04) What is GOLD Processing?
The namesake of GOLD CLIP, this feature is fundamentally different than a traditional compressor. Instead of an attack and release time, Gold performs a sample-by-sample analysis of the input and applies a non-linear gain to the signal. It leaves peaks and transients largely untouched, but applies gain to low level material, increasing perceived loudness.
Gold compresses audio instantaneously, like the compression effect from tape. It also compresses without the artifacts you hear from the attack and release stages of traditional compressors. This means that transients remain natural, fast, and clean.
The end result? A clean approach to loudness that gives the sonic effect of sounds inflating, or getting bigger. Mixing into this effect on your master fader can change the way you compress your instruments and buses that feed into Gold Clip.
Two Types of GOLD
The Modern setting emulates the soft-knee loudness processing of a famous mastering converter from 2022. In effect, Modern is a gentler and more forgiving form of compression.
Modern applies less gain than Classic and uses a shorter knee. Modern maxes out at 2.5dB of gain, while Classic can apply up to 6dB.
2.5dB of Modern GOLD
Classic emulates the soft-knee loudness processing of a popular mastering converter from the late 2000s. It uses a softer knee for its amplitude saturation but sounds more aggressive than Modern and causes more harmonic excitement at its maximum settings.
The knee of Classic is fundamentally different because it varies depending on the amount of Gold applied and can start as low as 12dB below the clip point when set to 6dB.
6dB of Classic GOLD
Which to choose?
For mastering, I like to start with Modern Gold processing. With a maximum of 2.5dB of gain, it gives a clean and transparent sound.
Gold Clip often sounds best when it's just before your final limiter, but I also like to use it first in the chain.
Classic Gold is more aggressive because it is applying more gain over a longer knee. It is more suited for signals with a wider dynamic range like a drum bus, 808s, effects returns, or vocals, while Modern is best suited for dense content - like a full mix.
What is Gold Unity?
Gold Unity is simple. If you are adding 6 dB of nonlinear gain with Gold, Unity will reduce the output with 6 dB of linear gain after Gold, maintaining perceived volume but reducing peaks. This allows you to hear the compression effects of Gold without being tricked by the increase in loudness.
Just remember that the more aggressive clipping you do, the less clean gold processing will sound. When using Gold for loudness, I like to keep my clipping to a minimum.
Here's a quick video example of this entire setup.
Let us know what you think! Tag @SchwabeDigital in an instagram story and show us how you are using Gold Clip. We'll repost.
Be Well,
Ryan Schwabe
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