Compressor
Peak/RMS compression with a sidechain key input, detector filtering, hold, adaptive release and channel linking.
- Dynamics
- Since 0.2.0
- dynamics
- level
- squeeze
- sidechain
A compressor turns loud parts of a signal down, making the level more even.
What it does#
A detector measures the signal level, either by peak or by smoothed RMS. When the level goes above Threshold, the compressor reduces the gain according to Ratio, with a soft Knee around the threshold. Attack and Release set how quickly the gain reduction arrives and recovers, and Hold keeps the reduction in place for a moment before recovery. Makeup raises the output afterwards. The detector can be high-passed so low frequencies do not trigger compression, and the detectors of a multichannel bundle can be linked so every channel gets the same reduction.
The key input is a sidechain. While something is connected to it, the detector measures the key instead of the main input, and the gain it computes is applied to the main input: a kick on the key pushes a pad down on every hit (ducking), and a high-passed copy of a voice on the key turns the voice down only when it hisses (de-essing). The key carries one channel, which then drives every channel of the main input, or exactly as many channels as the main input. Left unconnected, the main input drives the detector exactly as before. A key from a node with processing latency is delayed with the rest of the graph, so it stays aligned with the audio it controls.
When to use it#
Use it to even out dynamics, add punch or control a peaky source, or with a key to duck one sound under another and to de-ess. For a hard ceiling that nothing passes, use the Limiter; to silence a signal below a level, use the Gate; to compress bands separately, use the Multiband compressor.
Ports#
| Port | Direction | Signal | Lanes |
|---|---|---|---|
audio | Input | Audio | Inferred from the cable |
key | Input | Audio | Inferred from the cable |
audio | Output | Audio | Inferred from the cable |
Parameters#
| Parameter | Label | Range | Default | Unit | Scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
threshold | Threshold | -60 to 0 | -18 | dBFS | linear | Compression starts above this detector level. |
ratio | Ratio | 1 to 20 | 4 | :1 | linear | Input/output slope above threshold. |
attack | Attack | 0.1 to 100 | 10 | ms | log | Gain-reduction attack time constant. |
release | Release | 10 to 2000 | 120 | ms | log | Gain-reduction recovery time constant. |
knee | Knee | 0 to 24 | 6 | dB | linear | Width of the quadratic soft knee. |
makeup | Makeup | 0 to 24 | 0 | dB | linear | Gain after compression. |
link | Channel link | 0 to 1 | 1 | linear | Blends independent detectors with the strongest detector across the entire bundle. | |
detector | Detector | 0 to 1 | 0 | linear | Peak amplitude or smoothed mean-square detection. Choices: 0 Peak, 1 RMS. | |
detector_hp | Detector high-pass | 0 to 1000 | 0 | Hz | linear | High-pass only in the detector (on the key when it is connected); zero bypasses it. |
hold | Hold | 0 to 250 | 0 | ms | linear | Holds attenuation before recovery. |
auto_release | Adaptive release | 0 to 1 | 0 | linear | Blends the chosen release with a slower recovery after sustained reduction. | |
listen | Listen | 0 to 1 | 0 | linear | Outputs the filtered detector signal instead of the compressed audio, to tune the key and its high-pass. Choices: 0 Off, 1 On. |
Threshold (threshold)#
The level, from -60 to 0 dBFS, above which compression starts.
Ratio (ratio)#
The input-to-output slope above the threshold, from 1:1 (no compression) to 20:1 (near limiting).
Attack (attack)#
How quickly gain reduction arrives, from 0.1 to 100 ms. Longer attacks let more of the initial transient through.
Release (release)#
How quickly the gain recovers, from 10 to 2000 ms.
Knee (knee)#
The width, from 0 to 24 dB, of a smooth transition around the threshold.
Makeup (makeup)#
Gain applied after compression, from 0 to 24 dB.
Channel link (link)#
From independent detectors (0) to a single detector that follows the strongest channel across the whole bundle (1).
Detector (detector)#
Peak reacts to the highest sample; RMS follows a smoothed mean-square level and responds more like loudness.
Detector high-pass (detector_hp)#
A high-pass, 0 to 1000 Hz, applied only to the detector. Zero bypasses it.
