Magic Death Eye Compressors

[@joesalyers]

If you shift click the light on the black stereo version before you move any other parameters you get a LAVA or Laura mode (I'm not sure the lettering is weird in cursive) and it basically makes increases the punch or makes the knee harder like the mono version and gives you a more aggressive compression. Also grabbing the screws next to balance will increase harmonics. On Mac if you control click the EQ on the Black Stereo model it will make the EQ mid/side or stereo for each band. Not sure what the windows key would be. I think a ton of developers will be switching away from linear phase oversampling (they should just give use the choice) because more and more live audio engineers are using plugins and they need the latency to be as low as possible. My band switched from a digital console 2 years ago to using Apple's Mainstage and thunderbolt interface to achieve latency lower than 90% of the most popular digital mixers. We have Motu interfaces for a total of 24 inputs and outputs at 96K with less than 2.6 milliseconds of latency from microphone to in-ear monitor. We mostly use the SSL, Fabfilter, Waves, Fuse Audio labs plugins. But I have been using the DDMF Channel Strip and I bought the Magic death eye last year.

[@DanWorrall]

You can get even lower latency by not using the oversampling at all! Might not make any audible difference anyway with a 96k samplerate, and certainly not through a PA at a gig.

[@joesalyers]

@@DanWorrall I agree, I just use the plugins with zero Oversampling at 96K but I see live guys using 48K in their rigs to get more inputs with things like ADAT and then using oversampling in plugins, instead of just running at 96K anyway for the benefit of lower latency. We use 96K for 2 reasons lower latency which helps with phase coherency between live mics as well as less phase issues with vocalists who might have phase issues between their in-ears and the skull vibrations while singing. Lowering latency always helps with this. Cheers!

[@potatosan4250]

@@joesalyersyou can also record with uad and use their plugins with inaudible latency

[@Cautionary-Tales-Band]

Not to be too pedantic here, but 2.6ms is pretty high for live sound latency. Your mostly common digital mixers (SQ series, X32, etc) are around 0.7ms end-to-end, and even this can be problematic for IEMs for some singers. What's the latency of the I/O stage with the MainStage laptop rig, without the IEM stage?

[@joesalyers]

​@@Cautionary-Tales-BandI can push my system to get 0.2 millisecond but that is running Mainstage with a 32 buffer at 96K but that doesn't leave you enough head room for processing power. We use 128 buffer and the latency of mainstage is 0.6 at 96K. The other high amount of latency is incurred by the wireless Shure and Sennheiser IEM boxes on stage. Its 2 millisecond from a pulsewave at the interface though mainstage to the output of the IEM belt-pack. If I use a hardwire connection like a floor monitor or headphone amp which I use at rehearsals the latency is 0.6 as long as I use all zero latency plugins. Most wireless guitar rig are over 3 millisecond of latency. Marketing versus reality is interesting. I've tested this to a crazy degree and their are a ton of caveats in the claims these digital mixers make. Presonus studiolive was the worst. Motu performed the best out of all of the Thunderbolt interfaces I tested. But this gives me better performance with more quality effects compared to any digital mixer.

[@JimhawthorneNet]

DDMF ... If you are reading this, please take note, that I myself, as well as thousands of others like me, listen to every word uttered by Dan Worrall, and highly value those words. Just lettin' you know.

[@nicolasnicolas3889]

He's the Don and so funny as well, genius in the house! 💯👍

[@shorerocks]

Word!

[@reziahamed6654]

Can't agree more !!! 🤓🥇

[@MatteoKee]

I think that’s why he’s decided to ask Dan

[@smujohnson]

There should be a DWORRALL coupon code. Then we’d all buy PluginDoctor.

[@rebeccaschade3987]

I have one complaint, which isn't aimed specifically at this plugin, but at plugin companies in general... They should not hide the price. It's become almost the norm among many plugin companies, to hide the price until you click "buy" and are asked to fill in payment info. I'm sure the idea is that "if you make them click buy, the threshold for ACTUALLY buying become lower" as you have "overcome a barrier" or whatnot. But personally... If they hide the price from me until that point, the threshold for actually buying become higher. If they make me click a purchase link in order to simply get to know what it costs, then the chances of my buying is almost 0%.

