SPECTRAL DUCKER

Controls

• Amount0 to 100% — How deep the track can be cut in each band (0 to 100% = up to 24 dB).
• Threshold−60 to 0 dB — Key level per band above which the track ducks (-60 to 0 dB); the dashed line in the display.
• Attack0.1 to 100 ms — How fast the cut follows the key (0.1 to 100 ms).
• Release10 to 1000 ms — How fast the track comes back when the key stops (10 to 1000 ms).
• Low Cut20 to 5000 Hz — Bands below this frequency never duck (20 Hz to 5 kHz).
• High Cut200 to 20000 Hz — Bands above this frequency never duck (200 Hz to 20 kHz).
• ChannelsStereo / Mid / Side — What ducks: both channels (Stereo), only the Mid, or only the Side, which keeps the centre intact and makes room at the edges.
• Mix0 to 100% — Blend of ducked and dry track (0 to 100%).
• Output−12 to +12 dB — Level after the ducker (-12 to +12 dB).
• ListenOutput / Delta — Output plays the ducked track; Delta plays only what is taken out, to hear exactly where the ducker works.

Best uses

• Carve space for a lead vocal in a busy instrumental or pad bus
• Let the kick through the bass only where they overlap
• Voice-over over music that stays full between the words
• Duck a reverb or delay return by the dry signal it comes from
• Side-only ducking to clear the edges for a centred vocal

Properties

The key (track channels 3/4, summed to mono) runs through 32 fourth-order band passes, a third of an octave apart from 30 Hz to 18 kHz; each band's level follows with Attack and Release. Every 16 samples, where a band is above Threshold, its excess (up to Amount × 24 dB) sets the cut of a Q 3 bell on the same band of the track; the bells overlap, so each cuts 0.43 of its band's amount and together they cut about the amount. Bells at 0 dB pass the signal unchanged. Stereo, mid or side; Mix and Output; Listen Delta plays dry minus ducked. Zero latency. In the Rack, the key is the Rack's dry input.

Formats

• JSFXJSFX for REAPER, with REAPER's own sliders
• GFXJSFX GFX for REAPER, with its own interface
• VST3VST3 for any DAW
• CLAPCLAP for any DAW

Factory presets

Vocal Space · Vocal Space Wide · Kick Through Bass · Lead Over Pads · Voice Over Music · Gentle Carve · Snare Room In Reverb

Try it