Helpful ReplyWaves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs?

Author
cparmerlee
Max Output Level: -67 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1153
  • Joined: 2013/06/25 22:14:42
  • Status: offline
2017/07/24 17:37:27 (permalink)

Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs?

See http://www.waves.com/plugins/maxxvolume#mix-and-master-with-maxxvolume
 
MaxxVolume's claim to fame is that it can compress downward from the loudest dynamics (as all compressors do).  But it can also compress upward from the softest dynamics.  You can only do that indirectly with most compressors.  That is, if you compress the loudest dynamics, then you can bring everything up  without clipping.  But that is not exactly the same thing.  With this Waves plug, you can bring up the softest dynamics without changing how the loud ones sound.
 
Is there anything in the standard SONAR kit that can do the same thing?

DAW: SONAR Platinum Audio I/F: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 gen2
OS: Windows 10 64-bit CPU: Haswell 4790 4.0 GHz, 4 core, 8 thread  Memory: 16 GB      Video: GTX-760Ti
Storage: Sandisk SSD 500GB for active projects. ReadyNAS 20 TB for long-term storage

sonocrafters.com
#1
Wookiee
Rrrrugh arah-ah-woof?
  • Total Posts : 13306
  • Joined: 2007/01/16 06:19:43
  • Location: Akahaocwora - Village Yoh Kay
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/24 17:43:27 (permalink)
There is no single tool as such but there are the Linear Phase tools, EQ, Multiband Compressor and the Adaptive Limiter.

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
Primary, i7 8700K 16Gigs Ram, 3x500gb SSD's 2TB Backup HHD Saffire Pro 40. Win 10 64Bit
Secondary  i7 4790K, 32GB Ram, 500Gb SSD OS/Prog's, 1TB Audio, 1TB Samples HHD AudioBox USB, Win 10 64Bit
CbB, Adam's A7x's - Event 20/20's, Arturia V6, Korg Digital Legacy, Softube Modular, Arturia Keylab-88, USB-MidiSport 8x8 
#2
cparmerlee
Max Output Level: -67 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1153
  • Joined: 2013/06/25 22:14:42
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/24 17:47:38 (permalink)
Wookiee
There is no single tool as such but there are the Linear Phase tools, EQ, Multiband Compressor and the Adaptive Limiter.



Can any of these boost the softest material without affecting the louder bits?

DAW: SONAR Platinum Audio I/F: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 gen2
OS: Windows 10 64-bit CPU: Haswell 4790 4.0 GHz, 4 core, 8 thread  Memory: 16 GB      Video: GTX-760Ti
Storage: Sandisk SSD 500GB for active projects. ReadyNAS 20 TB for long-term storage

sonocrafters.com
#3
chuckebaby
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 13146
  • Joined: 2011/01/04 14:55:28
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/24 17:54:03 (permalink)
I use 2 compressors or limiters to handle this and its almost always in the mastering stages.
You'll have an over head limiter to avoid overs but also a set compressor to pick up lower levels and boost them when they get below a certain point.
 
Im not sure your going to find a limiter or compressor like that in Sonar. As Wookie said, the adaptive limiter is a great tool and will get you half the way there.
I typically use the L3 and the MV2 in conjunction with one another to achieve this result.
Everyone has their own way of doing things, personally I have been at this a long time and when I find something that works, I tend to stay with the bread and butter play.
 

Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64
Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GB
Focusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
   
#4
Wookiee
Rrrrugh arah-ah-woof?
  • Total Posts : 13306
  • Joined: 2007/01/16 06:19:43
  • Location: Akahaocwora - Village Yoh Kay
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/24 18:05:48 (permalink)
cparmerlee
Wookiee
There is no single tool as such but there are the Linear Phase tools, EQ, Multiband Compressor and the Adaptive Limiter.



Can any of these boost the softest material without affecting the louder bits?


Honestly I do not know, I think the Adaptive limiter will get you part of the way there but as I said there is no single tool in SONAR as the Waves tool you linked to.  Chuck made a valid suggestion. 

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
Primary, i7 8700K 16Gigs Ram, 3x500gb SSD's 2TB Backup HHD Saffire Pro 40. Win 10 64Bit
Secondary  i7 4790K, 32GB Ram, 500Gb SSD OS/Prog's, 1TB Audio, 1TB Samples HHD AudioBox USB, Win 10 64Bit
CbB, Adam's A7x's - Event 20/20's, Arturia V6, Korg Digital Legacy, Softube Modular, Arturia Keylab-88, USB-MidiSport 8x8 
#5
cparmerlee
Max Output Level: -67 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1153
  • Joined: 2013/06/25 22:14:42
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/24 18:08:21 (permalink)
chuckebaby
I typically use the L3 and the MV2 in conjunction with one another to achieve this result.