[@michaelbrunetto4491]

The "sexy lady punch option" may be one of the weirder interface decisions I've ever seen on a plugin.

[@scarfypedia]

"Don't get me wrong... but can we assume that I've got those urges covered in a different way?" fuckin crying dude

[@Punk_Mayhem]

I cried! And strange thing is, I couldn’t even remember the last time tears fell down my cheeks! Love and hugs!❤❤❤

[@CT-ho6si]

"I don't need any extra help making silly mistakes, I'm pretty good at it already" lol and thank goodness it's not just me. Thanks again Dan. Hope you are feeling well!

[@IndyJaner]

That quote is going to be my favorite quote from now on and I think it deserves going on a shirt.

[@searchiemusic]

13:25 LITERALLY SPAT OUT MY DRINK AND LAUGHED SO HARD THE CAT SCRATCHED ME

[@elianmusic7452]

14:18 LMAO this could not have been more perfectly worded. Legend, Dan.

[@jeremylarue4503]

Love Dan's music. Absolutely love it.

[@Mansardian]

It is funny, I was one of the earlier adopters of these compressors (the "mono" version came first) and I instantly fell in love. Everytime when there was a review on youtube I was scared that my love would get ridiculed by the reviewer's conclusion that it weren't THAT great. That never happened, though. And now that this compressors have been knighted by Dan I can rest assured it is not just me loving them - They really are that good😅

[@miquelmarti6537]

same here, but it's true that you have to "fight" the interface even after months of using it. At least it sounds good and to me that's 95% of the equation. Dan's insights are spot on.

[@synthoelectro]

Learned something for 23 years in mixing and mastering. It takes little to create much, either what you have and it sounds good as far as EQ, compression or what have you, if you can make it sound good, it's great. When I see more things doing much the same I wonder "Do I really need that too" I'd like to think it creates a simpler life for me.

[@valiokeys]

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, new video from Dan! Let's watch now...

[@Positive_Tea]

It's like Pavlov's bell! 🛎️🛎️🐶🐕

[@valiokeys]

@@Positive_Tea Correct!

[@Super-id7bq]

That graphic literally covering the numbers is bonkers. What on earth made them think that was a good idea from a UI / UX point of view lol?

[@Punk_Mayhem]

To all the plug-in developers, this is a global declaration, @Dan Worrall is the authority on the kind of business you’re involved in! Follow the wisdom, yeah, it’s for your sake, not anybody else’s! I repeat, Mr. Dan Worrall is the authority! Period!

[@mruebsam6453]

First of all: Thank you Dan for all of the great videos. It's fun, nerdy and always informative, and I really like your style :) We have have both compressors since about 2 years. And as Dan mentioned Christian the developer ddmf is a great developer. His plugins are along with tdr and fabfilter plugins my basic setup. Two things I would like to mention: first of all you missed a feature: When you click with the mouse on the "LED" with the word balance, you can set the distortion level. 50% means distortion as on the original hardware. the second is that the low band eq turns into a shelf eq when set to 100 Hz. There is another little trick: when you hold the option key while adjusting the input, the master out control does some gain compensation - nice :-) HoweverI'm with you Dan, all those things could have been made more "obvious" I have a different view on the EQ. Dan mentioned that the EQ is not much worth because it has to less bands and because there are other EQs with color etc as well. While the later is true I find, that the EQ on this compressor sounds exceptionally good. Really, really smooth. I like to use when it sits on my master bus. So as always ...:) I come to the same conclusion. This thing sounds fantastic and I use it very often. It would be great if ddmd could enhance the little design quirks. It would be great, if the developer could reply on the minimal phase filters for oversampling...I heard somewhere that this keeps the signal more "crisp". BTW: There is one more thing I would love in any plugin test. Controller operation. This ones work ok with Mackie control and Mackie C4. (But not great...)

