I'm looking for the "best" (multiband) Gate/Expander (or maybe a full dynamic plugin)

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Hi there everyone,

since years I'm struggling with finding a good multiband Gate that would fit my workflow. Free is best but if paid is needed I can wait for a sale (and BF is coming right ? ^^)

I will list my gate plugins most used and what I'd like to find in the new plugin.

Simples gates, I'm using often CoreFx Gate or Unfiltered Audio G8

For multiband I'm using Maximus (the old VST2 version), or Bertom Audio Noise gate.

I have many others but their UI aren't as I like to be.

I have some spectral plugins like MSpectralDynamics, Pro Audio DSM, or maybe SpecOps (I didn't even tried)

I have other multiband dynamics like TB MBC but I don't think they can do gating/expanding, just upward/downward compression. Maybe SnapHeap Multipass from KHS, or Triad by unfiltered audio.

Well I hope I express myself clear coz my English is rusty ^^

So what I'm looking after :
-Multiband/Spectral Gate/expanding at minimum (if it does all the rest like up/down compression/limiting, I'm taking it too.)
- possibility to add at least 5 bands
- solo and mute for each band
- oscilloscope representation like in Maximus or G8
- Hold control
- Linearphase option
- crossovers up to 96db
- easy workflow like a simple gate would be nice :D I could maybe use the dynamic mode from Kirchoff EQ to achieve what I want, but the UI is a bit a mess for me. On the contrary Bertom Audio does magic, but too much under the hood, not enough control.
- I'd like a mix between Maximus and G8, the issue with maximus is small gui, needs to boost the input a looooot in order to see the highs and mids, only 3 bands, and some other clunky stuff
- maybe I should get MMultibandDynamics, but no oscilloscope representation AFAIK

Hope my post isn't too clunky, and eager to hear your suggestions !

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PS: I'm mostly using Reaper for mixing purposes, so maybe there's a JSFX that could help. But I'd fancy a nice plugin that I can use in any DAW if possible.
Thanks already for any help folks !

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No one has a suggestion ?

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I also like full-featured gates but haven't looked for one recently...
Have you checked out =https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/ ... B5 Dynamix?

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At least 5 bands of 96 dB/oct gates... that's some pretty harsh processing. What is the use-case? Is this for a special effect or do you think this is a good idea for mixing?

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Winstontaneous wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 4:58 am I also like full-featured gates but haven't looked for one recently...
Have you checked out =https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/ ... B5 Dynamix?
Thanks ! I went to check but can't seem to see if it can show the waveform like in MB5 Compressor, or UA G8 or in Maximus.

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imrae wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 7:29 am At least 5 bands of 96 dB/oct gates... that's some pretty harsh processing. What is the use-case? Is this for a special effect or do you think this is a good idea for mixing?
Maybe 96 is a bit too much, 48 would be appreciated

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Still unclear what problem you are trying to solve with this effect?

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I'd like to gate/expand in multiband fashion, with the waveform displayed.

Just looking at plugin boutique in the gates section and I see that there are Silencer, Oxford Drum Gate, Pro-G, Poltergate, SSL X-Gate, Smart:Gate that display the waveform too. Now to see if they offer multiband operations.

I like my crossovers steep usually.

I could use spectral gates, but it is a bit overkill. I could also use a frequency splitter (the one in FL Studio goes up to 96db/oct with linear phase option), but i'd fancy a plugin I could use in other hosts too.

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The best gate / expander I currently have in my arsenal are the dynamic modules in the PSP infinistrip followed by the console one 4000 gate. But those are standard plugins without fancy waveform stuff.

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