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Syntrillium M.D. · Location: USA

Did you know that you can do multiband compression and limiting in Cool Edit Pro 2.0? Did you know that you can effectively apply any effect in a multiband scenario? You can. So whether you're mastering your tracks and need to apply some careful limiting or perhaps you want to add reverb to the high-end portion of a track without applying reverb to the bass, the key is in CEP2's FREQUENCY BAND SPLITTER.

The Frequency Band Splitter is located in the Multitrack view under the Effects Menu. To begin, select and highlight your file. Go to Effects>Frequency Band Splitter. What this enables you to do is to separate your audio into user-definable bands...so, whether you want to do simple low-Mid-hi, or more complex lo-loMid-Mid-HiMid-hi, you have up to 8 individual bands that you can set.

Let's start with something simple, say, three bands. The crossover field is where you determine the cut-offs. So start with a figure of 120. You'll notice that the first field now states a range of 0Hz-->120Hz. Click on the "3" radio button, and then in the crossover field, type "4500". Now, you'll see that you've selected to use 3 bands, with ranges of 0-120, 120-4500, and 4500-22k (max range determined by the sample rate you're using)

When you're done, click OK. Cool Edit will now extract these bands as individual waves in the multitrack, and insert them in a consecutive manner, below the original wave. Each file will also have the name of the original and the frequency band that it represents.

It's really that simple. Once the files are 'split' multitrack, you can add compression, limiting, reverb, EQ or any other effect and only apply it to the band that you desire. This also makes auditioning of multiband real-time processes (ie, adding a limiter to the low end only) very simple, seeing as you can just 'SOLO' the appropriate band and really hear what's happening, without having to mute or disable other bands in the process.

Now, this is one simple way to use the Frequency Band Splitter. Obviously, there are many uses. Of course, if you simply want to do something like multiband compression, but would rather work off one file in the MT view, simply click on the FX tab. Go into the effects rack and add three instances of the Dynamics Processor. Click Apply and OK. Inside the DP window, there is a Band Limit tab. This tab allows you to do essentially the same thing as the FBS's crossover field. Designate which bands you want to effect, type in the cut-offs, and you're ready to roll.

Multiband Processing for Mixing and Mastering has never been easier...and you've got complete control at your fingertips.

---Syntrillium, M.D.

MusicConductor · Location: USA

I am looking forward to my next vinyl restoration so I can try the Frequency Band Splitter on it--it's a great way to sum the noise below 150 or 200 Hz to mono and leave the rest alone. Also for de-essing and other vocal tricks... ever see anybody run a vocal through a variable (4-band) Dolby A processor? This can be emulated by the multiband compressor.

If anyone has concern about how accurate it is, try this (make sure everything's 32-bit): split a source file into whatever bands you desire. Don't change or add anything, but simply mix the split files back down. Invert paste the mixdown over the source file. Of course, the main signal will cancel out leaving the noise, distortion, phase shifts, and other inaccuracies behind. What do you get? Well, try it, it's pretty impressive!

Nice going, Synt!

Syntrillium M.D. · Location: USA

Glad you like it, MusicConductor! We think it's pretty cool too.

Happy recording!

---Syntrillium, M.D.

Heavens to Betsy · Location: USA

LEE TYLER · Location: USA

Bigggggggg Badda-bump!!

I have just spent an hour exploring splitting frequencies with the Frequency Band Splitter, and I noticed in the very low freek regions (20-100hz approx), a little crackle from each speaker on reviewing ONE track at a time, soloed. When I solo two tracks TOGETHER, it disappears. Like....uh....what is this crakling about? Doc?? Thanks in advance, ---Lee

bonnder · Posted - Mon Jun 16, 2003 9:42 am

SteveG · Location: United Kingdom

ROBSCIX · Posted - Mon Jun 16, 2003 1:15 pm

Ok, cool, I have just started to use the FBS.."VERY COOOL"....Ok now If I am reading this right then, what your actually doing is "Pulling" out the frequencies you like/need..using FSB, I balance the way you like then you Invert Paste over the original?...that I don't get. This could be a good NR process but, how much signal are you going to lose that you need? I am assuming that matching the bands up that close could be difficult. I have been restoring analog cassettes of old 80's Rock. I seem to be having difficult time getting a half decent punch without the WOOF. Could this be an alternate way of restroring old recordings cassettes/Vinyl. Maybe synt could help on this. What I would want to do is try and using the FSB to get resonable "envelopes" across the frequency response of the tape and adjust to taste..so to speak. Any help would be appreciated. BTW the FSB is COOOOOLLLLL;)

kylen · Posted - Mon Jun 16, 2003 1:48 pm

OK, I'm interested ! This sounds really fun.

The art of dynamics processing is on my mind these days so besides doing some reasonable things with this I can see that I'll also try the 8 frequency split and hook up 8 Ozones giving me a 32 band compressor.

Doubting that 8 Ozones will run at the same time on my 2.66GHz Pent 4 then I'll try putting 8 Vintage Warmers up there (8 of those will run) which would give me 24 bands to go cross-eyed or cross-eared with. Then I'll try all my others and see you in a month. :D

Then I'll probably do something more reasonable like the MD suggested in the first place. Subbass (10-40Hz), Bass (40-120Hz), LoMid (120-500Hz), Mid (500-1K), Hi Mid (1K-4K), Hi (4k-10K), Treble (10K-20K), Dogs (20K-??) for doing dynamics balance and a little repair at the same time.

Plus the fact that I can run the dynamics processors in parallel in the FX rack (I think they refer to that as the New York sound in 'The Mixing Engineers' guide) should make for some precision control.

Thanks for the cool tip, I'm glad this one got a bump:) !
kylen

LEE TYLER · Location: USA

kylen · Posted - Mon Jun 16, 2003 3:15 pm

Hi Lee,

I need to try this tonight (I'm at work now) using dynamics to smooth out and repair a very ruff mix that can't be remixed. I've tried to use the 4 band Ozone which is very transparant on the mids, and the 3 band Vintage Warmer which gives me some great ooomph (technical term Big Grin

) to the bottom end down around 40-60Hz, and splashy cymbols on the highs (still working on my splash).

Long story short, now I can 'glue' 2 Vintage Warmers and 1 Ozone together which I'm most excited about. I'll keep my ear peeled for the crackling you mentioned down low since that's where I'll be working a lot.

kylen

LEE TYLER · Location: USA

Thanks!