I am looking for a compressor/limiter that responds to the power (true RMS, NOT the averaged peak level) of a signal.
 
Quick explanation: A signal with lots of harmonics sounds louder to the ear than a sine wave of the same height. This is because all the harmonics combine to produce more power. This is true RMS. Peak average is only RMS for pure sine waves.
 
It doesn't even have to be a real-time VST plug. A stand-alone program would do.
 
Is there even such a thing? I can't find one., and I've really searched.
Surely computers are ideal for fourier analysis and perfect for this kind of limiter?

IIRC Waves C1 &  Renn collection responds to rms & peak using ARC (auto release control)

If I'm not mistaken, the UAD Precision Limiter has this capability and does a nice job of boosting RMS without crushing harmonics too much.  Although you need a UAD card to use it.   It's on the master bus of every one of my mixes.

Best,
guitardood

RMS is an average. Root Mean Squared. Harmonics shouldn't play much of a role in most material. They are weak in most cases in comparison to the fundamental frequencies. Pianos are one of the few instruments where this is not the case for the lower notes.  

You may want the leveling PC2A or the new one because its not a peak compressor.  Limiting is meant to avoid having the signal go beyond a set dB.  It can cut off the peals and control the RMS level. But by doing that you get rid of the dynamics in a signal which causes ear fatigue. The song becomes less listenable.  A little limiting wont harm most music and is important to ensure no clipping. 

John
 Harmonics shouldn't play much of a role in most material.

Should have said 'transient peaks', sorry.


Best,
guitardood

guitardood

John
Harmonics shouldn't play much of a role in most material.

Should have said 'transient peaks', sorry.


Best,
guitardood

Sorry, that wasn't aimed at your post I wrote that to the OP only. It just took me longer to write than it should. 

guitardood


If I'm not mistaken, the UAD Precision Limiter has this capability and does a nice job of boosting RMS without crushing harmonics too much.  Although you need a UAD card to use it.   It's on the master bus of every one of my mixes.

Best,
guitardood

 
Thank you for your reply.
I've had a look - it seems the RMS they are talking about only refers to one of the available metering modes.
 
There is no further explanatory material unfortunately.
 
This seems to be a problem with most VST plugs. Claims couched in marketing terms, but nothing useful to help a technician know what it really does.
 

carl


IIRC Waves C1 &  Renn collection responds to rms & peak using ARC (auto release control)

I cannot find the term "auto release control" nor RMS anywhere in the C1 manual.
 
Having said that, I must say the manual from Waves is exemplary. Comprehensive, well explained, excellent.
 
Renn collection seems to be gone from the Waves site, although I find it talked about in forums.

http://www.tokyodawn.net/tokyo-dawn-labs/

These TDR feedback compressors work good. The blue one is still in beta and uses a lot of cpu. They don't have a limiter.

I have 2 words to say....   FAB Filter