User manual

Channels
Channels controls which channels the band processes. If the input is stereo (left and right channels), then you can make a
band process only left, only right, or both channels. Similarly when the plugin is set to M/S channel mode, you can choose
between mid, side or both channels. You cannot process left with one band and side with the other, because these are
working in different encodings. However you can easily place 2 instances of the plugin, one in L/R mode and the other in
M/S.
Dynamics panel
Dynamics panel contains settings of the dynamics processing which control how the filter behaves depending on input
signal. Normal filters are static, meaning they don't change any features depending on the input signal. If you enable
dynamic properties, by making the dynamic gain nonzero, the filter will start listening to input signal. This requires more
CPU of course, as such a band is essentially and extremely complex generalized compressor, but the used algorithms are
as efficient as it is technically possible.
A dynamic band varies the gain according to input level. It can listen to the whole spectrum or just part of it. By default it
is driven by the part spectrum, which it modifies itself, so when you have a high shelf, it is essentially listening to high part
of the spectrum. You can do many things with such a dynamic processor, but essentially it can work as a compressor or
expander. There are many more advanced ideas you can do with it and the full power hasn't really been explored yet.
Advanced button
Advanced button displays additional settings for this band. These contain some more esoteric features, such as a dynamic
transformation shape.
button
This button enables the dynamic processing. You can use it to switch between enabled and disabled dynamic processing
to check the differences.
Dynamics
Dynamics defines the maximum gain of the filter caused by the input signal. For example, if you set -24dB and the input
signal contained in the band will be very strong, the band will be set to additional -24dB. This would work similarly to a
compressor in that band.
Attack
Attack defines the attack time, thus how quickly level detector increases the measured input level. The shorter the attack
time, the faster the response is. When the input peak level is higher than current level measured by the detector, the
detector get into the attack mode, in which the level is increasing depending on the input signal. The higher the input
signal is, the faster the level rises. And also the shorter the attack time, the faster the level rises.
There must be a reasonable balance between attack and release times. If the attack is too long compared to release, the
detector would tend to keep the level low, because release would cause the level to fall too quickly. Hence in most cases
you may expect the attack time to be shorter than the release time.
To understand the working of a level detector, it is best to cover the typical cases:
In a compressor the attack time controls how quickly can the level get above the threshold and the processor can start
compressing. As a result a very short attack time will compress even beginning transient of a snare drum for example,
hence it would remove the punch. A very long attack on the other hand will avoid even reaching the threshold, so the
compressor may not do anything.
In a limiter the attack becomes a very sensitive control defining how much is the signal limited and how much
saturated/clipped. If the attack is very low, the limiter catches most peaks itself and reduces them. That provides lower
distortion, but can cause pumping. On the other hand higher attack (even above 1ms) may let most peaks through the