🥊 CUBASE 11 Squasher vs Waves MV2 🥊

[@peterlambros]

Thank you Chris. This is the first time I really understood what the MV2 does and how to use it properly; thank you for sharing.

[@Benveredbass]

Thank you so much for this awesome review Chris! Well done. I upgraded to cubase 11 two days ago and I am so happy. Does it substitute the parallel compression for your opinion, or do you use them both? And do you use the squaser in the mastering prosses as well?

[@AndyNicholson]

Squasher is fast becoming my secret weapon for a whole bunch of stuff, vocals, bass, drums, even masternig. MV is great, but the flexibility of Squasher is fantastic.

[@vstories9019]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@blaablaa22]

Yeah, it really looks it'll become my secret weapon as well, when I'll update next month.

[@theparkerilla7292]

Excellent timing featuring the MV2. I've just qualified for one of Waves free (& admittedly limited in choice) plug-in offers and the MV2 was one of them, so thank you for demonstrating the difference in audio between the Squasher and the MV2.

[@mixdownonline]

Fantastic!

[@hoborec]

Thanks for explaining the Squasher Chris! I thought it was something completely different and didn’t get it at all. Going to dive back in it now.

[@mixdownonline]

Glad it was helpful bro! It's bein a while, hope you're doing well!

[@xXValomatXx]

First of all: Thanks for the video. I immediately started using the Squasher. I used MV2 before but to be honest: No need any more... Squasher got it all. and much more

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@soundroomstudiosproductions]

one of the best review. thank you hats off. clear and clarity education....thanks for your humbleness

[@mixdownonline]

So nice of you, thanks!

[@Teunminator]

Hi Chris, the holiday has done you visibly good. thanks for the video. this helps me a lot.

[@mixdownonline]

Lol, thanks! Happy the video was helpful!

[@jeremythornton433]

I just discovered Squasher. I'm a bit slow to the party. I'm using 12 Pro. I wanted to get my drums to have more energy and my Pulsar Smasher just wasn't doing what I wanted. And now, to watch your video!

[@thesocialartsclub9095]

Cubase is just awesome. So happy with my Cubase 11 Elements . Includes squasher.

[@brianbartelli8731]

Are these plug-ins used with other compressor plug-ins or used as the sole compressor plug-in on a track?

[@johnmurphy5739]

Great stuff as always !

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Rondozza]

an update from cubase 10.5 to 11 costs 100 €. there are companies where a plugin like the squasher costs 100 €. and you get this for free in cubase. there are many people who complain in the forums about the high update prices. especially since you don't have to update. I honestly can't understand. this tool is also very suitable to bend and design sounds. thank you chris for the video.

[@mixdownonline]

I totally agree with you on this!

[@staffanjonsson7289]

So you nowadays use Mv2 instead of vocal rider or in combination or when to use what? Btw love my saturday mornings with some coffee and Chris Selim's latest video!

[@kdcyp]

Great video as always Chris! I would love to know this also ie. when would you use MV2 instead of Vocal Rider and even the Maximiser Cubase standard plug-in please?

[@Thatnigacj]

@@kdcyp my 2 cents. I don’t suggest vocal rider. Seemed too complicated to me when I first used it and did nothing more then I could do myself. This is different. This is compression. I suggest to use Mv2 on your master. Use other compressors for your vocals, more controllable ones.

[@mgmthegrand]

Great review Chris. My discovery of this video was conveniently timed too as I was looking at alternatives to MV2 so I could understand better how it works under the hood. When used on vocals, I wonder if adding drive wouldn't bring Squasher even closer to MV2, given that the MV2 definitely adds some harmonics/color/saturation to the vocals.

[@reallyreallyfreemusic]

On the compression view at the top of Squasher, I'd really like to be able to see the amplitude of the source signal in real time (superimposed on the compression graphs), both pre and post compression. That would be awesome.

[@mixdownonline]

Great suggestion!

[@mgmthegrand]

I would imagine if you could have a waveform view in both the compression and frequency views (with pre-&-post graphs) so you can see how the ADSR of the waveform is being affected by the processing. I find the Wavescope in Supervision to be very helpful with this as most plugins have a spectrum analyzer instead of a waveform analyser.

[@MoonhareStudio]

So cool. How have I gone so long without hearing about upward compression? Another reason to get Cubase 11.

[@realmusic4you]

Thanks Chris, excellent review. I have used the MV2 many times, however the Squasher imho sounds much better and thus will be my go to expander/compressor as well as all of the other great features The Squasher has to offer. Thanks again for this in depth comparison.

