Dynamics Processing

Blue Cat's Dynamics

Blue Cat's Dynamics is a complete dynamics effect processor: it can be used as a compressor, limiter, gate, expander or even distortion unit. You can manage the dynamics response of the plug-in with a unique two-thresholds system. The plug-in includes an input filter as well as a side chain filter, in order to control the frequencies affected by the compression. Its continuous VCA/Opto and Peak/RMS controls let you smoothly and precisely choose the behavior of the envelope detection like you have never been able to.

A brick wall limiter/clipper has been added to the output for a complete control of the dynamics response. You can use this software as a real time side chain compressor as well, thanks to its unique MIDI CC & automation output. Side chaining has never been so easy, as you can see in our tutorial, and it even lets you trigger external hardware devices! It's also possible to trigger other effects according to the dynamics response, as shown here: you can build your own dynamics processing effect.

The real time display of the detected envelope under the compression curve let you know what's exactly going on in the dynamics processor. You can also visualize what's been applied to your audio signal with the real time in/out envelopes display: there is no easier way to compare the input and output signals in real time. You can also record all this information as automation curves, so that it's possible to monitor the modifications applied to the signal on top of the audio signal representation in your favorite host. See our monitoring tutorial.

All these features can be controlled from a user-friendly and skinnable user interface (customize it to your own needs!), or from any hardware/software MIDI controller. MIDI learn has not been forgotten so that MIDI setup is fast and reliable.

The package includes a mono and a stereo version for optimal CPU usage.

Blue Cat's Gain Suite

This plug-in suite is a simple series of gain utilities which let you control the volume of an audio track. The interest of these plug-ins resides resides in their particular features:

First, their automation and advanced MIDI control capabilities (the response curve of the MIDI controllers can be fully customized). Used together with one of our analysis tools or a MIDI controller, these plug-ins let you remotely control and automate the gain of each channel of the audio signal.

Another interesting and exclusive feature is the ability to link several instances of the same plug-in: thanks to our unique data sharing technology, you can control the gain of several tracks at the same time, with advanced response curve capabilities.

The plug-in bundle contains a stereo and a mid/side version for independent control of the left and right or mid and side channels. It can be very useful for stereo widening/narrowing. Additional information about stereo widening with mid/side processing can be found in this paper.

Last but not least, the skinning capabilities of this plug-in allow you to customize the way you interact with it.

Blue Cat's Protector

Blue Cat's Protector is a 0dB stereo brickwall limiter with adjustable dynamics response. It will typically find its place on the master bus of your DAW to protect your audio output from overshoot, limit the general volume and improve the perceived loudness, thanks to a very transparent frequency response.

Despite its very simple set of controls, it offers a wide range of sounds and it is also suitable as a track limiter for more creative effects such as distortion, pumping or heavy limiting.

Beyond its powerful dynamics processing features, and like most of our plugins, Blue Cat's Protector also offers a powerful side chain capability thanks to its MIDI CC output. This unique technique not only lets you do side chain limiting but also parameters modulation: control any parameter of any plugin to create powerful side chain effects in real time.

If you are looking for a complete dynamics processing solution you might be interested in looking at Blue Cat's Dynamics plugin.