What is the best Multiband compressor?

So what is the best Multiband compressor to use with Sonar X3?
 
Of course people will say Sonitus Multiband or and LP-64. But what about the other third party options, and do I really need to spend my $$$ or should I be happy with what I have?
 
I appreciate Multiband compressors can be a pretty niche requirement for some (although I'm sure many use them all the time).
 
I did a little bit of research, Sonalksis CQ-1 was mentioned (no idea about that one).
 
Thanks...

I was about to write that when I saw you already had.

"Best" remains very subjective, but it sure is a nice and extremely well featured one.

gustabo
Probably FabFilter's Pro-MB.

OMFG take my money!!! Then again it's £139.00 so scratch that! Darn probably missed a sale...!

Danny Danzi
The best one I have ever used hands down, is this one: http://www.uaudio.com/media/assetlibrary/p/r/pre_multi_hq.jpg
 
I know not everyone wants a UAD card, but man, honest when I tell you, nothing compares to that in my opinion. It's so seamless and transparent, you have to really jump on it to have it ruin something. I've tried quite a few of these in my time and this just (as well as other UAD tonality compressors) obliterates the competition.
 
I give the LP 64 MB a pretty high grade too. Just use smaller ratio's when using it than the 2 presets give you. When using similar settings used on my UAD on the LP 64, it really did a nice job. I like it better than the Waves MBL's and the other 3rd party plugs available that do this sort of thing. The good thing about the UAD is, it polices to the point of hearing it but not to the point of ruining anything with artifacts.
 
-Danny

Hmm on sale for $99, thanks I'll take a look http://www.uaudio.com/store/mastering/precision-multiband.html
 
Oh it needs a card for DSP of course :) Nevermind :)
 

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

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?

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

> 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...

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.

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'll have to try it on the shrieky part. I have a track I'm having difficulty getting rid of it.  Thanks for the tip.
 
Anyone else got tips for use of MBCs? Maybe Groove 3 has a vid on it?

chuckebaby
why do I feel like this thread was like a punch line for the other thread about the performance issues of LP64

Actually I was thinking about multibands and all the alternatives that could be on offer as I was playing around with Sonar's existing multibands. I literarily fell into performance issues when I reached post #4. By the time I had reached #15 I had enough to build a test case. Anyway that's the other thread... My thread marketing isn't that devious, although don't give me ideas...

For me it's Waves C4.

michael japan
For me it's Waves C4.

May I ask why? I do have it but Pro-MB seems such an incredible amount better to me in every area.

I've never tried Pro-MB. Only UAD/Waves/Izotope. Gosh, all I can say is that it works for me. I and many other people I work with professionally have been using it for years. I know that is not much help to you.
 
You are the only person in a situation to compare. What do you like better about Pro-MB?