MSpectralDynamics

I noodled around with this thing for two weeks and admittedly didn't care for it very much at first. Like other of the more complex Melda plugins, this one is seriously feature heavy and has a bit of a learning curve. Using it in what I considered to be a "traditional" way, I just didn't feel like I got it right. Then, I discovered some other astoundingly good uses.

As other reviewers mention, this thing can de-ess like nobody's business. I mean, we're talking the most controllable and customizable de-esser that I have ever found. The big secret in all of this is in MSpectralDynamics fully customizable threshold. If you don't know, "s" sounds aren't just one thing. There are at least three components to most performers' sibilance that can be described as high, medium, and low in terms of their frequency content. Whistles are a different beast altogether. Only a few de-essers acknowledge this reality and often have only one frequency, range, or threshold to adjust. In MSD, in conjunction with the built in analyzer, you can be ultra specific about shape of the threshold you draw or customize, giving you total control over the various parts of the sibilants in the material, no matter where they lie in the spectrum.

Also, the way this thing ducks, mentioned by another reviewer, is a thing of absolute beauty. Using this in the sidechain to control the duckee carves a perfect frequency and volume adjustment based on the ducker. Wow! It can make a voice work with a music or sound effects bed like nothing you have ever experienced.

Another favorite use is noise reduction. Easing background noise in a dialogue track is sometimes dicey. MSD can learn a noise signature and subtract to any degree needed.

Spectral gate with custom threshold? Yep, that too.

Yes, it'll take you some time to figure out. Yes, you might get a little frustrated until you figure it out. Once you do, though, this thing is irreplaceable.