Sonnox Inflator

PaulBrewer

Does anyone use this or similar ?

http://www.sonnoxplugins.com/pub/plugins/products/inflator.htm

Any opinions or examples of it at work ?

trackmixstudio

I use a little bit of Inflator for mastering all the time.
Adds RMS density. I also use either inflator or Stillwell's Event Horizon for clipping before the limiter during mastering. Whichever gives me the most level before noticeably distorting. I know some people are strongly against clipping a master but it works for me:D
Often use Inflator on the snare too to clip and add density.
Great plugin.
That I Phoenix track you commented on before has inflator on the master.

dav nagle

trackmixstudio wrote: »

I use a little bit of Inflator for mastering all the time.
Adds RMS density. I also use either inflator or Stillwell's Event Horizon for clipping before the limiter during mastering. Whichever gives me the most level before noticeably distorting. I know some people are strongly against clipping a master but it works for me:D
Often use Inflator on the snare too to clip and add density.
Great plugin.
That I Phoenix track you commented on before has inflator on the master.

Always a good man for the tips and info M.

SonasRec

I use inflator or Massey L2007 on the mix buss for most client mixes. Great for getting a loud mix without clipping.

Haven't used them much for finished mixes (except across the odd drum buss) as most projects go for mastering.

Neurojazz

Probably use the Sonnox one soon - i've used waves stuff to lift sounds before, but really tired of their license system every time I upgrade a rig.

I'd use it on snares (but more dance ones), vocals (then easier for me than fader riding to just crush the life out of it [yes i'm evil]) and a host of other sounds - probably a complete abuse, but really makes it nice to balance a mix.

Just from my experience, the more 'main' elements i'd use them on, the more they stand out in lower volumes or crap speakers (like in some TV/Consumer gear)

In some Mastering dvds I have they use the Sonnox inflators also for light lifting - all their plugs seem to be worth a look if you don't have equivalents.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

Adds RMS density. I also use either inflator or Stillwell's Event Horizon for clipping before the limiter during mastering.

<< can someone explain what , why you do this ?
I must be missing some knowlege here.

and is inflator an expander - or something else ?

trackmixstudio

Clipping gets you more level by truncating the top of the waveforms (on snares.)
A limiter sort of does the opposite, pulling down the peaks and returning the level back up dependent on the release time resulting in "pumping".
Clipping a snare (or a mix with a loud snare) gets you higher rms than limiting alone. Clipping on a snare is something you can usually get away with because it will distort the attack portion of the sound. A couple of DBs of clipping followed by a couple of DBs of limiting sounds more transparent than just limiting.
Inflator adds RMS density by adding harmonic distortion making stuff sound louder at the same peak level. Inflator incorporates a clipper and the RMS inflator functions in a single plugin. Stillwell's Event Horizon is a brilliant clipper/limiter and fantastic value. I always use inflator on a master then either the clipper in inflator or Event Horizon before the limiter (normally Sonnox limiter) when mastering.
Here is the "I Phoenix" track I mentioned with inflator, clipper, limiter on the master. It is hitting about -9RMS
http://soundcloud.com/trackmixstudio/i-phoenix-tremors

i57dwun4yb1pt8

thanks

I get it now

i must say , I have been listening to your recordings , and they do sound great.

you always get a nice clear aggressive openess and full dirty guitars.

I think I know where im going wrong in mixing now ( never mind limiting etc )