It looks like MaxxVolume is a combination of those two rolled into a single plug-in.  With MaxxVolume, you can compress down from the louds, you can compress up from the softs, and you can do general leveling.  It was on sale for $29 but has gone back up to $49 today.
 
The idea of compressing up from the softest material sounded surprisingly good on the demo.  It brings in extra detail without changing the energy that the loud material imparts, so it really isn't quite the same as normal compression.  People describe that as helping to save a track where the microphone placement might not have been just right.
 
I almost bought it yesterday, but I didn't want to add yet another plug-in if it was redundant with stuff already in SPlat.  I wanted to get some opinions yesterday, but have been having trouble using the forum from my network at home. 
 
I guess I will wait for it to go on sale for $29 again.

DAW: SONAR Platinum Audio I/F: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 gen2
OS: Windows 10 64-bit CPU: Haswell 4790 4.0 GHz, 4 core, 8 thread  Memory: 16 GB      Video: GTX-760Ti
Storage: Sandisk SSD 500GB for active projects. ReadyNAS 20 TB for long-term storage

sonocrafters.com
#6
chuckebaby
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 13146
  • Joined: 2011/01/04 14:55:28
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 12:09:18 (permalink)
cparmerlee
chuckebaby
I typically use the L3 and the MV2 in conjunction with one another to achieve this result.

It looks like MaxxVolume is a combination of those two rolled into a single plug-in. 



Not even close  .
 
In a dynamic sense, yes.
The L3 is a multiband which includes IDR and ACR. MV has neither.
But for 49.99 (that's what Waves is listing it at right now) it is a good deal.

Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64
Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GB
Focusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
   
#7
interpolated
Max Output Level: -74 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 830
  • Joined: 2015/03/26 17:34:58
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 12:56:38 (permalink)
It uses a compander (compression/expander) so expands the louder frequencies on and after threshold  & also keeps them from clipping. As far as I am aware there is no dedicated expander and compressor unless you combine the two prochannel settings with the PC4K S Type Expander/Gate and S Type compressor. Then follow that up with a limiter making everything Post Fader.
 
 

I have computer stuff.
 
https://soundcloud.com/sigmadelta
#8
cparmerlee
Max Output Level: -67 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1153
  • Joined: 2013/06/25 22:14:42
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 13:36:50 (permalink)
interpolated
It uses a compander (compression/expander) so expands the louder frequencies on and after threshold  & also keeps them from clipping.

If I understand MaxxVolume, it doesn't have an expander, but its unusual thing is that it has a "bottom-up" compressor.  If we have a track that has dynamics ranging from -2 down to -40 (or even lower I guess) you can set MaxxVolume to leave -2 to -15 alone, but bring up the -40 to -30 to hear more detail.  I don't see any way to do that with the standard SONAR tools.

DAW: SONAR Platinum Audio I/F: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 gen2
OS: Windows 10 64-bit CPU: Haswell 4790 4.0 GHz, 4 core, 8 thread  Memory: 16 GB      Video: GTX-760Ti
Storage: Sandisk SSD 500GB for active projects. ReadyNAS 20 TB for long-term storage

sonocrafters.com
#9
chuckebaby
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 13146
  • Joined: 2011/01/04 14:55:28
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 13:54:15 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby cparmerlee 2017/07/25 14:01:10
Possibly by side chaining a compressor ?
I don't know to be honest, I've never looked to Sonar for these tools. I do use Sonar plug ins in my projects and quite a few of them but when it comes to dynamics and EQ in the mastering process (and mixing for that matter) I tend to lean on high end plug ins like Waves.
 
The problem with MaxxVolume is there is no multiband compression. So any of those low offending frequency's need to be dealt with first. for example just boosting -2 to -40 could potentially make hiss, low end rumble more evident.
When boosting lower levels one needs to take caution of what is down there. IE- the noise floor.
 
 
However when compressing and limiting dynamic material, such as a hard rock song that drops out and has an acoustic guitar only, we want that acoustic guitar to be perceived just as loud as the harder parts. not exactly the same but relatively in the same manner.
 
a novice mix is often spotted very quickly when the dynamics get softer and the bottom drops out (it doesn't sound as loud anymore). 

Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64
Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GB
Focusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
   
#10
THambrecht
Max Output Level: -73 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 867
  • Joined: 2010/12/10 06:42:03
  • Location: Germany
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 14:07:17 (permalink)
MavVolumen is a perfect tool if you work with dialogs, talks ... voice recordings in general.
It brings all dialogs to the same level.
With standard Sonar plugins you cannot do the same. MaxVolumen sounds natural and not compressed.
 

