SpectralMediator

SpectralMediator is an anti-masking spectral dynamics plugin.

It solves the single most common problem in mixing — two tracks fighting for the same frequency range — without a static EQ cut or a full-band sidechain.

You insert one instance on each of two tracks that mask each other (kick + bass, lead vocal + guitar, snare + overheads) and pair them with a dropdown.
The two instances exchange their FFT spectra in real time through shared memory, and each one ducks ONLY the frequencies where its partner is actually masking it, ONLY while the partner is loud. When the masker goes quiet, the ducking disappears. Nothing is cut that doesn't need to be.

HOW IT'S DIFFERENT

How it differs from a normal multiband or dynamic EQ: those give you a handful of bands, each with one detector and one reduction amount. SpectralMediator computes the reduction across 1024 frequency points, each driven by the partner
track's level at that exact frequency, so it follows the other track's spectral contour — and it does this in both directions from one pairing. The closest manual equivalent is dozens of narrow dynamic-EQ bands, each spectrally sidechained, on both tracks.

Key Features

• Per-band dynamic ducking — right-click to add band splits, drag the threshold and ratio handles to taste.
• Bidirectional control — edit your partner's settings remotely from a single window (LOCAL and REMOTE panels).
• 1024-point spectral ducking driven by the paired track (follows its contour).
• Dual real-time FFT analyzers (your spectrum + your partner's), with draggable high-pass / low-pass detection limits.
• Attack / Release / Makeup envelope controls per side.
• Up to 16 paired instances, auto-discovered across the session via shared memory — no DAW routing cables.
• Resizable interface, size saved per project.

TYPICAL USES

• Kick + Bass: the bass ducks under the kick transient, only in the low band.
• Lead Vocal + Guitar/Synth: keep the voice forward in the midrange without gutting the guitar with a permanent notch.
• Snare + Overheads, backing-vocal stacks, dialogue over a music bed.

Formats & PLATFORMS

• VST3, Audio Unit (AU) and CLAP.
• Windows 10/11 (64-bit), macOS 11+ (universal — Intel & Apple Silicon), Linux (x86-64-v3). Requires a CPU with AVX2.
• Audio Unit support covers Logic Pro and GarageBand on macOS.

DEMO

A fully functional demo is available — every feature unlocked. The only limitation is a brief audio mute every 60 seconds until a license key is entered. No sign-up required.

Built with the iPlug2 framework. Custom C++ DSP.

*v1.2.2 macOS Retina fix: plugin window no longer doubles in size each time you reopen the editor.