platinumears has released 5ORCERY, a free VST effect plug-in for Windows that is described as a "meta-multi-band" compressor using dynamic EQ.
5ORCERY takes a different approach to multi-band compression: the signal is still split into separate bands using cross-over filters, and these still feed the side-chains of separate compressors, but the filtered signals are not mixed back together again. Instead the gain modulation signals from all five compressors are matrixed into modulation signals for 4 dynamic shelving filters plus a gain stage.
To put it another way: while this plug-in behaves like a multi-band compressor, and allows you to solve many of the same problems, it is in actual fact a constantly changing 4-band equaliser, and when it isn't doing anything, it really isn't doing anything.
platinumears has dubbed this approach "meta-multiband compression": all the benefits of a multi-band with none of the usual side effects. Use it wherever you like, on channels, sub-groups or mixes.
Features:
- Transparent and easy to use multi-band compression.
- Dynamic EQ topology to reduce phase artifacts.
- Five FL4TT3RY 2 compressors, with band-limited side-chains.
- External side-chain inputs (switchable per band).
- Intuitive "solo in place" function for each band.
- Optional soft clipping keeps your peaks below 0dBFS.
- Flexible Gain / Gain Reduction meters with switchable range.
- Zero latency.
