Mix FX Console Shaper gain makeup

[Lipica]

Hi,
1 - Are your aware of any reason why there is none ?
2 - Do you have any tips about how to compare the sound with and without Console Shaper, without the volume to vary ?

 

[Gerran]

From the manual:
Gain Compensation: Adding high amounts of Drive to a signal can result in extreme gain offsets inside the console which in turn could have a negative impact on subsequent plug-ins by offsetting dynamics threshold levels or creating distortion. Mix Engine FX are equipped with special gain compensation algorithms to avoid this effect.

 

[Lipica]

Thanks Gerran. The thing is, the only drive I put in my mix is the one coming from the Console Shaper itself… Plus, the manual part you are referring to is about general commands of Mix Engine FX not included in Pro version, which only includes Console Shaper, that is a mini one which doesn’t have all those functionalities.

 

[Gerran]

The quote also is in the pdf of the other mix engine FX, I think it applies to them all.
I cut the quote a little too short:

Two settings are available:
Bus. Master gain compensation is applied inside the bus Mix Engine FX is inserted to, before any bus insert effects.
Channel. Individual gain compensation is applied in each channel routed into the bus the Mix Engine FX is inserted to.

In my experience this can make a huge difference. Since basically the complete audio engine is altered by the mix FX, I guess this is as far as it is going to get.

 

[SwitchBack]

Shouldn't Mix Engine FX be kept subtle, as in the consoles it's supposed to emulate? I think the extreme settings are there so you know what to listen for at a more realistic setting. If your analog console would sound as with the more extreme settings you would send it off to have it fixed.

 

[Lipica]

The quote also is in the pdf of the other mix engine FX, I think it applies to them all.

Please read my previous post carefully. Console Shaper doesn’t have all these settings.

 

[Lipica]

Shouldn't Mix Engine FX be kept subtle, as in the consoles it's supposed to emulate? I think the extreme settings are there so you know what to listen for at a more realistic setting. If your analog console would sound as with the more extreme settings you would send it off to have it fixed.

You can do extreme settings in Compressor or Pro EQ too, and still have gain compensation.
Furthermore, even with analog console you can have extreme settings. It will sound strange or harsh, it doesn’t mean yo have to repair it. I mean, extreme settings are not a numeric-exclusive thing.

 

[Gerran]

Sorry I interpreted your post wrong. I guess you can insert a mix tool plugin for the gain compensation and bypass it asynchronous to the mix FX. It's not as smooth a d certainly not ideal, but it might be a workaround...

 

[SwitchBack]

You can do extreme settings in Compressor or Pro EQ too, and still have gain compensation.
Furthermore, even with analog console you can have extreme settings. It will sound strange or harsh, it doesn’t mean yo have to repair it. I mean, extreme settings are not a numeric-exclusive thing.

Mix FX is to emulate the imperfections that give (analog) mixing/recording hardware its character, on all inputs and outputs. It's one thing to go overboard with a few channels as an effect (RedlightDist even has a bad tube option), but to do serious mixing on a rotten console would be a bit too much I'd say. So yes, you can do that but you'd be on your own, without gain compensation too.