eyagos

This is my new compressor for KX. It is a simple compressor, that works in Joint Stereo mode, has a RMS and/or a Peak level detector, a Soft Knee option, and a function that reduces makeup gain when a clip is detected.
The GUI is compact and simple (thanks to townkat and Russ for their help with the text edit controls).
The kxl file includes two plugins, 'e-Compressor' and 'e-Compressor Lite'. The second is a smaller version wich uses less resources. What we loose is:
1.- Less precission. The LOG and EXP instructions are not very precise. Without some corrections made in the complete version, the sound is not so 'linear'.
2.- No RMS detector. Eliminating this does not save resources, but it has not enough precission without the LOG and EXP corrections.
3.- No Soft Knee operation.

Read the next post for an explanation of all the parameters.



New version: V1.1

Changes:

1. Added e-Expander and e-ExpanderLite plugins.
2. A serious error with gain attack time has been corrected. Due to a little fail in coding, in previous version gain attack and release times where always the same, and equal to release time.
3. Now, in mono mode, only the left input/output are active.
4. Some numbers optimizations.
5. A little modification in AGR funtion.
6. Little color changes in GUI.

You can download it at the same link. It is compiled for 3538i, 3538, and 3537 versions of KX Drivers (I have not tested the 3538 and 3537 versions, so report here if they don't work. And if you find any bug, please report too).

>>> Capture

>>> Download page



eYagos.

eyagos

e-Compressor PARAMETERS

Envelope (level) Detector part:

• Joint Stereo Mode: e-Compressor can work as a Mono Compressor or a Joint Stereo Compressor (for Stereo Compressor you’ll have to load two instances). For the joint-stereo operation, plugin can use the mean of left and right, or the max of left and right channels.
• Level Detector Mode: A compressor needs an envelope detector of the input to work. Peak Detector has a more ‘aggressive’ behaviour; RMS Detector is more ‘warm’.
• Level Attack / Release times: The peak or the RMS values needs to be smoothed in time to give us the envelope of the signal. These times are used to smooth the peak (or RMS) value. Recommendable values are 0.5ms-2ms for attack and 100ms-300ms for release.
  Note: Level values are monitored in VU-Level. It is besides Threshold slider, and has the same scale than it. This helps to choose the appropriate Threshold.

Dynamics part:

• Threshold: The plugin reduces the amplitude of sound when his envelope value goes above this value. Range form -60dB to 0dB. A reason for a -60dB bottom value is that it is sufficient for common uses. Other reason is that with values lower than -60dB, the plugin is not precise (due to numbers limitation).
• Ratio: Controls the amount of amplitude reduction, when level is above threshold. Range for 1: 1 to 1: infinite.
  • 1: 1 > No amplitude reduction (no dynamic change).
  • 1: 2 > If input envelope is 12dB greater than threshold value, the amplitude of the input is reduced 12dB / 2 = 6dB.
  • Values greater than 1: 10 > Makes compressor to act as a hard-limiter.
• Gain Attack / Release times: These times are used to smooth the gain. Note that gain is already smoothed, because of Level Attack / Release times. The reason of using another smoothing times here is that you must not change the level detector times, otherwise the value of the envelope should change and so you shall have to update the threshold value. You can think that these times are ‘added’ to the level times.
  Note: Gain values are monitored in VU-Gain. It is besides Ratio slider, and has the same scale than Threshold slider. This helps to choose the appropriate Ratio.
• Look Ahead Time: The dynamic gain is calculated instantly from the input, and it is applied to the input delayed, to avoid undesired clips. This delay time is the look ahead time.
• Knee Softness: This parameter controls the way ratio is applied. In ‘Hard Knee Mode’, ratio value ‘jumps’ from 1:1 to the value specified when level goes above threshold. In ‘Soft Knee Mode’, ratio value varies smoothly from 1:1 to the value specified when level is between [(threshold - range) , (threshold + range)]. Range is the parameter that we change in this control:
  
  
  • 0% <> Hard Knee
  • 25% <> Range = 2dB
  • 50% <> Range = 4dB
  • 100% <> Range = 8dB

Output part:

• Makeup Gain: This gain is the final part of the process. It don’t change the dynamics, it is only used to compensate the gain reduction applied before. The ideal situation should be a compressed sound, but with the maximum amplitude, and without clipping. You can achieve this situation by adjusting Makeup Gain.
• Auto Reduce Gain Function: This function helps to achieve the situation commented above: You set the Makeup Gain to a high value. If this function is activated, the gain is reduced automatically when a clip is detected, based on the clip value.
  Note: This function only works when the tweak window is opened. If it is closed, the Makeup Gain does not change, although the function is activated.

Tril

I have two questions.

How did you place two plugins into the same kxl file?

When do people usually use a compressor?


