Transparency...PL over Elephant ??? (*w/ a side issue)

[mark4man]

Crew...

Had a discussion going over at KVR as to which limiter is more transparent...Precision Limiter or Voxengo's Elephant. Even posted audio clips (\"unprocessed\" vs. \"PL\" vs. \"Elephant\") on my test server (http://www.moonjams.com/musiclinks1.htm)...where the song's into (drums, piano & voice synth) is under 0dB (requiring no limiting)...with the remainder (after the bass & vocals drop in) over 0dB (requiring limiting.)

So, that was the criteria for the test...no limiting necessary on the intro; & then, how transparent are the limiters when the main body of the tune kicks in?

BUT...In the process...I noticed something funny [while working back within the project (SONAR.)]

In the intro...with PL engaged...PL kills some of the sparkle on the voice synth...to the point where it doesn't ring as nicely. & I'm thinking...UA says that audio passes thru NO filters on PL; & that NO audio is affected unless the limiter is engaged. Well...the entire intro is fully underneath the ceiling, meaning no limiting is neccesary during same.

So why does the voice synth (which falls within the intro)...sound different, UA ???

That was my first question. Then I realized I'm gonna' use it anyway 'cause I have to get this CD out soon (& PL does after all sound more transparent than Elephant)...

...so, can I automate the plug-in on the 2 Bus to turn on after the voice synth...which I can in SONAR, with Exists. But the Exist parameter I have to work with is \"Power\". When you draw the automation envelope & angle upwards between nodes, Precision Limiter toggles on at a certain value.

BUT...does that power on happen instantaneously...or is there a way to turn on the plug-in gradually, so as to reduce any audio anomolies created by the plug-in coming on all at once?

Thanks,

mark4man

 

[Suntower]

For -me-, the thing about Elephant is that it has so -many- options that it takes someone who knows what they're doing to make a fair comparison.

Anyway, personally, I tried both -twice-. One year apart. I could never hear a real difference, once I used some of Alexey's recommendations for tweaking.

So it's the only UAD-1 plug I have not purchased.

YMMV

---JC

 

[mark4man]

I could never hear a real difference, once I used some of Alexey's recommendations for tweaking.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I used his recommendations as well; & Elephant still sounds warmer...listen to my clips.

I don't mind that it has more sonic coloration...in some cases it sounds beautiful. I just wish people would stop being biased against PL & for Elephant.

Anyway...what about the 2nd thing (PL power automation on the 2 bus)?

Thanks,

mark4man

 

[LMaudio]

What were Alexey's recommendations?

Lou

 

[sontrinh]

i personally don't detect much of a difference if any at all and that killing of the sparkle that you are talking about.

 

[mark4man]

What were Alexey's recommendations?

Lim Mode: EL-3, Lim Speed: Min, Oversample: Off

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Interesting, I would've thought that leaving oversampling on would be better in all cases. With regards to your question, I would simply bounce the track down & offline Precision Limit the portion of the music you want done.

 

[.mr chris]

so you did this all at 44.1kHz?

 

[Dan Duskin]

Interesting, I would've thought that leaving oversampling on would be better in all cases.

oversamping will lightly color the sound and ever-so-slightly round off the high-end peaks. whether that's a good thing or not is personal opinion. however, i would say that with oversampling on it sounds a lot more convincingly "analog". but the difference between on and off isn't huge either way.

 

[mark4man]

so you did this all at 44.1kHz?

.mr chris...

If your asking me...the project's tracks were all recorded at 16/44.1, yes.

mark4man