IMC : A Portable Mastering Solution [+ OTO BOUM comparison]

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EU
Elektron Syntakt :tinyurl.com/446aub6c
US
Elektron Syntakt : tinyurl.com/48f4abx
OTO BOUM : tinyurl.com/zd8kp7u
Hello there!
Martin Stimming sent me his new collaboration with Doctron: the IMC (Martin Swimming's Instant Mastering Chain), an unique solution for your live performances mastering needs aimed at professionals.
Many electronic musicians experience the issue of performing after a DJ set, where loud mastered tracks are played. With the IMC you can glue and enhance your audio to match the output of mastered music.
I really enjoyed how it works and also how it perform as a recording tool in studio.
Having used for a long time the OTO Boum as my end-of-chain-enhancer I thought it was interesting to do a comparison between the two.
Enjoy!
00:00 Introduction
02:27 What is the IMC and why has been developed
06:18 My idea of mastering and IMC overview
10:03 First example
12:00 Setting the IMC from scratch using Feed Forward Circuit
16:20 Comparing to OTO Boum
18:30 Setting the IMC from scratch using Feed Backward Circuit
22:35 Comparing to OTO Boum
24:30 Techno example
28:20 Conclusions
#mastering #imc #syntakt #otoboum #martinstimming
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[@slavasoloma]

I bought the BOUM last week and I think it adds a lot of flavor to the signal and you can get quite some mileage out of it in terms of making things louder. I make Techno (134-145bpm) and with the right settings for attack and release this thing makes a very nice set and forget mastering device for our live sets. And for the money it keeps up with IMC pretty well.

[@thefoxfamily341]

Nice..i use my EHX Platform now two years in my master chain and i am very very happy with the results! Cheers ✌️ Best regards from Vienna 🇦🇹

[@OoraMusic]

Great to hear! I am not familiar with that, will check!

[@JorbLovesGear]

Great examples, you really showed it off well. Pretty impressed with the Boum as well though!

[@OoraMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it! yeah the oto stand his ground pretty well!

[@earlsfield]

Mr. Stimming really did it!

[@OoraMusic]

he did!

[@famousarmystudio]

No meters is kind of a real miss on this one. I know we should use our ears, but when our ears are tired, it would really help to see what the comp is doing.

[@OoraMusic]

fair enough!

[@ionianechoes]

Seems like a beautiful thing. Built and how it's sounding. But as a non professional I'll have to get away with the eq and multiband compressor on the mc707's master or maybe try out the wmd mscl on parallel or the new noise engineering 6hp dynamics module...

[@user82938]

It's very cool. If I was a touring musician that could write it off on my taxes, maybe I'd get it, but as a hobbyist, it's way too expensive.

[@OoraMusic]

fair enough!

[@troyouttram]

Be great to see a heat comparison

[@OoraMusic]

agreed

[@girlinagale]

I tried Tanzbär 2 (through lots of fx) without Boum thinking it really wasn't necessary but the sound was out of control. Boum is my £500 Instant Mastering Chain.

[@OoraMusic]

yeah boum is my go to too

[@filo1210]

@18.35 How did you get the cool chord sound ? 👌

[@sebbosebbo9794]

oto was the way I thought even the same ..thx... ...other solution devices maybe pedals multifx ideas to push the sound for summing mastering but for live acts..for the road guys .thx...

[@jeremyallen2821]

Sounds incredible!!! Really awesome…But for 1/6 of the price I’ll stick with Boum or simply run into software mastering chain. 😉

[@OoraMusic]

Definitely worth the investment if you are a touring musician in my opinion!

[@TrueToTheCraft]

I've been using for my live set for a while after and before djs and many ppl have said my set sonically sounds better.

[@saardean4481]

Regarding the gain raising output "issue" on the Boum, Does the IMC have automatic gain compensation for the drive? On the IMC. Lovely device. Completely out of my reach financially but even if I could afford it I would greatly miss some kind of metering for the gain reduction. I guess they went for the smallest form factor but still. Meterring please

[@_DRMR_]

I've been using the MOD DuoX with some parametric EQ and the RMPro mastering plugin. Very basic stuff, but gets the job done for my amateur efforts ;) (nice thing is I can also bounce from the DAW over usb-audio)

[@OoraMusic]

Thanks for the tips! I did that too with my duo and works good!

[@no_talking]

what do you think about this vs overstayer modular channel? they seem to occupy a similar space to me ... I'm kind of leaning toward modular channel just because it is much more feature rich on the tracking side of things. Any input appreciated, many thanks🙏

[@binahtrading8565]

Cheers

[@OoraMusic]

cheers!

[@theblowupdollsmusic]

I think the IMC is the perfet little box. Analog EQ, Compression, Saturation, Transformers.

