LOMM
LOMM is an upward/downward multiband compressor. It was initially made to be similar to the OTT compressor.
It allows for downward compression (gain reduction when volume goes above a threshold) and upward compression (gain increase when volume goes below a threshold). It does this by splitting audio into three frequency bands with crossover filters and applying the corresponding compression on each band individually before combining the three. It allows for more control than a regular compressor or even most multiband compressors, which tend to allow for only downward compression.
The default parameters of LOMM are set up to mirror those of OTT. It can be used on the master channel without the need to customize it- though one may need to adjust the Depth knob to control compression amount or modify the output volume. It can be used safely on the master channel with minimum artifacts.
In this page, the term "compressor" and "band" have interchangeably been used to refer to each of the individual band's compressors in LOMM.
Layout
LOMM is set up such that the bands and their controls are in the central section of the plugin, with an array of knobs controlling LOMM's overall settings on either side.
LOMM allows for a maximum of three bands, and each band is indicated by a panel with several elements. Each panel has an array of parameters, and a volume meter to indicate the volume of the corresponding band as audio plays along with the visual representation of some of these parameters.
The white lines on the volume meter indicate output volume. The smaller grey lines that appear when audio is played indicates volume of the sidechain trigger signal.
The display of each band's panel shows two channels and the level of audio through each channel. The channels are the left and right channels by default. When Mid/Side mode is enabled, these channels show the levels of the mid and side channels.
Controls
Central section:
OUT: This toggle scales the output volume based on the depth parameter. If the output is set so that it matches the input volume before compression (i.e., so that 100% and 0% depth seem to be at a similar volume) when this toggle is disabled, then enabling this toggle allows you to automate and modify depth with no apparent change in the output volume level.
Lookahead: This toggle enables lookahead. The spinbox for lookahead ranges from 0 to 20 ms. It introduces a constant overall latency of 20 ms that means lookahead range can be automated with no issue.
Link: Applies the same gain change to both channels based on whichever one has maximum volume. By default, this applies to the left and right channel. When M/S is enabled, it applies to the mid and side channel.
Init: This button initializes the state of LOMM to a clean slate (NOT the default state). The default settings are suitable to be used, but the Init button sets the parameters to values such that there is no change to the sound between input and output.
M/S: This toggle enables Mid/Side mode. When enabled: the band panel meters display the volume of the mid and side channels rather than the left and right channels; the Balance knob balances between the mid and side channels instead of the left and right channels; and the Link toggle links the compression applied between the mid and side channels rather than the left and right channels.
Fdbk: This toggle enables feedback mode. When enabled, this uses the compressor's output as the sidechain trigger signal.
If Lookahead is enabled, Fdbk is disabled.
Band panels:
LOMM has three panels in the central section to control the compression settings of the three bands (High Band, Mid Band, and Low Band, in order of top to bottom). Each panel has a meter that displays the channel volumes (left/right or mid/side depending on M/S mode) and can be used to modify the threshold of upward and downward compression.
The panels are similar, and have identical parameters and settings.
Enable Band: A panel's band label, centered at the bottom of the panel, acts like a toggle that enables that band. Disabling a band mutes that band.
IN: Input volume for each compressor. Ranges from -48 dB to 48 dB.
OUT: Output volume of each compressor. Ranges from -48 dB to 48 dB.
ATK: Attack time of each compressor. Ranges from 0 ms to 1000 ms.
REL: Release time of each compressor. Ranges from 0 ms to 1000 ms.
Upward Compression:
Threshold: This controls the threshold for upward compression. Sounds below this threshold are increased as per the ratio. Ranges from -72 dB to 0 dB.
Ratio: This controls the ratio of the upward compression. It is relative to 1. Ranges from 1 to 99.
Downward Compression:
Threshold: This controls the threshold for downward compression. Sounds above this threshold are decreased as per the ratio. Ranges from -72 dB to 0 dB.
Ratio: This controls the ratio of the downward compression. Ranges from 1 to 99.
The upward and downward compression threshold can also be controlled by dragging the mouse through the meter: The red line on the volume meter represents the upward compression threshold. This threshold can be changed by dragging the red region (on the left of the red line) to the left or the right. The yellow line on the volume meter represents the downward compression threshold. This threshold can be changed by dragging the yellow region (to the right of the yellow line) to the left or the right. If the black (grey) region between these two thresholds is dragged to the left or right, both the thresholds are moved simultaneously.
Plugin and Compression controls
On the left-hand side, the following controls can be accessed:
Depth: This knob controls the amount of upward and downward compression of all bands simultaneously. At full depth, the output volume cannot increase beyond the downward compression ratio. Ranges from 0 to 1. See Central section: OUT for more details.
Time: This knob scales the attack and release of all compressors simultaneously. Ranges from 0 to 10.
Auto: The Auto Time knob speeds up attack and release times when transients occur. Ranges from 0 to 1.
Balance: This knob balances the input volume towards one channel. When M/S mode is enabled, the channels are set to mid and side. When it is disabled, the channels are set to left and right. Ranges from -18 to 18 dB.
Range: This knob limits the maximum gain increase for all compressors. Ranges from 0 to 96 dB.
Upward: The Upward Depth knob is a depth multiplier for the upward compression for all bands. Ranges from 0 to 2.
IN: The Input Volume knob controls the input volume. Ranges from -48 to 48 dB.
On the right-hand side, the following controls can be accessed:
Mix: This controls the Wet/Dry of all compressors. This knob should be used for control and automation instead of using the W/D knob in the effect chain. This is firstly because of the phase differences caused at the filter cutoff points by the crossover filters that can cause very obvious destructive interference if mixed with the signal normally instead of on a per-band basis, and additionally due to the latency that enabling lookahead may cause. Ranges from 0 to 1.
Use and automate the Mix knob instead of the effect chain W/D knob to control the effect of the compressor.
Knee: This knob controls the knee size for all compressors. Ranges from 0 to 36 dB.
RMS: The RMS Time knob sets the RMS size for the sidechain trigger signal of the compressors. When set to 0, the compressors work in peak mode instead. Ranges from 0 to 500 ms.
Band Controls: This panel controls parameters of the band crossover points.
High/Mid Crossover: This spinbox allows for setting the frequency of the split between the mid band and the high band. Ranges from 20 to 20,000 Hz.
Mid/Low Crossover: This spinbox allows for setting the frequency of the split between the low band and the mid band. Ranges from 20 to 20,000 Hz.
1-2: The Enable High/Mid Split toggle enables or disables the split between the high band and the mid band. When enabled, the high band is discrete from the mid band. When disabled, the mid band manages the audio of both.
2-3: The Enable Mid/Low Split toggle enables or disables the split between the high band and the mid band. When enabled, the mid band is discrete from the low band. When disabled, the mid band manages the audio of both.
Downward: The Downward Depth knob is a depth multiplier for the downward compression of all bands. Ranges from 0 to 2.
OUT: The Output Volume knob controls the output volume. Ranges from -48 to 48 dB.
Last updated
Was this helpful?