Hold (hold)#
Keeps the gain reduction for up to 250 ms before recovery starts.
Adaptive release (auto_release)#
Blends the chosen Release with a slower recovery after sustained reduction.
Listen (listen)#
On replaces the output with the signal the detector measures: the key when it is connected, otherwise the main input, after the detector high-pass. Use it to hear what triggers compression while you set a key filter or Detector high-pass; the gain reduction keeps running underneath, so switching back is seamless.
Tips#
- Set Threshold first, then Ratio, then adjust Attack and Release by ear.
- Use Makeup to match loudness before and after, so you judge the sound and not the volume.
- A detector high-pass keeps heavy bass from pumping the whole mix.
- For ducking, use a short Attack, a Release that ends before the next hit, and a high Ratio.
- For de-essing, feed the key through a Filter set to high-pass, turn Listen on, and raise the cutoff until only the hiss remains.
See also#
Limiter, Gate, Multiband compressor, Envelope, Gain.
Help patches
Each help patch is an ordinary Toy that teaches one idea. The diagram shows the Patch; the preview shows its Frame. Open it in TuneToys to play and edit it.
1. Tame a loud peak
beginner Teaches: threshold, ratio, attack, release, makeup
A repeating loud ping squeezed by a compressor.
MIDI1 lane
Audio2ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Done1 lane
Time to rise to full gain. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 10 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Time to fall to sustain in ADSR, or zero in AD. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Continuous concave/linear/convex segment curvature. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Repeats complete envelope cycles while Gate is held. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Restart from the current gain or reset to zero on a rising Gate. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Duration of the held part in repeating ADSR/AR cycles. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 100 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Key1ch
Audio2ch
Compression starts above this detector level. Range: -60–0 dBFS. Default: -24 dBFS. Linear scale. Units: dBFS.
dBFS
Input/output slope above threshold. Range: 1–20 :1. Default: 6 :1. Linear scale. Units: :1.
:1
Gain-reduction attack time constant. Range: 0.1–100 ms. Default: 10 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Gain-reduction recovery time constant. Range: 10–2000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Width of the quadratic soft knee. Range: 0–24 dB. Default: 6 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Gain after compression. Range: 0–24 dB. Default: 6 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Blends independent detectors with the strongest detector across the entire bundle. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Peak amplitude or smoothed mean-square detection. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
High-pass only in the detector (on the key when it is connected); zero bypasses it. Range: 0–1000 Hz. Default: 0 Hz. Linear scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Holds attenuation before recovery. Range: 0–250 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Blends the chosen release with a slower recovery after sustained reduction. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Outputs the filtered detector signal instead of the compressed audio, to tune the key and its high-pass. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator audio output connected to Envelope audio input
- Envelope audio output connected to Compressor audio input
- Compressor audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- Only signal above Threshold is turned down. Ratio sets how strongly.
- Makeup restores the level after compression.
2. Detector, knee and linking
advanced Teaches: detector, link, detector_hp, hold, knee, auto_release
Fine detector and recovery controls.
MIDI1 lane
Audio2ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Done1 lane
Time to rise to full gain. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 10 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Time to fall to sustain in ADSR, or zero in AD. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Continuous concave/linear/convex segment curvature. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Repeats complete envelope cycles while Gate is held. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Restart from the current gain or reset to zero on a rising Gate. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Duration of the held part in repeating ADSR/AR cycles. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 100 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Key1ch
Audio2ch
Compression starts above this detector level. Range: -60–0 dBFS. Default: -18 dBFS. Linear scale. Units: dBFS.
dBFS
Input/output slope above threshold. Range: 1–20 :1. Default: 4 :1. Linear scale. Units: :1.
:1
Gain-reduction attack time constant. Range: 0.1–100 ms. Default: 10 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Gain-reduction recovery time constant. Range: 10–2000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Width of the quadratic soft knee. Range: 0–24 dB. Default: 6 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Gain after compression. Range: 0–24 dB. Default: 0 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Blends independent detectors with the strongest detector across the entire bundle. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Peak amplitude or smoothed mean-square detection. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
High-pass only in the detector (on the key when it is connected); zero bypasses it. Range: 0–1000 Hz. Default: 0 Hz. Linear scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Holds attenuation before recovery. Range: 0–250 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Blends the chosen release with a slower recovery after sustained reduction. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Outputs the filtered detector signal instead of the compressed audio, to tune the key and its high-pass. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator audio output connected to Envelope audio input
- Envelope audio output connected to Compressor audio input
- Compressor audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- RMS reacts to average level; Peak reacts to the highest sample.
