Quote:
Originally Posted by daznich
Can you explain this one a little further? I've used a few software multiband compressors both DSP and native and both work effectively for me.
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Well generally cubase, neundo and all that lot are only 32bit processors(although they are float point, but thats another subject in itself) where as something like the TC or UAD is going to be able to process to like 72 bits or whatever the specific piece of gear states it can do. this isnt just relative to multiband comps its relative to all plugins and effects(especially verbs). Although you may think that 72 bits is extreme the amount of quantization distortion your going to add to the system using far less bit rates may not be something the ear can pick up when you use just one plugin/effect but when you add that together throughout the whole process of making a track then it starts to mount up.
Mastering is about creating a perfect copy of the original and is usually the place where your going to use a multiband comp and by this stage theres already going to be significant quantization errors from all the plugins and processing/mixing thats already been applied. In much the same way as with tape when mastering your going to use the best convertors possible to maintain all the clarity thats present and make the best respresentation of whats been created by using a native plugin for the multiband your effectively doing the same as using lower grade convertors as your just adding more quantization errors to the chain. Using something like M3 (i think thats one of the TC mastering plugins) your going to add far less quantization errors due the fact that its a far more accurate plugin due to the 72 bit (or whatever) proccessing thats being carried out.
This difference in bit rates is why a lot of people prefer Protools as they say it sounds cleaner which is true because it uses a 48 bit fixed point mix engine even if you capturing in 16bit. The whole 16 bits is just moved around accross the available 48 bits, whereas cubase is only going to work in that operation when you tell it too.
I dont have any links but theres loads of articles about on how different bit rates will change how a processor or mix engine works and its actually quite interesting to see the differences.