[@OoraMusic]

everything you need!

[@sonicultura]

Great video! How did you connect this to get it thru the iPad? Thank U!

[@OoraMusic]

im just mirroring the screen of mi ma on the iPad!

[@sonicultura]

@@OoraMusic mi ma? Que es?

[@secretgrooverecords1671]

I think you would get better results in terms of end of chain “Mastering” using Boum if you have a lower level from the source going into the box

[@OoraMusic]

that's what I do with octatrack generally

[@bentropy]

Constructive criticism: on your digitakt, you’ve chosen, as your test music, a track which already has some kind of effect (from the sound design, I assume) that sounds like dynamics processing ‘pumping’ the drums. There’s a slightly hissy sound (maybe a hat sound?) that has a kind of slow attack or something, creating a kind of ‘throbbing’ effect. It actually sounds like some sort of backward cymbal? Because this *already* sounds a bit like a compressor ‘squashing’ the drums, it’s a very confusing sound to have chosen to demonstrate what this mastering device and (all its possible dynamics processing settings) are doing to the original source material and can do. Maybe it’s KZbin’s own data compression algorithms that are interfering in the ‘dry’ material, dunno. Hope this is helpful feedback.Thanks for your generosity in making this video, all the same.

[@bentropy]

Oh at 17:30, you tell us you’ve used a track that has distortion applied to it (or sounds in it). I’m guessing that’s what I’m hearing? I wouldn’t have chosen such a track as the dry material, because it’s already hard enough to hear the subtle changes and effects of this mastering unit, the tiny applications of drive and compression. That we’re listening to material that has already had dynamic processing applied, in the form of distortion, makes it harder for us, the listener/viewer. I understand this would be totally *realistic in a real-world application*, to have already treated material going in, since this is mastering chain device. But this situation, making a demo video, is different.

[@OoraMusic]

Understand your concern, but I try not to do surgical demos of things. I express my opinion showcasing the stuff in "real use situation". Take my videos more on a creative standpoint rather than a technical demo, I am definitely not acknowledged enough to go that way :)

[@ShaneNull]

I like this but you can use a UA Apollo, configure it then unplug the laptop it keeps the setting, headphone, monitor and main outs

[@OoraMusic]

that could be a good idea if I had 2 of those, one for studio one for live

[@tomcerrox6198]

🚀

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@stephengriffiths3009]

Wonder how this would compare to an Overstayer Modular Channel [which obviously isn't 'portable', but same price] 🤔

[@OoraMusic]

good point. In studio there is no comparison. overstayer is more versatile. But this is primarily aimed at live performances, so it's hard to compare.

[@ZenMountain]

Overstayer sounds ten times better.

[@pierreameye3131]

Toraiz Sp 16 + Access Virus Ti 2 : I already have a Toraiz Sp 16 and an Access Virus Ti 2 Desktop. I just transfered my stems on my OT MK 2 and I will use Access Virus Ti 2 for Reverb and Toraiz Sp 16 for Compression and Drive. do you think I can have the same output level as’Martin ?

[@OoraMusic]

I am not familiar with both toraiz or virus. If you have a compressor or limiter at the end for sure you can maximize your sound!

[@happylittlesynth]

SP-16 limiter/compressor isn't that great honestly. To me, the compressor feels very difficult to use for some reason. The SP-16 FX are mediocre at best. It does sound amazing though when playing samples, it has a great DAC.

[@ZenMountain]

Price is totally crazy for what it offers. Especially taking into account they didn't create anything new, they are using old designs, put together inside a box. Only worth it if you're a big fan of the clown. I would buy it for $600-$800. Great video, thanks!

[@ryanshea5221]

Yeah jesus christ that's wayyyy too much

[@ksukhia]

Also consider a Hardware Waves MaxxBCL rack processor...

[@OoraMusic]

would love to try one

[@avefuqua]

I think Elektron "Heat and FX" is the all in one Solution.

[@OoraMusic]

I definitely wanna try one

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

I use OT as my master out, instead i use iPad and iConnectivity audio/midi device so i can "master" OT signal with iPad apps, much more effective and cheaper than Elektron HEAT, but i wonder why you wouldn't get HEAT because it also has USB, and is much cheaper than IMC?

[@OoraMusic]

I had the heat before, it doesn't have a compressor, is mostly a warming unit. is good, but what I want is a glueing compressor, that's why the Oto suited my needs better!

[@piotr803]

@@OoraMusic I think there’s a way you can make a compressor in Heat using its envelope follower

[@lindsaywebb1904]

@@piotr803 well you can shape the signal but it’s not compression

[@spfiros]

Roland mx1 has a master button (with presets) and decent results.. :-)

[@OoraMusic]

mx1 was a missed opportunity. cool concept ( unique almost) but not a lot of controls

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

It’s a whole mastering chain this is just the first option. EQ->low cut->enhancer->3-band compressor->stereo manager-> limiter. But indeed there is no way to change settings on these individual components.