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@albiss1164]

Very nice comparison demo. Thanks! :)

[@stevebeaudoin7234]

so using the squasher on the kick and snare. Are you bussing the kick and snare to its own group buss?? .. and using the squasher on that buss only

[@darrenross9168]

Hi Chris, Squasher is great but Mv2 is just so simple use, Have a great day, all the best.

[@mixdownonline]

The MV2 is very simple to use and I'm a huge fan, love this plugin, however, Squasher is a beast of its own

[@pianonimrecords]

Squasher is pretty good.. MV2 that i usually use it most of my bass chain..sometimes vocals.. can you make a video about the sidechain options on Squasher when u have time. Explaining such as, when u sidechain which of these different bands with what kind of instruments at the same time? If you think making such a video is unnecessary..well do not do that :D by the way..new hair design is cool. rock on \m/

[@Art_Of_Sound]

Thanks Chris. When you need to ab like that, I use qc 7+8 linked to same controller to bypass and invert one so that a single button simply flicks between. There is way more UC gain on m2...don’t use the meters. Hey did you ever use multi band in SX? Did so much more...can’t believe no one else complained about it being removed?

[@vsolic]

Awesome video as always. Thank you Chris.

[@mixdownonline]

Glad you enjoyed it bro!

[@ayesh67]

Hi Chris, I am Dr. Ayman A. from jordon, Cubase pro 11 user, I faced important problem that is in some cases Cubase shift tune of pich bend some time appear but if use new project the tune back to original value plz try to solve this important prob, thank you

[@gregmccarty8253]

I like the simplicity and tone of the MV2 on vocals. I do also use Vocal Rider with some dynamic vocals. But I look forward to trying out Squasher -- when I finally pony up for 11!

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, MV2 sounds great on vocals :-)

[@rossdonaldson5494]

So far for me squasher alone is worth the upgrade to 11. I'm having to keep myself from adding it to every buss. Having the mix option on each band plus the drive on a per band section then an overall mix is what makes this so worthwhile for me. I've stopped using MV2 all together, I have presets that get me close then just tweak.

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, Squasher is a very good addition to Cubase 11

[@angelorozul241]

Thanks for this video Chris

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@ephraimvinaysingh5374]

Hi Chris. I am having a problem with some plugins in cubase 10. When i insert a plugin the track faces a lot of latency. How can i fix that. Please could you help me. Thanku 😊😊

[@jzealmedia]

Squasher sounds great but squashes some user-friendliness in my opinion. I think MV2 is very simple and straightforward and does great works fast.

[@vstories9019]

Study Squasher to make you more than a beginner.

[@ivanvenot]

Creo que la comparacion debio ser entre MaxxVolume de WAVES contra Squasher porque el MaxxVolume tiene un gate como lo tiene Squasher

[@mixdownonline]

I never tried MaxxVolume though ;-)

[@ivanvenot]

@@mixdownonline If you are a fan of the MV Maxx Volume you will like it much more I take this opportunity to congratulate you for the channel and very informative for us CUBASE users a hug!

[@theparkerilla7292]

Is 'Zones' still working properly in the mixer window in Cubase 11 ? I can't get my new project to select zones for the tracks and group channels. I've also lost the 'zones' function on my old projects in Cubase 10.5 since installing Cubase 11.

[@manuelgasse]

I think you put your low level higher on the squasher. Might be the difference with noise.

[@marcinklimek8065]

Maybe MV2 isn't useless, thanks for explain.

[@gdanila]

Squasher is Cubase’s take on OTT. Highly advanced take.

[@akonubeng977]

How much do you charge for mixing a song

[@OKvalosound]

Thanks Chris! This video makes me hungry for using upward compression more often. I am very happy for the possibilites of Cubase😁

[@mixdownonline]

Enjoy!

[@rickneibauer1]

I bet if you use the multiband parameters, it crushes mv2. Squasher is an incredible stock plug for almost anything

[@hagenpresser8721]

thanks, chris

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@davidhellegouarch1622]

Hi Chris! Thank you for sharing this content. In which context you recommand using upward compression (with downward or not) ?

[@mixdownonline]

In a situation where you want to reduce the dynamic range of a signal and make that signal more upfront.

[@davidstojakovich2463]

Hi Chris, I am looking forward to this video. I tried using Squasher on a couple tracks in the past two weeks but had to pull it off. Squasher is a beast and I know I can make good use of it but I am still trying to figure out how to tame that beast. Okay, thanks for the video. Now I know what I have to do. That’s shifting the frequency bands. And not trying to use all three just because they are there. Awesome!

