Device Details

Device Overview

Name/Version: Compander A 1.8
Author: aprilgiom  
Description: Compander A is the first device in a pair of two compander devices. Compander A compresses or expands the sound, and Compander B inverts that effect to restore the original signal. In between the two you can put a non-linear effect(s) like a distortion. The Companders allow you to shape how that effect behaves by shaping the input dynamics, which recreating the original dynamics on the other end. For example, you can heavily distort a drum bus and then restore the transients afterward.

IMPORTANT SETUP INFO:
To pair the two devices, click the "Pair" button on Compander A, then click the knob on Compander B. Many pairs of Compander devices can coexist in a Live set. It is also important that you compensate for the latency of all FX placed between the two devices. Select the FX between Compander A and B to find how much latency they are introducing. Type this amount (in samples) into the Latency Compensation box on Compander B.

A word on how this works:
I haven't seen any other devices like this in Max for Live. I think that's because passing audio rate information between devices is not straightforwardly possible. I worked around this by sending that information through Live's modulation system. This is not perfectly precise, and sometimes it introduces artifacts. For the cleanest results, use RMS mode and/or longer attack and release times, and be sure to compensate for latency correctly. You can absolutely push these settings harder, but you might run into some nasty crunching! Either way, I think the imprecision is worth it to have a totally flexible and open-ended compander which you can put on either side of any FX you want!
 

Device Details

Downloads: 901
Tags effect
Live Version Used: 11.1.1
Max Version Used: 8.2.1
Date Added: Sep 22 2023 00:03:13
Date Last Updated: Sep 22 2023 19:44:36
Average Rating (4) 5
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Device Type: audio_device
URL (optional): https://youtu.be/h2mwkluWPbw
License (more info): None

Device Files

Device File: Compander A v1.8.amxd
 


Comments

very cool idea and fun tool!

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