degree,
it seems that perhaps you are taking points out of context with your reply or taking things literally and outwith the response what was typed out.
this discussion was about using multiband compressors in a mixing situation. the thread was about how to work correctly or better with 24bit inside DAW when mixing.
in this situation MBC are certainly almost always a poor choice unless you want a specific effect.
since you have access to each track, any problems such as the bass example you used would be easily better treated at an individual track level than they would by using an MBC on the 2buss. its a poor substitute for working correctly and you get a number of issues thrown in for free.
on to your points however
sure the same effect can be created with parametric EQs, if you set it up that way, however it takes a real butchering attempt to make it that way with eq and yet very little with multiband compressors to start getting unnatural results.
phase relationships are adjusted with parametric EQs, even linear phase ones to some extent, its this relationship that accounts for the sound of an EQ however any shift is much less dramatic than that of an MBC. there is no contradiction between using paramteric EQs and not liking multibands. used moderatley parametric EQs dont create unnatural relationships, mess up mixes or do strange phase imacts, used even lightly MBC can and often do.
while limiters are certainly accountable for mega loud mixes and poor sound quality, not all the blame can be laid there. multibands are probably as much to blame, perhaps more for killing totally the dynamics and impact across the whole track before a limiter makes it even hotter.
the ability to use an MBC to crush dynamics across every band in a much harder way than a single band means that the overuse of compression by many home users is multiplied when they use this and this is where the issues lie.
a single band being hit hard with a loud drum while strapped across a 2 buss (main mix) wont take long before you hear it clamping everything else too and have to back off.
a multiband in the same app can clamp every band hard independently, killing the dynamics entirely without initially appearing to impact the overall quality as much, certainly when the user is hearing volume go up to compensate.
the result, super over compression across the whole range of sounds rather than an overcompressed kick as used to be the case.
every ME i know, and i speak to a lot all share this feeling about MBCs in mastering apps and about them in mixing, look at bob katz book if you want another source.
do i have one though, yes, have i used it, yes but only as a last resort when all else failed.
depending on the situation regular compressing with good single band outboards after eq can work better, using an EQ'd sidechain can work better, even splitting to M/S with an EQ, compressor combination before recombining can work better.
you are right in some respect that to discount any tool is only to limit yourself however a full understanding of every trade off that occurs as a result of using each tool is crucial in allowing one to decide what course of action should be taken. sometimes leaving it can be better than the impact of fixing.
the impact of an MBC or any tool should be weighed up against alternatives such as a remix to correct the issue. since the best possible result is always the MEs raison d'etre, a remix will allow the issue requiring MBC to be better dealt with, with less negative impact and thus ensuring a better sound everytime. sometimes this isnt possible and so we have to use an MBC and accept the reduced result it will bring or leave it as is.
to recap:
"So here's what we have.
- Multiband compression is bad, yet multiband eq's are no problem.
IOW a purist standpoint like that would negate the use of most signal processing."
not at all, while phase relationships are adjusted by using each, the magnitude is vastly different between the two and thus the impact is vastly different too. alongside this the other impacts/results of using each are vastly different too.
"-MBC's are guilty of being used for "maximising" the volume, yet limiters are the most obvious culprit."
most obvious yes but often not the sole or root cause. many home mixes are destroyed, often in a less overt fashion before they even get near a limiter. harsh distortion is much more readily apparent than massive over compression and strangled dynamics.
since this thread is about mixing, i put it that neither should be anywhere near this thread. they have no use in a mixing situation.
in mastering, limiting is sadly required daily, (though ive never had more than 3db of limiting (usually 1-2db) and often clipping my lavry AD can work better) while MBC IMHO is purely on hold as a problem solver of last resort.