It seems very impressive. I thank you eYagos, for all the people that will use it and never reply to your thread.

Russ

Good stuff

I am guessing that is because you need a window handle for a callback function (a timer or something)? If that is the case then you might consider creating an invisible window yourself (that exists as long as the plugin is loaded) for that purpose.

Tiger M

New great stuff by eyagos!

I've been waiting for something new for a long time. Thanks.

ROBSCIX

Yes that is a nice piece of work, I can't wait to try it out. Tril, Compressors are usually used in the final mastering stage-used to raise the preceived volume of the track but it reduces the dynamic range though. THink of it as a person with there hand on the volume knob of a stereo, when the signal goes quiet..they turn it up, when the signal goes loud, they turn it down..how fast and how much this is done is what the controls on the plugin are for. That is just an analogy..hope it's correct. See the output is usually just set to under the cieling 0.0db..the compressor will make the track loud but won't allow it to go above the out ceiling. THere are different types but they all follow the same principles. Again nice job..Thank you.

thomasabarnes

I'm always glad to have another good hardware based effect. thanks.

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ROBSCIX

Yeah it's great to see more development.

townkat

good job and i am glad i could help

cya

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eyagos

Tril:
"How did you place two plugins into the same kxl file?"
To place two plugins in the same kxl file, you only has to add the files of all effects to the project, and add a few lines in simple.cpp for each effect.

"When do people usually use a compressor?"
Final mastering is the most. A popular use of a compressor too, is for listening music or movies at night: You compress the sound, and the difference between low and high volume sounds is decreased.

Russ:
"I am guessing that is because you need a window handle for a callback function (a timer or something)? If that is the case then you might consider creating an invisible window yourself (that exists as long as the plugin is loaded) for that purpose."

You are true, it uses a timer in the dll, the same timer used for vu-meters. Ussing an invisible window should be the perfect solution if I'll want this funtion to work allways. But if the ARG function would work all the time the plugin is conected, the gain would be decreasing allways, and this is not very confortable. I prefer that it only works when tweak window is opened.

Thanks for all your replys.

TheKezReturns

Nice work eyagos. I'll be putting this one to good use. I find no need for so many controls as with the dynamics plugin.



btw. Everyone has their own view on compression but I use it in some form in just about everything. If you like your sounds big fat and dirty rather than pristine clean and 'made it on my computer'-digital, then don't wait for mastering, whack some on your tracks, especially bass, drums, clean guitar and vocals. If ya use 'em properly, you'll find your stuff sounding alot more like your favourite cd and less like the music from an 80's computer game.
For example, run lemury's drum synth thru the 10-band and then into the compressor and (and maybe a small bit of tigers' tubedrive) and then tweak. Not bad huh?

nyquility

First of all thank you VERY much eyagos, this is an excellent addition to the plugin family. I've already put it to great use in my DSP window, emulating some pretty wicked multiband compression solutions to make my music sound even sweeter.

I am going to be really cheeky and ask if it would be at all possible to make a version which can also expand (is that possible?). I know that would bring the e-Compressor closer to the functionality of the current dynamic processor and might be too much to ask but here are some of the reasons why it would be great:

-The new interface rocks, much more practical in my humble opinion than the dynamic processor interface.
-RMS/Peak detection
-Much more finely modulated trigger curves
-Joint Mean/Max
-Lower resource usage allows for more instances, allows for preciser tweaking.

So why do I need the expander? Well I am trying to beef up, add warmth and optimize my mixes, using some of the techniques I've seen in Dx/DSP Plugins like iZotope Ozone3 etc. I was using the dynamic processor to do this with generally good but slightly unpredictable results. My new setup works really well at the top end, now I would love to bump at the low end as well. I can (and am at the moment) use a dynamic processor but I would love the flexibility of revamped e-Expander/Compressor.

eyagos

Thanks, but... emm..., I'm loving this plugin too . The RMS detector, and some changes made in times calculators, have been the keys, I think. Btw nyquility, what do you mean with 'Much more finely modulated trigger curves' ?

An expand/compress option is easy to implement in the actual code (I had this idea in mind jet). In the next release there will be an e-Compressor and an e-Expander, in order to mantain the actual interface.

nyquility

This: The dynamic processor only has 3 settings, hard, soft, softer, theoretically with this setting I can be even more precise with triggering and softening the envelope. Not that I would know right now how exactly this influences my mixes but maybe one day I will understand the mechanics of compression to such a degree that I will have finetuning it down to an artform.

And all thanks to you, eyagos

Great news on the expander, I will come and check this thread every day, maybe even twice a day to see if its done

PS: I've spent so much of my spare time reading up on compression etc. lately that I think you have started me on a path to addiction. I don't know whether to thank you or curse you eyagos

PPS: I might sit down an write a guide to compression with kX soon, when I feel my knowledge is up to scratch so I can share some of the joy with others.

dj_stick

drop me a PM when you do this, i can host it on the knowledgebase

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nyquility

Will do stick and I'll even spellcheck it after I have written it

Maddogg6

Any chance for a 3538h version?

