faking a multi-band compressor in Live 5

[sarcazm]

I was getting tired of my cymbals pumping by using a compressor on the master channel, so I wanted to use a multi-band compressor. I do have Endorphin, now, but prior to that I figured that I could fake one in Live by using 3 return tracks and putting 3 band EQ's followed by a comp 1. Then turn off 2 eq bands in each channel and get all the audio to go thru each return, which then feed the master channel.

Seems to work, but also seems too obvious.

Can someone tell me if I need to take anything else into consideration, or is that all there is to it??

[amo]

Hi,

It has been said that eq3 is not really transparent, but gives a color to the sound, even if all band gains are at 0... So, your tachnique may change the sound. I haven't given it a close analysis myself, but that was more than one time pointed out by many users, and Robert Henke confirmed.
I hope Ableton releases a transparent DJ eq, with 0db gain at twelve o'clock !

Cheers,
amo

[Machinate]

I figured that I could fake one in Live by using 3 return tracks and putting 3 band EQ's followed by a comp 1. Then turn off 2 eq bands in each channel and get all the audio to go thru each return, which then feed the master channel.

oh yeah, this is definitely the way to do it - it *is* obvious, but you'd really just be bussing and filtering stuff that a plugin would do internally.

I may upload an example of this later on.

[amo]

Here is a thread talking about eq3:
http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ht=#202170

[Angstrom]

What you suggest is actually quite an interesting way of doing it, although I would use EQ4 myself, also I would use 3 'audio from' tracks rather than send/returns (de-activate the original by setting it to 'sends only').

I like doing this method occaisionally to make things sound weird, rather than the usual multiband reason of 'to make it sound better'. You can add a little saturation to the mid channel, add some inverted phase (utility) to the high band, I use a couple of 'early reflector' plugins before the mid and high compressors, lots of stupid tricks like that.

This sort of technique is good as part of a technique for making "loops" out of a drum machine style programmed pattern. It has the option of adding personality, which is not always what you want off a traditional multiband!

[andrew_]

Wow cool trick, never crossed my mind at all.
There's virtually no limit to how many bands you could use, either.
I'd take it even further and throw different effects on each one...