Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor

Linear Phase Multiband Compressor

Compress your masters without phasing or coloration

You’ve spent countless hours crafting the perfect mix, and it’s time for multiband compression to add that final touch. Conventional multiband dynamics processors can’t avoid adding some coloration, but this artfully engineered, linear-phase design is always true to your sound. Linear-phase, multiband compression is immune to smearing from phase issues, and processes transients with more focus and clarity—it’s the preferred processor for precision mastering.

Multiband Compression and Expansion

This isn’t just a compressor, but a dynamics processor—and more. Compress in one band, expand in another band, or don’t apply dynamics processing at all—treat some bands like linear-phase EQs.

Attack that Release

De-ess high frequencies with fast attacks, set long releases on low frequencies, choose the ideal balance for midrange dynamics—independent attack and release controls for each band make this possible.

Free-Range Dynamics

The Range parameter is like a ratio control with guardrails. Set the maximum amount you want compression to compress, or expansion to expand. It’s a faster, easier, and more efficient way to dial in your ideal dynamics control.

Adapts Well to Change

The adaptive threshold can add a slight lift to bands that are being masked. This is why so many users feel the Linear Phase Multiband Compressor improves sound beyond expectations, even with light compression.

Let’s Apply Some Makeup

Auto Makeup helps maintain general level stability by working with individual bands instead of overall level, and taking into account threshold, range, and knee. The result is more accurate A/B comparisons.

Auto-Release for Better Sound

Forget about grainy distortion with too-short release times, or pumping with an overly long release—Auto Release Control knows the difference. Set release to an approximate value, and let Waves’ ARC do the rest.

Convenient Customization

Choose from two types of release characters—the smooth opto release, or the tighter electro mode. You can even specify a hard- or soft-knee compression curve, and whether to dither the 48-bit processing to 24 bits.

Highlights

• 5 independent, fully parametric bands
• Linear-phase crossovers prevent phase-based coloration
• “De-masking” clarifies each band’s sound compared to other bands
• Ideal for mastering, due to its faithful audio treatment
• Attack and release for each band track dynamics optimally
• Also does upward expansion and “focusing”-type EQ
• Eliminates intermodulation among bands
• Extras include automatic makeup gain, and adaptive threshold

System Requirements

CPU

X64 compatible Intel or AMD CPU Memory: Minimum: 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended) 16 GB free disk space on the system drive

Operating System

Windows 10 64 bit Windows 11

Screen Resolution

Minimum: 1024x768 Recommended: 1280x1024 / 1600x1024