| Author
|
Using expanders
|
Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Nov 28, 2008 00:51:52
|
I have been making music for ~5 years, but i have never used any kind of expander in my tracks. Only compressors =))
How and where do you use expanders?
  http://soundcloud.com/aedem |
|
|
|
Trip-
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
101
Posts :
3239
Posted : Nov 28, 2008 01:03
|
An expander you can use on a "dull" sound enlarging its dynamic content, as if to force it on purpose. All depends on the settings of the processor of course... Long phrases can become jumpier, short phrases can become quicker in perception.
Crackling universes dive into their own neverending crackle...
AgalactiA |
|
|
|
Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
Started Topics :
158
Posts :
5306
Posted : Nov 28, 2008 01:08
|
i dont use much expenders
in mastering process i do.. i compress and then expand with diffrent settings (somewhat default process of izotop) before the limiting.. this gives the track one "overall" dynamic and getting lots of punch "without" compress alot.
www.sattelbattle.com
http://yoavweinberg.weebly.com/ |
|
|
|
-aeon-
Aeon
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
546
Posted : Nov 28, 2008 08:52
|
|
very occasionally on drum loops - i find i have to push them quite hard before hearing a difference. |
|
|
|
Kaz
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
90
Posts :
2268
Posted : Nov 28, 2008 10:11
|
Expansion is to a noise gate what mild compression is to limiting. For some reason, in the psytrance scene, compression, limiting and noise gates are very popular yet expansion is overlooked by most non-veteran producers.
If your track sounds too flat and uneventful, you can use expansion on a single element to make it jump out more. This is extremely powerful if you compress or limit a lot of elements.
If you add some mild sidechained compression to a lead (and it makes it sound better up to a point) and you feel you want a more organic way to accent it than changing the threshold on the compressor, an expander can be a solution to your needs.
And of course, there is using a sidechained expander, in case you want a string to be accented according to the groove of a drumloop without cutting it.
Endless uses, really. It's a powerful tool. http://www.myspace.com/Hooloovoo222 |
|
|
|
Seppa
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
485
Posted : Nov 29, 2008 10:28
|
Just my input here.
The expander is more commonly used as a dynamic processor after the compressor. When you compress a signal you tend to bring up the noise floor and the resonance or tail of a sound(natural reverb). An expander will allow to compress everything below the input threshold, this will allow the user to tame those noise below the threshold giving you a cleaner sound.
The expander is very much used after compressing drums. Its use is even more pronounced in rock music because the recorded drums are usually heavily processed.
I personnaly don't really use the expander when I used already processed electro drums. But I do use it on compressed synths sometimes especially if they have a reverb (eg: Virus). Some time I do get the sound I want from the compressor but then I brought the reverb and the tails of the sound up by compressing and I wish to tame it a bit. therefore I would use an expander.
The expander is a common tool. If you use a channel strip like the duende for example you'll have an expander after the compressor in the signal flow.
Look at it as a decluter ! 
A typical chain would be. EQ, Comp,Expander
With eq you remove the unwanted frequency to bring to live those you need and boost a little maybe those you really like(decluter too), with compressor bigger sound, with expander cleaner sound.
Thats the way I see it at least.
|
|
|
|
acidkills
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
26
Posts :
431
Posted : Nov 29, 2008 14:30
|
|
Kane
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
1772
Posted : Nov 29, 2008 19:31
|
+1 for mastering only..they'll kill your mix using them all the time on individual tracks.
You believe in the users?
Yeah, sure. If I don't have a user, then who wrote me? |
|
|
|
Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Nov 29, 2008 21:52
|
|
Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Nov 30, 2008 10:31
|
You generally use compressors to bring the loud tones down in Volume, With expanders it is is just the other way around. You use it to bring the quiet tones up.
So the question is not when in general to use it but when does it help you to apply it. every mix is different...
I have used expanders for basslines at times!
Upavas - Here And Now (Sangoma Rec.) new EP out Oct.29th, get it here:
http://timecode.bandcamp.com
http://upavas.com
http://soundcloud.com/upavas-1/ |
|
|
|
Fragletrollet
Fragletrollet
Started Topics :
111
Posts :
1748
Posted : Nov 30, 2008 12:38
|
I thought that was the work of a compressor, and an expander would make the difference between the loudest and quitest bigger?
Sometimes I use the compressor to bring down the loudest parts, sometimes to make it fuller (bringing up the quiet parts, and sometimes I just want to cut the peaks (limiting). So many uses...
I just tried expanding on a synth lead after compression, and I must say I like the effect.... it jumps out f the mix while still staying stable and not taking over... interesting!
http://www.myspace.com/fragletrollet
http://www.myspace.com/unknowncausesound
http://www.fragletrollet.com/ |
|
|
|
Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : Nov 30, 2008 12:44
|
Quote:
|
On 2008-11-30 10:31, Upavas wrote:
You generally use compressors to bring the loud tones down in Volume, With expanders it is is just the other way around. You use it to bring the quiet tones up.
|
|
That would be upward compression, which is something different and very similar to regular compression.
An expander brings the quiet parts of the signal down.
(``·.¸(``·.¸(``·.¸¸.·`´)¸.·`´)¸.·`´)
« .....www.ResonantEarth.com..... »
(¸.·`´(¸.·`´(¸.·`´``·.¸)``·.¸)``·.¸)
http://www.myspace.com/spindriftsounds
http://www.myspace.com/resonantearth |
|
|
|
UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Nov 30, 2008 14:37
|
There is upward and downwards compression and there is upwards and downwards expansion. Just to make life easy. 
UnderTow
|
|
|
|
Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
Started Topics :
158
Posts :
5306
Posted : Nov 30, 2008 15:06
|
real easy hehe
explain!
as far i understand , upward compression is normal compression with makeup gain ?
anywayz expendar expand the dynamic range , in the decade of dead dynamics in music , its easy to understand why people dont like it, it gives life to the track , and you cant master it on -8 DB 
www.sattelbattle.com
http://yoavweinberg.weebly.com/ |
|
|
|
MadScientist
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
97
Posts :
1220
Posted : Nov 30, 2008 15:19
|
as far as I understand it, normal compression reduces the loud tones in volume, while upward compression raises the quite tones in volume.
same thing with expanding, downward expanders lower the volume of tones under the threshold, while upward expanders raise the volume of tones over the threshold.
correct me plz if I'm wrong
https://soundcloud.com/hazak
"Have you ever had that feeling where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?"
"Hmm, yeah... All the time, man - it's called mescaline. The only way to fly!" |
|
|
|
