A three-band dynamics processor with dual-stage compression and expansion per band, flexible sidechain routing, and soft clipping, designed for precise control over loudness and punch in mixes and individual sources.
Purpose
BLEASS Multiband Compressor is a dynamics processor that splits audio into three frequency bands, each processed independently to avoid the pumping artifacts common in broadband compressors. This design is suited for adding loudness, power, and punch to full mixes, stems, drums, synths, pianos, vocals, and spoken word.
Each band includes a dual-stage processor: an Above stage for signals exceeding a threshold and a Below stage for quieter signals. Each stage can act as a compressor or expander, offering flexible control over dynamics beyond simple gain reduction.
Key Capabilities
The dual-stage design allows independent processing of loud and quiet signal portions, enabling both peak control and upward expansion for subtle details. Ratio settings below unity turn stages into expanders, increasing dynamic range instead of reducing it.
A flexible sidechain system lets each band key from the input, a filtered version, or an external signal. This supports corrective tasks like taming resonances or sibilance, as well as creative ducking effects. Output level and dry/wet mix controls, plus soft clipping, add final shaping.
Workflow
Start by setting crossover frequencies to isolate problem areas or tonal regions on your source. Adjust thresholds per band to catch unwanted peaks (Above) or to bring up quiet details (Below). Choose compression or expansion ratios depending on whether you want to tighten or widen dynamics.
Use the sidechain to key specific bands from external sources for ducking, or filter the internal signal to target narrow frequency ranges. Blend dry/wet for parallel processing, and enable soft clipping to catch hot signals with a mild, valve-like saturation.
Practical Applications
Apply to drum buses to increase punch without pumping on sustained chords from other instruments. On synth or piano tracks, multiband control prevents loud bass from over-compressing mids and highs. For full mixes, it adds cohesive loudness while preserving transient clarity.
Use the expander stages to reveal natural room tone or subtle performances, and employ the sidechain for automatic ducking of music under voiceovers or to create rhythmic effects. The dual-stage design is also effective for vocal de-essing when combined with filtered sidechain keying.
Key features
- Three-band split with independent dynamics processing per band
- Dual Above and Below stages with compressor or expander modes
- Flexible sidechain with input, filtered, or external keying
- Output level and dry/wet mix controls
- Soft clipping for hot signals with a saturation character
Best for
Best for mixing and mastering engineers seeking precise multiband dynamics control, especially for drums, synths, and full mixes, with creative sidechain and expansion possibilities. Its portable design suits both studio and on-the-move production, though it lacks explicit mastering-specific metering or presets.