We digitize tapes, vinyl, dat, md ... in broadcast and studio quality for publishers, public institutions and individuals.
4 x Intel Quad-CPU, 4GHz Sonar Platinum (Windows 10 - 64Bit) and 14 computers for recording tapes, vinyl ...

4 x RME Fireface 800, 2 x Roland Octa Capture and 4 x Roland Quad Capture, Focusrite .... Studer A80, RP99, EMT948 ...

(Germany)  http://www.hambrecht.de
#11
interpolated
Max Output Level: -74 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 830
  • Joined: 2015/03/26 17:34:58
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 14:12:13 (permalink)
Just read the PDF for clarification.  You're probably right although it may be possible with some other 3rd party ones.
 

I have computer stuff.
 
https://soundcloud.com/sigmadelta
#12
cparmerlee
Max Output Level: -67 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1153
  • Joined: 2013/06/25 22:14:42
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 14:28:51 (permalink)
chuckebaby
The problem with MaxxVolume is there is no multiband compression. ... potentially make hiss, low end rumble more evident.



Points well taken.  I don't know that I'd want to deal with the extra complexity of a MB tool.
 
Just thinking out loud, maybe it would be good for tools like this to output their adjustments to a separate send so that you could pipe the adjustments into an EQ.  I guess you could do that if the tool had a mix function.  You could use a separate send into MaxxVolume, set its mix to 0 (only the changes), and then follow that with an EQ to knock out the rumble and hiss.
 
But it doesn't work that way, so I digress.

DAW: SONAR Platinum Audio I/F: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 gen2
OS: Windows 10 64-bit CPU: Haswell 4790 4.0 GHz, 4 core, 8 thread  Memory: 16 GB      Video: GTX-760Ti
Storage: Sandisk SSD 500GB for active projects. ReadyNAS 20 TB for long-term storage

sonocrafters.com
#13
chuckebaby
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 13146
  • Joined: 2011/01/04 14:55:28
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 15:06:17 (permalink)
You have the right idea. that's what lead me to mention side chaining (for EQ).
But you know like I said, its still a great deal for this plug in and I used MV a lot back in the day and its still a good plug in.

Windows 8.1 X64 Sonar Platinum x64
Custom built: Asrock z97 1150 - Intel I7 4790k - 16GB corsair DDR3 1600 - PNY SSD 220GB
Focusrite Saffire 18I8 - Mackie Control
   
#14
bitflipper
01100010 01101001 01110100 01100110 01101100 01101
  • Total Posts : 26036
  • Joined: 2006/09/17 11:23:23
  • Location: Everett, WA USA
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 17:39:31 (permalink)
I don't know of any other plugin that's set up exactly like this one, certainly nothing bundled with SONAR.
 
However, the upward+downward compression technique itself is nothing new. It's just traditionally been done with two compressors or parallel compression. Any compressor that supports negative compression ratios can do upward compression. Unfortunately, none of SONAR's bundled compressors do this, AFAIK.
 
In practice it isn't done all that often, because unless your tracks are really clean it'll also bring up your noise floor. What's far more common is parallel compression, which is a form of upward compression that's less likely to hurt your SNR.


All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

My Stuff
#15
cparmerlee
Max Output Level: -67 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1153
  • Joined: 2013/06/25 22:14:42
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 19:16:16 (permalink)
bitflipper
In practice it isn't done all that often, because unless your tracks are really clean it'll also bring up your noise floor.



It sounds like the dream plug would be to include advanced noise reduction such as with Izotope RX6, upward compression with multiple bands.  That's a lot of CPU to process all of that.

DAW: SONAR Platinum Audio I/F: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 gen2
OS: Windows 10 64-bit CPU: Haswell 4790 4.0 GHz, 4 core, 8 thread  Memory: 16 GB      Video: GTX-760Ti
Storage: Sandisk SSD 500GB for active projects. ReadyNAS 20 TB for long-term storage

sonocrafters.com
#16
glennstanton
Max Output Level: -89 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 87
  • Joined: 2015/01/31 13:26:30
  • Location: Old Tappan, NJ
  • Status: offline
Re: Waves Maxxvolume: Can you accomplish the same thing with standard SONAR plugs? 2017/07/25 20:50:49 (permalink)
there are a couple of FX depending on your version which may suffice including the compressor gate, the BT expander, etc http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Versions
 

-- Glenn
 
 
 
 
#17
Jump to:
© 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1