HoRNet Plugins has announced the release of SpectraDuck, a spectral sidechain ducker plugin that analyses audio in the frequency domain and automatically reduces the level of a target channel only in the frequency ranges where a sidechain signal is present.
Unlike traditional sidechain compressors that cut the entire signal when the trigger is loud, SpectraDuck examines the spectrum of the sidechain input and applies gain reduction only in the frequency bands where masking is detected. The rest of the signal passes through untouched, no crossovers, no fixed bands, no phase issues between bands.
The plugin sits on the channel to be ducked (bass bus, drum bus, music bed). The user routes a trigger signal as the sidechain input. SpectraDuck continuously analyses the sidechain spectrum, detects the dominant frequency range, and applies ducking only in those frequency regions.
Key Features
- FFT-based real-time spectral analysis — detects frequency masking automatically.
- Three-knob workflow: Amount (0-100%), Range (0-24 dB), Sharpness (0-100%) — 90% of use cases covered without additional setup.
- No crossovers, no fixed EQ bands — pure frequency-domain ducking.
- HP/LP Detector filter: tell the plugin exactly which frequencies to listen to in the sidechain.
- Auto Time: automatically estimates Attack and Release from the sidechain material.
- Lookahead: anticipates transients for click-free operation on percussive sources • MS Mode: Linked / Mid Only / Side Only for stereo bus work.
- Listen Mode: hear the sidechain, hear the cut, or normal output.
- Real-time visual feedback: cyan = input spectrum, yellow = post-ducking, magenta = gain-reduction curve.
- Approximately 5 ms latency, DAW-compensated (PDC).
Technical Specifications
- Formats: VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit) + Standalone.
- Platform: macOS 10.15+ (Intel + Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3/M4), Windows 10/11 (64-bit).
- Sample Rate Support: 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz.
- Latency: ~5 ms (DAW-compensated via PDC).
- Copy Protection: None, direct download, no dongle.
Pricing
SpectraDuck is available now for €29.99.