ROBSCIX

Hey NYQ, if you want an cheap easy way to get Ozone mastering for free, you can use winamp as a catalyst, use the wave out, run your mix throught the winamp, OZone will process it and write the new wave file...Thought you might like to know, thats an easy way to get some tube warmth added..and it's free...sorry for getting off topic guys..thx

nyquility

Hey ROBSCIX, sorry I missed your answer and thanks for the advice. I used that method for a while but as sweet as Ozone for winamp can be, it works its voodoo without giving the user total control. I was more referring to Ozone3 the DX plugin which has multiband-compression, an exciter (which I think is a fancy name for a reverb) and lots of other things. My friend has it and I've had a chance to play with it but it's beyond my budget, can do more than I need it to and I don't approve of using a pirated version. So I looked for alternatives before realizing I could do a lot of the pre-mastering just with the DSP and kX drivers. It's a huge kick!

BTW eyagos, any chance at all you could compile a 3537 version. With LeMury releasing his ProFX for 3537 and UFX (especially the parametric EQ) I can tweak my setup even more, so it looks like its time to "downgrade".

ROBSCIX

Yeah, I was just giving you an option, You cannot acces anything on the Ozone for winamp module unless you pay the $50..then you can access all the parameters. I have seen the DX version also very Nice, I think I may invest in it for my studio, once I get my Delta 1010. I am also using 3537 for UFX, and now I have ProFX also..thats great...btw the Exciter in Ozone is a Tube Modeler, You could do alot of the Mastering step in KX, but I don't think you would get anything close to what the Ozone DX accomplishes..then again if you have a compressor and know how to use it..but you wouldn't have that tube warmth or sparkle...good luck

I also vote for a 3537 version of the E-compressor, how about your other compressors as well? if it's not to much trouble.. THX

nyquility

Yeah thanks ROBSCIX, I didn't mean to sound condescending (if I did), it really was a useful suggestion. BTW just incase you don't know, there was a 3537 version of the Dynamic Processor if I recall correctly, should be able to do pretty much what the new compressor does, even if all the sweet features are missing.

ROBSCIX

I have a dynamic processor in my DSP list. is that what your speaking of or do you mean another one? I am asking becuase I love new effects to play with! the more the merrier. So are you saying there is another version for 3537 or just the one thats included with the driver?

nyquility

Not sure to be honest, its been so long since I had 3537 installed. Probably is the one in the list.

radiocolonel.it

Hola, Eyagos, come estas?
I would ask ask if u can compile it for 3537, i guess other people woul like to use this fantastic mastering tool!
Thanks anyway for your plugins!!! Your work is really appreciated!!!

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eyagos

Hola.

I have compiled it for 3538h and aded to the web today. But for 3537 I must make some changes in the code. My plans are to realease next version soon (maybe next week). I'll add a 3537 compiled archive for that version.

About Dynamics processor, there are three versions. Actual version is 4.0, included in 3538i. It is the most recomendable, but it can't be compiled for 3537, because 3537 does not support the skin. In 3537 there is the 2.0 version, wich has lots of bugs.

ROBSCIX

thanks for clearin gthat up, Ok but when you release the Last version of this compressor your gonna do a 3537 version for us guys using that version? Thanx that is much appreciated..

nyquility

This is excellent news eyagos. I can't wait for the next version to appear.....

No seriously, I can't wait! Hurry Up! I am just kidding, I am pretty certain you are an incredibly busy man and I am glad you take some time out to make your great plugins.

As for the 3537 version, personally I probably won't be needing it (I tried going back to 3537 but had some serious stability issues) but I am sure there are plenty of people (especially our impatient friend ROBSCIX ) who will be totally thrilled.

Thank you again for everything eyagos!

ROBSCIX

No actually I am not impatient at all. I can wait until it's done. I was just clarifying as he said he was doing a version for 3537 and I am using 3537 and I like plugins...But I can wait as long as it takes. Can't rush these things.

nyquility

Hehe, no I didn't mean you were impatient for the compressor more impatient elsewhere in other threads.. and I didn't mean that in a bad way either, you're a very eager kX user, I am just the same... also just as frustrated that I can not quite get it together to actually code my own plugins.

ROBSCIX

Well yes I am eager to help. I would like to design my own plugins using my own ideas. But for now it's all in the studying phase..I will leave that subject alone. Well I was shackled with creative drivers for along time..now with KX I have my guitar hooked in...everything sound better than it EVER did..it makes me eager because..I like Audio. I think I may be upgrading though. I want an A2..