[@loudnessopfer7037]

Thank you :)

[@Mik3l24]

... Seems Dan got hacked? I'm not sure where to report this? EDIT: It got resolved.

[@usedusermoser]

Dan!! Welcome back with good heath!!!🎉

[@chrisibbetson]

I feel for you! A fresh install on a new computer! Something I always dread. Good luck!!!👍

[@GrandmasterKnox]

It's awesome to see someone I look up to put into words everything I always thought about those plugins. They live in my sessions for years, and I can't seem to find a replacement for them, but the UI and some of the other oddities cited in the video are terrible, and DDMF doesn't seem to care about changing it or adding new features. For such a high price, I'm now used to expect more from plugins, and I wish DDMF delivered on that. That said, though, I can't get enough of how good they sound. Just quick to set up and straight out amazing sound that I can't really explain when comparing to other vari-mu plugins.

[@Punk_Mayhem]

Oh dear lord! Haven’t even started the video yet! Will be watching right just pressing the enter, my subconscious is going crazy, thank you dear lord ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MoreMeRecording]

Ha, I appear to have maybe been the guy questioning the "musical" description of the Rockenspiel Compressor in a prior video ;) To be clear, it wasn't meant to be a criticism. I was just [legitimately] surprised to hear you use it, as you are clearly a 'dances by the beat of his own drum' type of chap, which I believe many of us really appreciate! With this said, your use of the term in context for this plugin has helped clarify what this rather ubiquitous term means for me. Thanks and great demo here. You have piqued my interest in this to be sure! 👍👍

[@stefanaltenburger4651]

Good to see that your health has improved! Thank you for every of your great videos!

[@briefcasemanx]

DDMF plugins are made by a guy with a PHD in nuclear physics. He knows his stuff as much as anyone in the industry.

[@fromthemoonraccoon]

It's not just that the sexy/sexism viewing option is handled by users in other ways... but it's the PUNCH setting? I have other compressors that don't revel in domestic violence, thanks. I mean, DDMF is free to design it like they have, but I am likewise free to judge that choice through the lens of what I saw as a kid (hint: it isn't good, and never will be). Say, when there's such fidelity to visual design with the tiny balance knob, did the original machine feature a sexy lady?

[@XCenturionX]

I would vote Dan for President in a heartbeat

[@TLMuse]

"... which is super annoying because it means I will, in fact, be forced to turn it on and look at this tacky graphic...". Exactly my feeling, too! Please, DDMF, lose the "tacky graphic," or at least let us turn it off. The other (modest) criticisms were also on-target. I love the sound of it, but it's a bit annoying to use.

[@kisaragi-hiu]

Mr. Worrall, your account has been taken over...

[@TransistorLSD]

😢

[@kylemccombmusic]

These sound so good! Thanks for the videos Dan, you always show exactly where these plugins shine and where they fall short.

[@evanmcgregor3758]

The comment about having his urges covered in other ways was hilarious…

[@stefevr]

Hey Dan! Thanks so much for the knowledge sharing, let me share some from my area of expertise, when you have that really cool logo lighting up like in your previous 2 videos, the logo has aliasing on the edges (just like audio does in a way). a quick gaussian blur of very small radius will make those edges slightly smoother in all screen resolutions (between 0.5 to 2 pixels nothing more). Hope this helps and thank you for the goldmine of knowledge, it's much much appreciated!

[@JuniorKain]

I never had a chance to comment on your videos, simply because I tend to agree with you or at least believe it face-value. But I'm here just to be sure you're back on rack, healthy and enriching us with wisdom for years to come.

[@ayoubthegreat]

Good to hear your voice, may blessings come your way for you and your family.

[@VarionJimmy]

Besides the compressors: Great music as always! 👍👍👍👍

[@tobiasjone]

I’ve used both of these for mastering, pretty much daily, for the last 3 years - couldn’t live without them. On the waiting list for a stereo MDE hardware, but it’s a slow, long list.

