Dynamics at a glance

Compressors, limiters, levellers, a de-esser and a gate - from transparent to coloured. Click a plug-in for its panel; each one has its manual PDF and a download.

Plug-in	In the spirit of	Main features	Best for
CompressorPanel Manual PDFDownload	The classic studio types in one box	Four voicings: VCA, BUS, RIDE, OPTO AUTO timing, negative ratios SC HPF or low-band SPLIT, parallel MIX	An all-rounder for any track
Compressor QPanel Manual PDFDownload	The classic studio types with a channel EQ	Compressor plus four-band parametric EQ first or after Coloured band caps	A one-stop channel compressor
RNDPanel Manual PDFDownload	The classic half-rack compressor pair	Clean true-RMS compressor with a GENTLE mode Levelling amp with two-stage optical release Drift	Transparent control and smooth levelling
SmoothPanel Manual PDFDownload	Classic one-knob software compressors	One COMPRESS knob Optical-style timing, LIMIT mode Valve colour stage, BLEND	Fast, musical compression
HeadsmootherPanel Manual PDFDownload	Tape saturator and optical compressor stacked	Head and Smooth in either order Each unit switchable Shared output stage	Tape and compression in one go
Quad11Panel Manual PDFDownload	Multiband bus compressors	Four bands, draggable crossovers EQ bell and saturator per band Compress or expand per band, auto makeup	Bus control band by band
TandemPanel Manual PDFDownload	Two 80s RMS soft-knee compressors in series	Two stages side by side Ratios past infinity into negative Decouple, external key, grit	Heavy compression that stays open
Tandem QPanel Manual PDFDownload	RMS compressors with a passive program EQ	Two compressors plus program EQ Stepped frequencies EQ before or after	Vocals and buses that need both
DuplexPanel Manual PDFDownload	80s British two-channel dynamics processors	Compressor, de-esser and peak limiter per channel Stereo, dual or mid/side Split-band de-essing	Vocals, de-essing and broadcast control
Duplex QPanel Manual PDFDownload	British two-channel dynamics with a tilt EQ	High-pass, tilt, low-pass Mid / side tilt EQ before or after	Broadcast voice and bus shaping
ThrustPanel Manual PDFDownload	The famous American stereo bus compressor	Stepped attack, ratio and release THRUST, knee, feed-forward or feedback Adjustable link with link filter, twin VUs	Mix and drum bus glue with punch
ConsolePanel Manual PDFDownload	80s British broadcast console dynamics	Fast, clean VCA compressor Gate / expander, peak limiter Output transformer colour	Clean channel and bus dynamics, gating
Console QPanel Manual PDFDownload	80s broadcast console dynamics with channel EQ	Gate, compressor, limiter plus EQ Brown or black voicing EQ before or after	A complete console channel strip
VB30Panel Manual PDFDownload	Early broadcast modules and high-ratio limiters	Diode-bridge cell that thickens as it squashes Capacitor-memory release: snap back or suck back FREEZE holds the gain in the gaps; gate, parallel MIX	Room mics, aggressive vocals, parallel drums
De-EssPanel Manual PDFDownload	Classic split-band de-essers	Split or wide Listen key Stereo-linked detector	Taming sibilance
GatePanel Manual PDFDownload	Analogue studio gates	Gate, expander, ducker Keyed, filtered side-chain MIDI trigger	Drums, noise control and ducking
MK3Panel Manual PDFDownload	1970s local-radio broadcast desks	Transformer iron, stepped HPF EQ with FIZZ VCA compressor, either order	Vocals and speech
TransientPanel Manual PDFDownload	Classic transient designers	Attack and sustain No threshold, level-independent Speed and length	Drums and plucks
Twin CompPanel Manual PDFDownload	The classic 70s RMS VCA and 80s expressor	Two compressors, either order Past-infinity ratios Soft knee, program timing	Vocals, bass and drums