After reading this thread, I did a little googling and found this page: http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2010/10/14/bpb-freeware-studio-best-free-multiband-compressor-vst-plugins/
 
I've read some good reviews of free plugins and bpb seems to like these.
 
Are they worth checking out?

John
I think the one in Ozone is very good. Very easy to use too and abuse as well. 

Sounds like my sort of plugin ;).... Thanks...

Have to agree that Ozone 5's Multiband Compressor is very good. But it takes a deft hand to not overdo it.

cuitlahac
Hey Danny....  How do you feel about the Izotope Ozone 5 Multi Band Dynamics processor as compared to your pick?

Hi Dave,
 
I don't have Ozone 5 so it wouldn't be fair to comment, but I DO have Ozone 3 and 4. Their stuff is pretty cool, but for some reason, I've just never warmed up to it. I've heard people get good results using it but I've heard more people ruin their material with it as well. I know this can happen with any multi band but this is why I'm also so blown away by the UAD. You have to use so much of it to ruin a mix, it's nearly fool-proof. Did you ever just use something when you have a problem and it fixes you every time without artifacts or issues? That's been my experience with it.Sorry I can't be more helpful. Again though, the Sonar LP 64 is quite good and I use it on my pc's that don't have UAD cards.
 
-Danny

> Again though, the Sonar LP 64 is quite good
 
Well I've gone off LP-64 that's for sure (TBC though by others though, maybe it is just me  )
http://forum.cakewalk.com/LP64-Multiband-performance-issues-m2958800.aspx
 
But that's for that thread
On with this thread...

Hey Danny,
 
Thanks for the feedback on the Ozone 5 module.....  It is pretty easy to go just "a bit too far" with it so from this thread I'll go away resolved to "be careful".  (It's my best choice at the moment).  From the description of your experiences with the UAD plug it sorta makes me wish I had the bucks to buy the accelerator card or an Apollo and give it a try......something to plan for the future.
 
Best...

I can honestly say that I've never found a need for a multiband compressor. They seem like trying to fix a bad mix. Unless someone can explain them better? I understand what they do but they seem like overkill and make it easier to mess things up.

> They seem like trying to fix a bad mix
I'm not saying anything (just in case you've heard my mixes) .
 
More seriously if used in moderation sometimes you can get great results, and (er) cleanup ... er.... somebody else's mix (cough cough not mine! It was... you know who.... er anyway moving on....)

Guitarpima
I can honestly say that I've never found a need for a multiband compressor. They seem like trying to fix a bad mix. Unless someone can explain them better? I understand what they do but they seem like overkill and make it easier to mess things up.

Hi Guitarpima,
I find that I use multiband comps mostly when I just am looking for very transparent compression. Just leave all the bands at a common setting and it will only compress the frequencies that need it. High female vocals are a good use for this. Frequently traditional single-band compressors can "dull" the sound of the singer a bit because they clamp down on the whole frequency range. Now, maybe this is what you want and you'll just fix it with some EQ and maybe a bit of 'verb or delay, but another way to go about it is with a multiband. It will keep the nasal or chesty-ness from becoming overpowering without dulling the highs. Alternately, maybe she gets a bit "shrieky" or "squeaky"...same thing. I find that when I use it in a "mastering" scenario it's really just because I'm looking for good transparent dynamic control.
 
Oh, and I like Ozone and UAD mostly. The T-racks Quad MB is OK, but I find that I really have to turn down the threshold a ton to get any GR...almost like it expects a super hot signal coming in.
 
Dean

I nabbed the iZotope Studio Bundle, but only after the 10-day trial. I think the free Nectar Elements was a ploy for sales, and it worked on me, LOL. The Alloy 2/Ozone 5 was not really what I was after, but when the Nectar 2 Production Suite was only $50 more I nabbed the package.
 
When I was testing those, I saved a few projects with new names and stripped off all FX/PC modules and only used them, and they do a nice job. I have never owned anything iZotope before, so was a bit leery to commit to it at first, but the stress testing proved them out. It is worth downloading the trial for Alloy 2 and checking it out. Be sure to save project files with new names though... just in case you back out, you won't have to redo anything.