[@0e0]

definitely interested in the hardware after using the plugin

[@nicolasnicolas3889]

Your videos are pure quality, I don't quite know what it all means yet but you explain it all really well! 😅

[@DJeMo]

The audio oracle most salute 🫡

[@samuelvelhomusic]

13:25 "It's a 1970s sexism option!?" 😂😂😭

[@djerikfox]

...hahaha, its always a real pleasure to watch your tutorials Dan,....RESPECT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Hope you’re feeling well, sending you healing vibes, sir. 🎶

[@MatteoKee]

Thanks very much Dan. I’ve been thinking about this product for some time.

[@walmys2nd]

Glad to be this early. Love all the work you do, Dan

[@mrnelsonius5631]

Absolutely LOVE these compressors for buses. I have the “mono” version and demoed the Stereo… I actually think I like mono more. The stereo would be useful for certain situations though so it’s been on my “pick up” list for some time. But really flexible compression, I don’t think I’ve encountered a situation where I couldn’t nudge the music into a more flattering position with it.

[@Leo.Brodie]

I so appreciate your sense of humor.

[@averagebedroomproducer5008]

Using these for about 2 months and loving it! The hidden features are cute haha

[@robertopistolesi2735]

Dear Dan, thank you for the big contribution, it means a lot to many of us. It would be great if you could test compressors (or other plugs) on a drum bus made of acoustic drums, not samples (or similarly, on a raw bass track, or synth, or guitar) It would be very useful for some of us(less expert). It's still a bit complicated for me to grasp the gist of some of the plugins you analyze. I know this is not really the point you want to make and who you want to be, but all the same 😅... Take care, R

[@false-set]

Hope you are well Dan.

[@omargd7834]

Dan as always, surprising me with his videos! I love them, keep it up like that dan!!! :3

[@saardean4481]

I remember DDMF making affordable plugins. Now this one is at almost 180 euros. Not saying its not good but , damn thats a jump

[@saardean4481]

Watching second time cause...well,, Worall. He makes video. I have to watch. But I realize how stupid I find this New Stone Age aesthetic of pin up girls like on this plugin and on the process audio rockruepel compressor.

[@realraven2000]

6:45 I have NEVER understood that even old plugins like the waves CLA-2A had to keep the "adjustment screw" parameter looking like a tiny 10px object. I mean, a Moust is not a screwdriver and you have no haptic feedback... with large screens they are incredibly hard to read, plus there is no "tip" - so at a glance they can mean 2 different values, e.g. 2 o'clock or 7 o'clock. Even lovingly rendered 2d "turn-knobs" often spend a lot of time on the "photo-realism" while making the dial point / tip very hard to see. I mean if you hire a graphic designer for your User Interface then why not tell them "make sure the user can see where the dial points without leaning forward and squinting at the screen". I am sure both could be achieved at the same time. Having screws that do nothing and adding labels, that's a new low and definitely worth an entry for the interface hall of shame.

[@Bthelick]

"I don't mind the occasional screw" sometimes you're soooo dry Dan you risk us missing the humour 🤣🤣

[@nerevar6779]

Even as a non native english speaking person, i still dropped my cofee bursting in laugh when i heard him say that ^^

[@Mishael_Agyei-Boamah]

New computer... OH SHIT... MORE VIDEOS ON THE WAY THEN. More good health to you though🙏🏾

[@keyibreand3840]

Cant wait for a video on your PC setup and Reaper!

[@SALEENS7GTR5]

Hissing also doesnt work, because if you know the periodic timing of the hiss, you can just render a track with the plugin active, and then rerender it delayed a few seconds later so the hiss falls in a different place, and repeat, and splice the finals together afteg cutting out the hiss. Like the hiss was never there. It's inconvenient, but it is free...

[@xanataph]

Totally, but it gets to be a bit of pain in the arse if you need to render again for a little tweak.

[@SALEENS7GTR5]

@@xanataph that's true. I will neither confirm nor deny that I've used this method when rendering a mix for basic mastering, and used a plugin on the master for a final mix touch.

[@artysanmobile]

Great work as always, Dan.

[@denoiser]

Somehow Ddmf stayed under radar for long time, but everything he does/i hear is great. Ddmf please do us a favor and hire Dan as project consultant!