[@mixdownonline]

Hope you'll enjoy this video, I kept things simple for Squasher :-)

[@murraywebster1228]

At last an mv2 alternative

[@datamasked623]

I could never get into Waves’ stuff. They have some cool plugs, yes, but they’re like the Apple of plug-in developers. I didn’t like that their plugins were just a few simple controls and then their algorithms do their thing under the hood. You couldn’t get surgical with them...except with the Q10. That one had some insane Q widths. But overall, I hate that set it and forget it paradigm. I want control.

[@Thatnigacj]

Waves has pretty much everything. Some plugins are simple and some are more complex.

[@christyros2]

Hi Chris! :)

[@mixdownonline]

Morning!

[@jarek_]

IMO OTT is more close to Squasher

[@mixdownonline]

Never tried OTT

[@urltom]

I like Squasher.

[@mixdownonline]

It's a good one!

[@SoundFriendly]

Au revoir Waves MV2 :D And in all honesty I think bye bye Vocal Rider as well.

[@VEXUS920]

Well they do two different things. I think they work really well together.

[@marcinklimek8065]

Vocal rider can write automaticaly, moves of fader, that can be usefull in some cases ;)

[@SoundFriendly]

@@marcinklimek8065 Absolutely right. Everything has its place for sure. But the up compression in Squasher will surely help me with the quiter parts becoming more evenly sounding.

[@cehape2719]

don't like either compression..actually sounds squashed..all you need is an LA-2A and an 1176

[@ReeseWitherknife]

Depends on what kind of effect you're going for. Upwards just does something specific that a regular compressor doesn't. Whether you ever want that is another matter entirely.

[@mixdownonline]

LA-2A and an 1176 is a good combo, I still use this also depending on the mix or what I'm trying to achieve. ''All you need is...'' this is more a matter of personal choice IMO :-)

[@Thatnigacj]

You are in a sense correct. I would suggest the regular old (76-2a-c4) but I would use this on the master. Glad to see someone that agrees seeing as I’m learning everything on my own.

[@cehape2719]

@@mixdownonline Hi Chris, of course it's all personal taste, absolutely true. What i basically meant was to keep in mind that companies have to throw out new stuff just to make money, even when it's reinventing the wheel and not for the better. There are a lot of great and very different comps out there, its easy to get distracted.

[@soundsfromYYBY]

Squasher better to me

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

VOLA 2 does everything MV2 does and it's free.

[@mixdownonline]

Never heard of VOLA 2, I'll check it out, thanks for sharing :-)

[@alexandersorbas1881]

MV2 did the job better

[@vstories9019]

I'm pretty sure you don't have Cubase😁

[@leirumanuel]

Another reason to buy something cheaper and not to upgrade to Cubase 11 hahaha

[@mixdownonline]

Lol!

[@leirumanuel]

@@mixdownonline Yeah really you can do the same with Axis compressor and it´s sometimes at 8€ in Plugin Boutique

[@DenisLogicCertified]

There's no such thing as an Upward Compression. Too many people use this non-sense word. A compressor turns down the volume to a certain amount defined by the Ratio (once it passes the Threshold) hence the word compression. The right word is Expansion. That's what Expansion is meant for: when the signal is below a Threshold it brings up the volume. Use the right terms guys. My 2 cents.

[@mixdownonline]

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this. Expansion or an Expander will expand the dynamic range opposed to Compression and Upward Compression. If you want to reduce the quieter parts of a signal without removing it like a Gate would, using an Expander is the way to go. Basically, Expanding the dynamic ranger. In my case, I want to reduce the dynamic range by bringing up the quieter parts and down the loudest parts, so I'm doing the complete opposite to expand. The term Upward Compression is used by a lot of mixing engineers and plugin developers. Nothing new here. Here's a good read from SOS that explain the difference between all those forms of compression www.soundonsound.com/techniques/parallel-compression. Hope that helps :-)

[@DenisLogicCertified]

@@mixdownonline Ok so an Expander expands the dynamic range. So, imagine I have a channel with nothing on. Then for some reason I want to insert an expander on it. What dœs that expander do exactly to expand the dynamic range of the signal? I know what a compressor do to reduce it, so what dœs the expander do to expand it?

[@mixdownonline]

@@DenisLogicCertified Good question and I know this is a bit confusing for a lot. With an Expander, the signal below the threshold point will get quieter according to the Expander parameters... A bit like a Gate...but instead of muting the signal once it goes below the threshold point, the expander will still lets some of the signal through but at a lower level... An Expander is to a Gate what a Compressor is to a Limiter if that makes any sense :-)

[@DenisLogicCertified]

@@mixdownonline So it reduces the volume below the Threshold hence compresses it below the Threshold?

[@mixdownonline]

​@@DenisLogicCertified Now you're just playing with words