19-05-2015, 02:08 PM
If I understand it correctly, RMS measures the average loudness over a period of time, it doesn't show how much that loudness has varied. According to the Waves WLM manual, the Range value:
Range displays (in LU) the overall loudness range across the program signal that
passes through the plugin.
On both versions of the track the range was either 0 or 1, which is pretty tiny. Still worth checking out your tape sim to see if it has an input level - it's possible to get considerably amounts of tape compression without it being immediately obvious that's what's happening on some plugins, though I'm not familiar with the one you mention.
Final other thing is that even just a couple of dbs compression repeated a few times will add up to a huge difference - you might have had a dynamic range of 6dB on say your drums, but if you compressed the drum bus, then the master bus, then again at mastering, those 2dBs of compression will add up to 0 dynamic range. I've done that myself a few times and it's annoying - you put the compressors on thinking 'yes, this'll definitely improve the sound' and on its own it would, but combined with other things it starts to get too much.
Hope that helps, cheers
Matt
Range displays (in LU) the overall loudness range across the program signal that
passes through the plugin.
On both versions of the track the range was either 0 or 1, which is pretty tiny. Still worth checking out your tape sim to see if it has an input level - it's possible to get considerably amounts of tape compression without it being immediately obvious that's what's happening on some plugins, though I'm not familiar with the one you mention.
Final other thing is that even just a couple of dbs compression repeated a few times will add up to a huge difference - you might have had a dynamic range of 6dB on say your drums, but if you compressed the drum bus, then the master bus, then again at mastering, those 2dBs of compression will add up to 0 dynamic range. I've done that myself a few times and it's annoying - you put the compressors on thinking 'yes, this'll definitely improve the sound' and on its own it would, but combined with other things it starts to get too much.
Hope that helps, cheers
Matt
I wonder actually (listening on headphones) whether part of the issue I was hearing with previous versions is that the room mic is a little loud in the mix? Because it's compressed, you've got this kind of constant 'hum' of room sound in the background which contributes to the feeling of it being squashed (though it's certainly nothing like as squashed as previously). Maybe back that off a bit and bring the close mics up? Overall balance though is great as I've said before and the vocal sound is good.