[@kinvsh]

that background guitar got me

[@PeterBinns]

Dear Dan, thanks for your sharing your vast experience. Dr Gundry & one of his books “the plant paradox” is very likely to be the answer to many questions & life quality issues you face. Love your work. Cheers pb.

[@Rhuggins]

Horray!! Love these units

[@TheRealFieryBiscuits]

Great to have you back Dan! While we're in vibey vari-mu land I'd love you to look at Wavegrove's HCL Islander sometime.

[@MrACangusyoungDC]

Arturia's Intensity Reverb has the perfect interface for fairly complicated intuitive tricks

[@scottfaircloff9530]

Dan, thanks for doing this.

[@mthomas1091]

Yeay can’t wait to watch! (I have the first MDE).

[@shorerocks]

As a product manager for +20 years 'because: Marketing!' makes a lot sense to me.

[@codywrightmusic]

YESSS NEW DAN WORALL VIDEOOOO

[@AnP865]

DW makes the only audio production videos that actually have good music on them

[@Punk_Mayhem]

Only one comment isn’t going to cut this, adding a second comment just to pay the tribute to the rainmaker, the enlightened one! Guide us! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Linguae_Music]

I've seen through magic eyes, at least a thousand times. I lost my sanity somewhere far out, but reformed it with a stronger epistemology.

[@dimapoliakov]

Good points, Dan. Though I prefer digital eq, I also like their DDMF 6144 EQ, as well as Analog Obsession Fiver, both of which turned out to be modeled after the Neve Portico 5033. But I much prefer clear UI of the latter one with separate Drive knob and optional oversampling.

[@lucasturney4269]

Agreed. Big fan of the 6144. 💯

[@0e0]

i own both.. some of my fave compressors.. i use the black one like 90% of the time.

[@miquelmarti6537]

your videos are so entertaining. Like some sort of audio adventures.

[@Bthelick]

Excellent point regarding hiss demos. I've always thought the same. But as I understand it it's much easier to hack time limited demos. I wonder what the best compromise would be.

[@Punk_Mayhem]

My, apologies, just couldn’t digest that “silly mistakes” quotation, to be blatantly truthful, I consider Dan to be the only father figure in this universe, love you❤❤❤❤

[@jorgemartinez42069]

I never thought a plugin review would get so steamy 😂

[@Punk_Mayhem]

I’d like to request the KZbin devs to make this video mandatory to all the viewers, doesn’t matter whether heshe’s into sound design or a kpop appreciator, make this one mandatory ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. He’s gonna kill me, oh god! I’m not even near the half the video! ❤❤❤❤

[@0e0]

the only other vari mu i really like compared to this one (and i've basically tried them all at this point) is the Fuse Audio VCL-25A (which is super fun)

[@lucasturney4269]

Yes!! Reimund Dratwa's work doesn't get enough attention in general, between Fuse Audio Labs, NEOLD, and the scripting he did while he was at PA, including elysia, and ACME's Opticom XLA-3.

[@juniorsilvabroadcast]

Great sounding compressor.

[@alekossamatakos]

How is your health dude? Cheers!

[@vertigopulse]

Dyna-mu from IK next please 🙏🏼 I'd love to see your analysis of it.

[@carlosp.1846]

This one is my favorite

[@rockstarjazzcat]

"Six, you muppet!" 😂

[@felipeReisfelipereis]

When dan will review acustica audio stuff??

[@tobiasjone]

One thing, having used it for a long time, is the option for continuous input/output gain, or at least something 0.1db steps. Also, the MDE stereo registers a wet/dry parameter that, for the life of me, I cannot find… nearly 3 years on. Also, a stereo unlink for MDE would be great.

[@natus49]

I think you could probably get a rough idea of the side chain filters if you sweep a sine wave up both compressors and look at the momentarily corresponding gain reduction.

[@crow4277]

i zoned out for a bit and 14:04 caught me SO off guard what the hell 😭

[@plexusproductions]

I have and use both since they came out. I agree with your assessment and recommendations. Some of the issues you highlighted also concerned me. However it's been a long time and I have a feeling these won't be updated with refined features.

