Though from last issue, I only applied Stav's article last night and wow, he was right. It does turn your ears up.

I might now be game to use a multiband comp as I found this to be a great zeroing in tool that works applied to an EQ. Thank you thank you.

The big lesson so far has been the itb comps I have don't sound that great. Even the very few that didn't noise up.

I am going to try this on my outboard comps to listen to them and compare.

While I have applied the tool for only a few hours I did have some probs, namely delay compensation. even though my DAW Sonar has it.

A few comps at their defaults breathed some phase thru and while I  manually adjusted couldn't attain cancellation. I tried a few delays and all were too feature included to work.

I tried to shift the files around but couldn't get in the ballpark.

I have searched for a very simple delay and have alas not found one.

Anyone know of a basic 100% time shifter plug in for VST?

WOW!

Stav your technique shines! 

Compressor Tester is a bit of a misnomer. Plugin Tester is more apt; does the plug introduce phase? Answers the question: why does my mix sound better with fewer plugs? Well some are introducing phase shifts; simple!



As a EQ zeroing in tool, my conclusions are that it is useful on the mix bus though not on individual tracks which is more akin to making EQ moves in solo and out of context to the program material.



Getting familiar and for hearing what a plug does, especially compressors; its is as you outlined and turns your ears up. 

Way up!

Ok you have pipped my interest, what is Stavs plug-in tester?  It sounds like a handy technique or device!!!

The issue before last issue has Stav's article in it. Not the latest issue.

Best to get the article Dr Hash in case I have misinterpreted it. 

Cheers

That Stav, what a bloody superstar. Reading his book. Great stuff, practical examples and stuff that will just get you slapping yourself in the head and saying why didn't I think of that before. Love your work Stav, very informative.

Another penny dropped for me for applying this tool when I woke up this morning.

When Mr Massenburg visited our shores for AT's first Integrate Event he had us listen to the artefacts produced by MP3 compression. Remember the noises?

Hey Bart, what plugins did you try? Can you post some of your findings?

You really got to apply it for yourself as all plugin compressors can be made to make noise.  Saving some musical  settings (rubber band) settings to your preset file gives you the best area to tweak from for a similar genre and tempo so including it in the preset name can help in a pinch. But the tool is best applied newly each application so you know what your getting.

Saturation plugs are just adding in noise. Analogue buttons the same. Perhaps not totally a bad thing depending what sound your after.

Interesting things like Sonar's X1 Vocal Channel sounds good but the included EQ is out of phase when switched on. The Sonitus and Pro Channell EQs are great. 

Ozone 4 , which I thought might of been a waste since upgrading to X1, supprisingly  comp, limiter and mult sounds superb. 

Additionally, is a plugin out of phase is a good thing to know. So even a reverb delay plug can be inserted  and checked before it is tweaked.

I found the  Fishfone plugs to be ooP.   All Stillwell comps were among some of the worst performers while the limiter was very good.  The TRacks3 Group buy special I got were Okay.

But, really this tool reveals just how frail and barely musical plugin compressors sound and puts the otb v's itb processing and mixing arguments to rest. Maybe not; but it sure gives the outboard side a canon in their Armoury!  

 I have yet to get a good phase cancellation using my outboard comps but regardless, the rubber band is sweeter. You can hear it flow where the plugin variety rushes. And the noises are more tolerable to my ears.

Just when I thought outboard gear was becoming outmoded, superceded and soon to be sold along comes this tool that lets you hear what plugins do.