[@quantum_ocean]

7:24 a few db is certainly a lot! it's twice as loud!

[@luciferforpresident]

3000? Holy crap.

[@OoraMusic]

hand made on order by one guy, its definitely very expensive but make sense.

[@Philodrone]

Well, I would rather use a computer as a budget option. Or maybe rent it for a couple of shows if that was possible.

[@OoraMusic]

yeah , as mentioned, I'd invest in the IMC if I would professionally tour. The sound is really great and I think is a good investment!

[@whendoesthisend]

Has anyone heard of FMR Audio RNC1773 Really Nice Compressor? Thoughts?

[@OoraMusic]

Had it ages ago, was very good for the money!

[@ZenMountain]

The RNC and RNLA are fantastic units.

[@tacticalgrooveorbit2379]

what about the analog heath Mk2? is it comparable?

[@OoraMusic]

The new one with compressor yes.

[@tacticalgrooveorbit2379]

​@@OoraMusic you mean the Elektron Analog Heat +FX? the Elektron Analog Heat MKII do not have compressor?

[@patch002]

Is it true that it costs around 2800 euro?

[@OoraMusic]

yes, handmade on order by a single guy.

[@AnnesYarak]

I told you. ;)

[@OoraMusic]

:)

[@landonh3535]

Yep - the boum is not really a great mastering device.I like it more as a buss driver and gluer. End of chain I agree it's not ideal, but as a glue comp it's amazing to me.

[@OoraMusic]

completely agree! wonder if the distortion was before the comp, maybe one could have tamed better

[@RaquelFoster]

Show me a nerd with an Amazon Basics compressor. That guy knows how to party. If he has $3,000 he’s spending it on coke, not a mastering box. There’s the Boum, the Analog Heat, endless overdrives/compressors out there, and a lot of saturator plugins you could use. There’s a million ways to increase perceived loudness, and the last thing I want is an all-in-one box to generically raise it. Does Stimming need this because he doesn’t want to use a mixer? The V10 has compression and EQ. Most of the Allen & Heath stuff has drive. I really don’t like the idea of a “make my shit sound better” box.

[@OoraMusic]

Great. The world is beautiful because there are a lot of different ideas in it. You don't have to buy a "make my shit sound better box", as much as you don't need a new car that is faster, a phone that is cooler, clothes that are "in fashion"... Also coke is very '80, kids now have fun in different ways.Like with tik Tok dances. Ciao!

[@-frantsel6403]

I think the formfactor is why he let it build. But Im totally with you.. Even if I had too much money, I would not buy this.

[@MStimming]

problem is: there's no million ways to increase perceived loudness in portable hardware. there's maybe five. one of those is mine. oh, and as a dj you don't need it.

[@RaquelFoster]

@@MStimming Why are we talking about perceived loudness? If you want to increase perceived loudness during a live performance, have you tried turning up the master volume? If you don’t have the headroom to turn up the master … why not?

[@RaquelFoster]

I wonder what Dan Worrell would say about this? Oh, here it is: “DJs want loud masters because DJs are idiots” 😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIiployqad6Le9k

[@deyoungstar]

It’s a shame that you didn’t really push the Boum at all..

[@OoraMusic]

I tried to keep it as a mastering tool. It definitely have lot more to offer.

[@spenzasequenza]

Nah... that IMC is waayy too trigger-happy. You would basically need another person constantly monitoring it with headphones and a level meter and constantly re-dialing everything in. That distortion is super dangerous! Especially when you improvise a lot during concerts. Just one slightly louder Bass sound and the entire Low-End starts to fall apart. On top of that, it doesn't even give you that much of an advantage in perceived loudness. By far not enough to compete with CDJ's in the red even a bit. Don't get me wrong: the IMC can be a really nice-sounding mastering unit - But only in a very controlled studio environment. This thing doesn't do any good in live situations. So I find it very peculiar, that it's marketed exactly as a live tool... I ended up using a dirt cheap, used TC finalizer 96k. That thing is very much a set-and-forget thing, so you can actually play your gig, instead of pampering that drive dial. The clipper on the TC finalizer catches peaks very reliably and in combination with the other mastering tools in its digital mastering chain, the finalizer can take quite a bit of going in hot without introducing audible distortion in the low end or the whole mix falling apart. The Finalizer gets me around a good 7-8 dB extra perceived loudness. And as a bonus, it's not 3000 dollars - not even close... Who actually uses this IMC as intended by the manufacturer?!? sorry for the rant :)