- Detector high-pass keeps low frequencies from triggering compression.
3. Duck a pad under the kick
advanced Teaches: threshold, ratio, attack, release
A kick on the compressor's key input pushes a sustained pad down on every hit.
MIDI1 lane
Audio1ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio1ch
Audio1ch
Done1 lane
Time to rise to full gain. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 10 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Time to fall to sustain in ADSR, or zero in AD. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Continuous concave/linear/convex segment curvature. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Repeats complete envelope cycles while Gate is held. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Restart from the current gain or reset to zero on a rising Gate. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Duration of the held part in repeating ADSR/AR cycles. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 100 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
MIDI1 lane
Audio2ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Filter cutoff, capped at 0.45 times sample rate. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 1200 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
State-variable filter Q. Range: 0.5–12 Q. Default: 0.707 Q. Linear scale. Units: Q.
Q
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–5. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
One or two cascaded state-variable stages; notch/all-pass retain their response semantics. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Reduces resonant gain as Q increases. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Key1ch
Audio2ch
Compression starts above this detector level. Range: -60–0 dBFS. Default: -30 dBFS. Linear scale. Units: dBFS.
dBFS
Input/output slope above threshold. Range: 1–20 :1. Default: 8 :1. Linear scale. Units: :1.
:1
Gain-reduction attack time constant. Range: 0.1–100 ms. Default: 1 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Gain-reduction recovery time constant. Range: 10–2000 ms. Default: 220 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Width of the quadratic soft knee. Range: 0–24 dB. Default: 6 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Gain after compression. Range: 0–24 dB. Default: 0 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Blends independent detectors with the strongest detector across the entire bundle. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Peak amplitude or smoothed mean-square detection. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
High-pass only in the detector (on the key when it is connected); zero bypasses it. Range: 0–1000 Hz. Default: 0 Hz. Linear scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Holds attenuation before recovery. Range: 0–250 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Blends the chosen release with a slower recovery after sustained reduction. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Outputs the filtered detector signal instead of the compressed audio, to tune the key and its high-pass. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Duck.in2ch
dB
Position on a two-lane mix: −1 left, 0 centre, 1 right. Constant-power for a one-lane channel, balance for a two-lane one; ignored on other widths. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless. The ring fills from zero for this signed linear range. Manual editing is unavailable while this host owns the control.
Read only
Thump.in1ch
dB
Position on a two-lane mix: −1 left, 0 centre, 1 right. Constant-power for a one-lane channel, balance for a two-lane one; ignored on other widths. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless. The ring fills from zero for this signed linear range. Manual editing is unavailable while this host owns the control.
Read only
Mix output level in decibels, after every channel. −60 dB is off; 0 dB leaves the sum unchanged. Range: -60–12 dB. Default: 0 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Audio2ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator “kick” audio output connected to Envelope audio input
- Oscillator “pad” audio output connected to Filter audio input
- Filter audio output connected to Compressor audio input
- Envelope audio output connected to Compressor key input
- Compressor audio output connected to Mixer duck.in input
- Envelope audio output connected to Mixer thump.in input
- Mixer audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- The kick reaches the compressor's key input, so the kick's level, not the pad's, sets the gain reduction.
- Threshold and Ratio set how far the pad dips on each hit; Release sets how fast it swells back.
4. De-ess with a filtered key
advanced Teaches: listen, threshold, ratio
A high-passed copy of a synthetic voice keys its compressor, so only the hissing esses are turned down.
MIDI1 lane
Audio2ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Filter cutoff, capped at 0.45 times sample rate. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 1200 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
State-variable filter Q. Range: 0.5–12 Q. Default: 0.707 Q. Linear scale. Units: Q.
Q
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–5. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
One or two cascaded state-variable stages; notch/all-pass retain their response semantics. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Peak amplitude of white noise. Each channel and node path owns a repeatable independent stream; preparation restarts it. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Filter cutoff, capped at 0.45 times sample rate. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 1200 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
State-variable filter Q. Range: 0.5–12 Q. Default: 0.707 Q. Linear scale. Units: Q.
