamic or static, mid-side, dual mono, stereo, 5.1, multi track spectrum, harmonic enhancement, etc, etc, etc...

It's awesome.
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Old 07-23-2015, 07:44 AM   #10
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Interesting... eye-searing is not at all what I'd call that soft pastel blue with soft gradients and plenty of negative space. :O
I didn't notice it had changed. It used to be very white.
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Old 07-23-2015, 08:53 AM   #11
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Can you guys give me some concrete examples of WHERE one would use a dynamic EQ.

I cant wrap my head around multiband compression at all. Dynamic eq seems easier to grasp but I'm having a hard time determining how and why it would be useful.

For something like sibilance I'd use a dedicated de-esser or just reduce it manually through editing. Same with plosives. Those are the only frequency dependent issues I can think of where a dynamic EQ would be useful but in my case redundant.
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Old 07-23-2015, 01:08 PM   #12
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Can you guys give me some concrete examples of WHERE one would use a dynamic EQ.

I cant wrap my head around multiband compression at all. Dynamic eq seems easier to grasp but I'm having a hard time determining how and why it would be useful.

For something like sibilance I'd use a dedicated de-esser or just reduce it manually through editing. Same with plosives. Those are the only frequency dependent issues I can think of where a dynamic EQ would be useful but in my case redundant.
Dynamic eq's are great for taming overpowering frequencies. As well they can be good dessers and really useful on overheads to tame cymbals etc.
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Old 07-23-2015, 01:59 PM   #13
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Dynamic EQs are possibly the most dangerous tool in digital audio when in the hands of a novice sound mixer. Can do irreparable damage that can't be fixed later, so I'm a little surprised to see it discussed so lightly. ... the thought of just a multiband compressor in the hands of someone with only a year or so experience is scary enough. Now let's give 'em a powerful EQ to go with that!

I'll say also that most tracks and tunes shouldn't need any or much at all if they were tracked correctly in the first place.
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Old 07-23-2015, 01:52 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Magicbuss View Post
Can you guys give me some concrete examples of WHERE one would use a dynamic EQ.
The great thing about dynamic eq's is that they will only attenuate when a certain threshold has been reached. Although this is obviously very similar to how multiband comps work I tend to find dynamic eq's smoother - more transparent. This is ideal for mastering. In my work it's typically mids/high mids that I use it on mostly - where melody notes or a lead vocal might 'jump' out the mix a little too much on certain frequency areas. A regular eq could be automated but I much prefer using a set and forget dynamic eq.
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Old 07-23-2015, 02:45 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Magicbuss View Post
Can you guys give me some concrete examples of WHERE one would use a dynamic EQ.

How many times has this been quoted now? don't we all like to look smart?

To break it down in the simplest terms possible...


"this sounds great except when that happens."

..so when ever that happens you do less this.

or

"this sounds great only when that happens."

so when ever that happens you do more this.
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Old 07-23-2015, 08:29 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Magicbuss View Post
Can you guys give me some concrete examples of WHERE one would use a dynamic EQ.

I cant wrap my head around multiband compression at all. Dynamic eq seems easier to grasp but I'm having a hard time determining how and why it would be useful.

For something like sibilance I'd use a dedicated de-esser or just reduce it manually through editing. Same with plosives. Those are the only frequency dependent issues I can think of where a dynamic EQ would be useful but in my case redundant.
You know how a compressor works.
You hear something poking out here and there that you want to turn down. So you set the threshold for the 'turn it down above here' point. Set your attack for how quick it turns it down. Set your release for how gradually it lets the volume back up.

But... what if the thing you want to automate turning down is in a specific frequency band? And further what if there are things in other frequency bands that are often louder than the 'turn it down above here' point for the thing you are after? (The volume automation would hit wrong - based on the other loud thing - is what.)

So...
Let's split the frequency range into bands and put a compressor on each individual band! The multiband compressor is born.

A dynamic EQ is simply a single band of a multiband compressor.

You only use these tools when you specifically need to do surgery that way.

This is not a device for giving your mix a 'sound' or 'vibe'.
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Old 07-24-2015, 03:29 AM   #17
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So...
Let's split the frequency range into bands and put a compressor on each individual band! The multiband compressor is born.

A dynamic EQ is simply a single band of a multiband compressor.

You only use these tools when you specifically need to do surgery that way.

This is not a device for giving your mix a 'sound' or 'vibe'.
Well, that's oversimplifying just a bit, isn't it? A multiband compressor just limits the bandwidth of affected frequencies with a starting and stopping point, so one band might start at 1khz and stop at 5khz.