[@BenedictRoffMarsh]

I too thought the MDE was dead-set magical-sounding from the moment it turned on. BUUUUTTTT the usability, from time switches to the skewed-morphology & babe, that is just, well you said it, broke it for me. On memory, this MDE vs the UVI Capitol still felt like made sense esp on price. Still, direct A-B of the UVI to existing mix/masters using my usual suspects of Reason stock & cheapies was a dead rubber. Or dead even in any practical sense so my ~$400 is totally safe in my pocketses. :-)

[@Rhekluse]

"Hi and welcome back." Put that on a t-shirt with your logo on it, Dan. 👌 6:22 "I'm not going to complain about the screws. I don't mind an occasional screw." LMAO 😂

[@jackflynn-oakley1937]

I suppose one way to not really check what the sidechain is doing would be to just run sine waves underneath it until it starts compressing. Obviously it’s not going to be bang on but might give an idea.

[@gyur6]

Nice bass design!

[@AKA47]

O was waiting for this. Next do Claro Sonnox, Acustica Diamond Compander 3x and True Dynanics Kazrog

[@wigmaster7894]

We need a dan Worrall video on ableton stock compressor and saturator

[@Tonymeister87]

I'd love to know your thoughts on El Rey 2, especially now having reviewed this. It sounds like it's got a very similar characteristic to MDE and has become my new favourite mix buss compressor, especially with the ability to dial back the 'box tone' preamp section with a variable knob.

[@sssyntax]

I find your music so creatively liberating and inspiring. So you ever do session guitar work for potential clients?

[@DanWorrall]

It has happened, but not often...

[@TheNewFlesh]

Video so good, I'll forgive the Papyrus-adjacent font choice 👍

[@DanWorrall]

I see I'll have to try harder. Comic Sans next time.

[@frogofdeparture]

console $15,000 computer and interfaces $6,000 microphones $10,000 compressors $10,000,000 rooms and treatment $20,000 someone who is good at the economy please help me budget this. my studio is dying

[@GoatPepper]

Request to do Black Rooster Audio compressors.

[@Orrinton]

Bro called himself a muppet in post 😭😭😂

[@Jazzguitar00]

I've never bought a plugin that has an interrupted demo or a random hiss. If I can't get the plugin into the workflow, what is going to inspire me to buy it??? These plugin developers really need to wise up and just do a one or two week demo; I've bought so many plugins after getting them in my workflow after two weeks of working.

[@mahn9935]

Hi Dan, thanks for the vid, always educational. Given the price for the Magic Eye bundle, would Melda's Turbo Comp be a better option ? I know you've given a nod to Melda previously, but I've not seen you use any.

[@robertlofgren6834]

Dan, love your videos! You mentioned once that you have an x32. I would be very interested in hearing how you would squeeze out as much as possible from this console. I’m sure that many would like to see/hear such a video. Especially since Dave Rat showcased the x32 in several of his videos.

[@DanWorrall]

I don't actually squeeze very much from my x32 to be honest. It's full of features I never use. It used to handle headphones mixes when I ran a studio, now it's the core of my mobile rig, but I've never tried doing a proper mix with it. Perhaps I should.

[@robertlofgren6834]

@@DanWorrall that would be awesome if you would do that. Keep doing what you do. It is highly appreciated.

[@CedricPytelRagtimeStudioUk]

You can switch from Reaper to Cubace or Logic and you will have the mid/side option for this plugin or indeed and any plugin you choose to use ;-) Thanks for the cool video

[@nilespeshay1734]

...this is new information to me!

[@CedricPytelRagtimeStudioUk]

@@nilespeshay1734 In logic it's a bit less straight forward than Cubase but not so difficult once you know it. You need to open your plugin in dual mono, click on the parameter icon then switch from L/R to mid/side et voilà....

[@Punk_Mayhem]

I’m voting against the Punchy switch on the not mono not stereo version and want it be remain as it is now, the developer could even provide two meters, as we have seen, the dev provided two button to bypass. So. ❤❤❤❤