Q
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–5. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
One or two cascaded state-variable stages; notch/all-pass retain their response semantics. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Reduces resonant gain as Q increases. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Done1 lane
Time to rise to full gain. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 10 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Time to fall to sustain in ADSR, or zero in AD. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–2. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Continuous concave/linear/convex segment curvature. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Repeats complete envelope cycles while Gate is held. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Restart from the current gain or reset to zero on a rising Gate. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Duration of the held part in repeating ADSR/AR cycles. Range: 0–10000 ms. Default: 100 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Audio2ch
Formant.in2ch
dB
Position on a two-lane mix: −1 left, 0 centre, 1 right. Constant-power for a one-lane channel, balance for a two-lane one; ignored on other widths. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless. The ring fills from zero for this signed linear range. Manual editing is unavailable while this host owns the control.
Read only
Bursts.in2ch
dB
Position on a two-lane mix: −1 left, 0 centre, 1 right. Constant-power for a one-lane channel, balance for a two-lane one; ignored on other widths. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless. The ring fills from zero for this signed linear range. Manual editing is unavailable while this host owns the control.
Read only
Mix output level in decibels, after every channel. −60 dB is off; 0 dB leaves the sum unchanged. Range: -60–12 dB. Default: 0 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Audio2ch
Audio2ch
Filter cutoff, capped at 0.45 times sample rate. Range: 2000–12000 Hz. Default: 5000 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
State-variable filter Q. Range: 0.5–12 Q. Default: 0.707 Q. Linear scale. Units: Q.
Q
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–5. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
One or two cascaded state-variable stages; notch/all-pass retain their response semantics. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Reduces resonant gain as Q increases. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Key2ch
Audio2ch
Compression starts above this detector level. Range: -60–0 dBFS. Default: -36 dBFS. Linear scale. Units: dBFS.
dBFS
Input/output slope above threshold. Range: 1–20 :1. Default: 8 :1. Linear scale. Units: :1.
:1
Gain-reduction attack time constant. Range: 0.1–100 ms. Default: 10 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Gain-reduction recovery time constant. Range: 10–2000 ms. Default: 120 ms. Logarithmic scale. Units: ms.
ms
Width of the quadratic soft knee. Range: 0–24 dB. Default: 6 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Gain after compression. Range: 0–24 dB. Default: 0 dB. Linear scale. Units: dB.
dB
Blends independent detectors with the strongest detector across the entire bundle. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Peak amplitude or smoothed mean-square detection. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
High-pass only in the detector (on the key when it is connected); zero bypasses it. Range: 0–1000 Hz. Default: 0 Hz. Linear scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Holds attenuation before recovery. Range: 0–250 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Blends the chosen release with a slower recovery after sustained reduction. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Outputs the filtered detector signal instead of the compressed audio, to tune the key and its high-pass. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio2ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator audio output connected to Filter “formant” audio input
- Noise audio output connected to Filter “ess” audio input
- Filter “ess” audio output connected to Envelope audio input
- Filter “formant” audio output connected to Mixer formant.in input
- Envelope audio output connected to Mixer bursts.in input
- Mixer audio output connected to Filter “sibilance” audio input
- Mixer audio output connected to Compressor audio input
- Filter “sibilance” audio output connected to Compressor key input
- Compressor audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- Only the high-passed copy reaches the key, so the compressor reacts to esses and leaves the vowel alone.
- Turn Listen on to hear exactly what the detector hears, then set the key high-pass so only the hiss remains.
- The Multiband compressor's high band is the other way to de-ess: see its help patches.
Related nodes
- Limiter Linked or independent sample-peak limiting with hold and adaptive release.
- Gate Noise gate and downward expander with a sidechain key input, range, hold, lookahead, detector filtering and channel linking.
- Multiband compressor Three-band compressor on a flat-summing crossover: per-band threshold, ratio, attack, release, makeup and solo, then an output trim.
- Envelope Curved AD, AR and ADSR gain envelopes with looping and explicit retrigger behavior.
- Gain A clean stereo gain stage.