In this free video tutorial for Production Expert, Pro Tools Expert Technical Editor James Ivey shows some of his ideas for using multiband compression. In this case, James is using the stunning sounding Tube-Tech Stereo Multiband Compressor SMC 2BM.  James shows you around the unit and then sets it to work on a track by British band Voltaire. 

With the first pass of the track, James lets you hear just how the SMC 2BM sounds by driving each of the bands as hard as possible and bosting the output gain to show almost how not to use the unit.  With the second pass, James demonstrates how he uses multiband compression to tame each of the compression bands and bring out the best bits of the program material.

The Tube-Tech SMC 2BM 

The TUBE-TECH SMC 2BM Stereo Multiband Compressor features three independent optical stereo compressors. The signal is divided into three bands (Low, Mid & High) by 6 dB/octave x-over networks with 12 selectable frequencies from 60 – 1200 Hz for Low/Mid band and 6 selectable frequencies from 1.2 – 6 kHz for the Mid/High band.

Two switchable crossover points allow accurate control of all three bands of opto-compression. Independent control of Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release & Gain parameters make the SMC 2BM as flexible as it is accurate.

The Gain controls are fitted with 12 position gold plated switches in 1dB steps. Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release and Balance controls are fitted with 31 step potentiometers.

The design of the cross-over networks optimizes the summing of all three bands, resulting in a flat frequency response (within +/-0,25 dB), when the gain controls for each band are set at the same level.

The three compressors feature Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release and Gain and a display showing gain reduction. Master levels are set with Output Gain and Balance controls.