Fiedler Audio gravitas MDS is a powerful and versatile dynamics processor plugin designed for professional audio production, mixing, and mastering. This comprehensive tool offers advanced compression and expansion capabilities for a wide range of audio formats, from mono and stereo up to 128 channels, making it particularly suitable for Dolby Atmos and other immersive audio applications. gravitas MDS stands out with its ability to process complex compression curves both above and below the threshold, providing users with unprecedented control over their audio dynamics. The plugin integrates seamlessly with Fiedler Audio’s Dolby Atmos Composer, positioning itself as a pioneering solution for Dolby Atmos mixing and mastering. With its intuitive interface, extensive feature set, and support for various plugin formats and DAWs, gravitas MDS caters to the needs of audio professionals working across different production environments and multichannel formats.
Pros:
• Supports up to 128 channels, ideal for Dolby Atmos and immersive audio
• Complex compression curves for above and below threshold processing
• Seamless integration with Dolby Atmos Composer for immersive audio workflows
• Versatile dynamics processing suitable for single tracks, groups, buses, and full mixes
• Unique features like 3DET mode and gradual linking for advanced dynamic control
Cons:
• Steep learning curve due to extensive feature set and complexity
• Relatively high price point compared to some standard dynamics processors
• Resource-intensive, especially when processing multiple channels
gravitas MDS boasts an impressive array of features that set it apart from conventional dynamics processors. At its core, the plugin offers all four dynamics types: compression, expansion, upward, and downward processing. This versatility allows users to shape their audio with precision, whether they’re working on individual tracks or complex multichannel mixes. The plugin’s ability to create complex compression and expansion curves. Users can define separate processing behaviors for signals above and below the threshold, providing unprecedented control over dynamic range. This level of detail allows for nuanced shaping of audio material, from subtle mastering touches to dramatic sound design effects.
The plugin’s filtering capabilities are equally impressive. gravitas MDS offers separate filters for processing and level detection, allowing users to target specific frequency ranges for dynamic processing while using a different range for triggering. This feature is particularly useful for de-essing, de-popping, or focusing compression on specific elements of a mix.
For surround sound and immersive audio applications, gravitas MDS includes a manual LFE volume adjustment. This allows users to fine-tune the low-frequency effects channel independently, ensuring proper balance in multichannel mixes.
The 3DET (triple detector) mode, inspired by the AMEK mastering compressor, offers complex dynamics processing. This mode uses multiple detection circuits to provide a more musical and natural-sounding compression, particularly useful for mastering and bus processing.
gravitas MDS also excels in its linking capabilities. The gradual linking feature allows users to control how tightly the processing is linked across channels, from completely independent to fully linked. This is particularly useful in multichannel scenarios where maintaining spatial integrity is crucial.
The plugin’s input configuration is highly flexible, especially for multichannel signals. Users can route and process channels in various ways, making it adaptable to different multichannel formats and workflows. Additionally, the external sidechain feature supports up to 64 channels, offering extensive possibilities for creative and technical applications. For stereo tracks, gravitas MDS offers Mid/Side processing, allowing separate treatment of the center and sides of the stereo image. This can be invaluable for mastering and spatial enhancement of stereo material.
The user interface of gravitas MDS is both visually appealing and functional. It provides clear visualization of the compression curve, gain reduction, and input/output levels, making it easy to understand and adjust the processing in real-time. The ability to link parameters across multiple instances in a session is a time-saving feature for complex mixing scenarios.
When comparing gravitas MDS to similar plugins, its multichannel capabilities and integration with Dolby Atmos workflows set it apart. While plugins like FabFilter Pro-MB and iZotope Ozone offer advanced dynamics processing for stereo material, they lack the extensive multichannel support of gravitas MDS. The Waves Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain provides vintage-style processing but is limited in channel count compared to gravitas MDS. In the realm of immersive audio, plugins like Nugen Audio’s ISL True Peak limiter offer multichannel support, but gravitas MDS goes further with its comprehensive dynamics processing and Dolby Atmos integration. The HOFA IQ-Series plugins offer some multichannel capabilities, but gravitas MDS’s specific optimizations for Dolby Atmos give it an edge in immersive audio production.
This plugin is best for:
• Professional audio engineers working with Dolby Atmos and immersive audio formats
• Mastering engineers requiring precise control over dynamics in multichannel environments
• Mix engineers looking for a versatile dynamics processor for complex bus and group processing
• Sound designers needing advanced compression and expansion tools for creative effects
• Post-production facilities handling various multichannel audio formats
While the extensive feature set may present a learning curve for some users, those who invest the time to master gravitas MDS will find it to be an incredibly powerful and flexible tool. Its integration with the Dolby Atmos Composer further cements its position as a go-to solution for immersive audio production.The plugin’s ability to handle everything from subtle mastering tasks to extreme sound design makes it versatile enough to justify its relatively high price point for many professionals. However, its resource-intensive nature means that users should ensure their systems are up to the task, especially when working with high channel counts.
gravitas MDS is a specialized tool that excels in professional multichannel audio environments. Its ability to handle up to 128 channels makes it a powerful tool for Dolby Atmos and other immersive audio formats, filling a gap in the market for high-channel-count dynamics processors. The plugin’s complex compression curves and advanced features like 3DET mode and gradual linking provide audio professionals with an unprecedented level of control over their mixes.