Multiband Compressor
3-band multiband compressor with Linkwitz-Riley crossovers, per-band compression controls, and stereo linking
Parameters
| Parameter | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Low/Mid Crossover | 50 – 500 Hz | 200 Hz |
| Mid/High Crossover | 500 – 8000 Hz | 2000 Hz |
| Low Threshold | -60 – 0 dB | -18 dB |
| Low Ratio | 1 – 20 | 4 |
| Low Attack | 0.1 – 100 ms | 10 ms |
| Low Release | 10 – 1000 ms | 150 ms |
| Low Knee | 0 – 24 dB | 6 dB |
| Low Makeup | -12 – 24 dB | 0 dB |
| Mid Threshold | -60 – 0 dB | -18 dB |
| Mid Ratio | 1 – 20 | 4 |
| Mid Attack | 0.1 – 100 ms | 10 ms |
| Mid Release | 10 – 1000 ms | 150 ms |
| Mid Knee | 0 – 24 dB | 6 dB |
| Mid Makeup | -12 – 24 dB | 0 dB |
| High Threshold | -60 – 0 dB | -18 dB |
| High Ratio | 1 – 20 | 4 |
| High Attack | 0.1 – 100 ms | 10 ms |
| High Release | 10 – 1000 ms | 150 ms |
| High Knee | 0 – 24 dB | 6 dB |
| High Makeup | -12 – 24 dB | 0 dB |
| Detector Mode | RMS, Peak | RMS |
| Stereo Link | Unlinked, Linked | Linked |
Overview
Multiband Compressor divides the signal into low, mid, and high bands, then compresses each band independently. It can control palm muted bass without dulling the entire guitar, smooth an aggressive upper midrange, or contain bright attacks while leaving the body of the note alone.
The two Crossover controls define the three frequency regions. Each band
has its own Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Knee, and Makeup controls. These
work like a conventional compressor but affect only that region. RMS
detection gives a smoother response, while Peak catches fast transients.
Linked Stereo Link applies the same gain change to both channels and
preserves stereo position. Unlinked allows independent compression.
Tips
- Start with the default crossovers, moderate ratios around 2:1 or 3:1, and no Makeup. Lower one Threshold at a time while listening to that band’s effect.
- To control low end thump, lower the Low Threshold and use an Attack around 10 to 25 ms. Avoid excessive Low Makeup, which can undo the control.
- To soften pick noise, use a faster High Attack and lower High Threshold.
- Keep crossover points far enough apart to leave a useful mid band. A low crossover around 150 to 300 Hz and high crossover around 2 to 4 kHz is a practical guitar starting range.
- Use Linked mode for ordinary stereo rigs. Match output loudness with the three Makeup controls before judging whether the result is better.