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Multiband Compression and Dynamic EQ's
Learn how to use a multi-band compressor and a dynamic EQ.
Have you ever wanted to reduce the volume of a specific frequency, but only when that frequency gets too loud. Like sibilance on a vocal, because those “s” sounds are sometimes disproportionately loud. Or reduce the pick sound of acoustic guitar, Since the pick is really the only thing making sound in that frequency range, it can be targeted with a multiband compressor.
For instance, a 3 band multiband compressor would split the signal into bass, mids, and treble, and have an independent compressors for each band. This is also good for smoothing out the dynamics of the bass, without affecting the other frequencies.
A de-esser is also a type of multi band compressor. It’s optimized to target the frequencies that are prominent with sibilance, which is around 7-10 kHz. So when those frequencies become loud enough to surpass the threshold, the compressor kicks in, and it lowers them.
A multiband compressor can also be used as a mastering tool to make the song as loud as possible on all frequencies.
A dynamic EQ can perform a similar task to a multiband compressor, but the way it gets there is a bit different. A static EQ simply boosts or reduces a specific frequency, and you can manually adjust the gain up of down. Well a Dynamic EQ will automatically adjust the gain, based on the input levels of that frequency. You can set it to reduce the gain, which would compress, or you can set it to increase the gain, which would expand.
I like to use this on snare drum. I put a boost at 200 hz, and it only kicks in when the snare is played. This makes the snare a lot more punchy, and doesn’t boost those frequencies when the snare isn’t playing. A dynamic EQ also provides greater flexibility to choose a bell curve, or a shelf eq, and to adjust the “Q” bandwidth.
There’s a really good dynamic EQ that’s available for free, called Nova from Tokyo Dawn Labs.