Avid Pro Audio Community

bigdaddyscondition · #1 03-12-2014, 03:20 AM

Does anyone have experience using both compressor plugins, Smack! and Maxim? Which is better in your opinion?

Drew Mazurek · #2 03-12-2014, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdaddyscondition

Does anyone have experience using both compressor plugins, Smack! and Maxim? Which is better in your opinion?

Smack is a compressor.

Maxim is a peak limiter.

They are very different tools for different uses.

For example, you'll probably use Smack on tracks and maybe some busses and reserve Maxim for the stereo buss.

Smack is usable, but Maxim is pretty terrible if you ask me.

I'd look at Massey Plugins for great inexpensive alternatives.

feliponk · #3 03-12-2014, 06:44 AM

Smack all the way...

DMB13KOS · #4 03-12-2014, 08:16 AM

I've had good results using Maxim on my master track as a mastering limiter, but you have to be careful how you set it.

Shifted Music · #5 03-12-2014, 10:27 AM

Drew nailed it.

Massey Limiter. Smack is awesome.

8dB.co.uk · #6 03-12-2014, 11:03 AM

Maxim for TV post if you absolutely HAVE to and can't get a ProLimiter or Waves L3LL Multi (which is actually great as a compressor as well set up right). For music, and not mastering, Smack may well do the job you require but I've not had good times with it in post to picture.

albee1952 · #7 03-12-2014, 07:44 PM

My 2 cents....SMACK! is a nice "character" compressor(and I use it on most every project for lead vox). Not a fan of MAXIM, but it is useable. My preference for limiting is Waves L2 or Massey L2007(which I WOULD buy if I didn't already have L2)

Emcha_audio · #8 03-13-2014, 06:52 AM

I've used smack lightly on a piano for jazz was pretty great there. Not too bad on acoustics guitar either. An other place where I like it is when I do Parallel compression of drum, set it to octo and compress the hell out of the parallel track with it, gives good character.

feliponk · #9 03-13-2014, 11:23 AM

Smack is a good compressor and sounds great too. I was never fan of Maxim but it's very used in TV for Loudness maddness.

As a limiter I prefer McDSP ML 4000, BX Limiter, Sonnox and Avid Pro Limiter.

Mike496 · #10 03-13-2014, 12:35 PM

I use Maxim in place of L1 for individual track limiting now that waves is no longer DSP, seems to work well for me.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
WTB: Smack TDM	Chris Coleman	Buy & Sell	2	02-03-2013 02:37 PM
Plug in updates? (BF, Smack, Maxim et)	Lotus54	003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Mac)	1	10-30-2009 09:41 PM
Smack! & Smack LE don't see my licence	wasabi	Pro Tools TDM Systems (Mac)	2	11-23-2005 09:55 AM
I Tried Smack!!	dBHEAD	003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Mac)	2	09-10-2004 12:29 PM
Smack!	Michael Carpenter	003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win)	4	09-07-2004 04:13 AM