But a dynamic EQ's compression stage is affected by it's filter stage, and not just the bandwidth. A low shelf would obviously respond differently than a peak filter at the same center frequency, and the amount of boost or cut can change the shape of the filter before it hits the compression stage too, so it's like running a variable pre-emphasis EQ before a compressor in every band. I think a dynamic EQ is a bit more complex than a multiband comp, though how much difference it makes in practice is of course up for debate. Just IMO.
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Old 07-24-2015, 10:18 AM   #18
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You know how a compressor works.
You hear something poking out here and there that you want to turn down. So you set the threshold for the 'turn it down above here' point. Set your attack for how quick it turns it down. Set your release for how gradually it lets the volume back up.

But... what if the thing you want to automate turning down is in a specific frequency band? And further what if there are things in other frequency bands that are often louder than the 'turn it down above here' point for the thing you are after? (The volume automation would hit wrong - based on the other loud thing - is what.)

So...
Let's split the frequency range into bands and put a compressor on each individual band! The multiband compressor is born.

A dynamic EQ is simply a single band of a multiband compressor.

You only use these tools when you specifically need to do surgery that way.

This is not a device for giving your mix a 'sound' or 'vibe'.
I understand how they work I was just questioning where you would apply them. I mean these tools didnt even exist in the glory days of vinyl but they still managed to make great records.

I guess I'm not advanced enough yet to listen to a vocal or an acoustic guitar and say "hmm I need a little less 3k but only on this word or phrase". Thats pretty damn specific. If theres an obvious resonance I'll notch it out but I dont automate that.

To me MB comps and dynamic EQ's seem like mastering tools. You guys are heavily using them in mixing?
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Old 07-23-2015, 09:01 AM   #19
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Never used a Dynamic EQ before and I'm giving Vladgs Nova-67p (why the 67P.. just to make it hard to remember?) a try right now. Never occurred to me to try one before I saw this thread.

Confusing, but interesting. Seems easiest to just use as and EQ+Compressor except for troublesome regions that you can then bring down with a lower threshold rather than just pulling back on the filter. So it probably preferable to a multiband compressor for doing narrow range controls.
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Old 07-23-2015, 09:11 AM   #20
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It's pretty easy to use a multiband and end up with something quite different tonal-balance wise to what you started with, I.e undoing alot of previous work, whereas IMO dynamic eq deals with your freq of interest and is generally more natural.

One use example would be an acoustic guitar part where at a certain chord a freq becomes problematic but standard eq spoils majority if you adjust globally just for that moment.
It deals with issue invisibly as if problem wasn't there and you carry on.

Quick fixing like that is reassuring as I know all other tweaks are relevant and untouched but just the odd time that bad freq pokes out it gets swatted.

Attack, release and % controls also allow you to hone in on problems.
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Old 07-23-2015, 09:00 AM   #21
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No love for GlissEQ?

It is one of my favourite EQs by a long shot. Sounds great, amazing and unique filter selection, oversampling, dynamic or static, mid-side, dual mono, stereo, 5.1, multi track spectrum, harmonic enhancement, etc, etc, etc...

It's awesome.
I've been eying this for ages... I still want it. bought Acon equalize last time but I think I would have got more use from GlissEQ

I also love the idea of cross track spectrum analyzer. I use span on everything so im sure i would love gliss for this purpose
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Old 07-23-2015, 09:27 AM   #22
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I've been eying this for ages... I still want it. bought Acon equalize last time but I think I would have got more use from GlissEQ

I also love the idea of cross track spectrum analyzer. I use span on everything so im sure i would love gliss for this purpose
Looks to be 15% off right now .
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Old 07-23-2015, 10:46 AM   #23
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If you ever see three people argue, don't be upset, be fascinated over of why one of the other sounds more distinct over the other etc.
What?
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Old 07-23-2015, 11:40 AM   #24
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Here's my take on ReaDynamicEq
http://geir-music.blogspot.no/2010/0...dynamiceq.html

But I recommend Vladgs Nova-67p, at least for single source material.
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Old 07-23-2015, 07:36 PM   #25
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Looks to be 15% off right now .
It seems like glisseq is sort of simplified variety.. I don't see anything about attack or release etc.. its just sort of got a couple dynamic modes..

probably good for me so I don't have to think too much


You just had to do this didn't you...

I better not. I'm still on spending freeze from getting an axefx

but i could use my paypal credit i think..

damnit KF... see what you did!
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Old 07-24-2015, 06:50 PM   #26
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Originally Posted by thequietroom View Post
It seems like glisseq is sort of simplified variety.. I don't see anything about attack or release etc.. its just sort of got a couple dynamic modes..

probably good for me so I don't have to think too much


You just had to do this didn't you...

I better not. I'm still on spending freeze from getting an axefx

but i could use my paypal credit i think..

damnit KF... see what you did!
LOL, sorry man. Hopefully you end up feeling like it was a good thing

The dynamic EQ here simply has a dial to set the strength of the dynamics in %. I guess that means that it is always active, but it reacts to the level of the frequency range it covers in a very smooth and natural sounding way. It is very simple to use.
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