PARALLEL POWERS IN A PLUGIN

Parallel compression is an essential production technique for creating fatter, more powerful, tracks and mixes. But it can also be a hassle to setup properly when you’re in the zone.

We made a plugin that does all the hard work for you — with an addictively punchy flavor.

‘I Heart NY’ creates a duplicate track of your audio – hosted within the plugin – and lets you spank it hard. This process replicates the true parallel compression workflow, unlike compressors with just a wet/dry knob.

FEATURES OVERVIEW

• Parallel bus ‘hosted’ within the plugin for an easy workflow
• Unique compression algorithm with ‘smack’ and ‘punch’
• Works as a regular compressor in ‘SOLO’ mode
• Mac and PC, VST, VST3, AU and AAX supported

UNDER THE HOOD

Most modern compressors will offer a wet/dry knob. But for a true parallel compression workflow, you need to juggle two audio tracks — and be really mean to one. We set out to build a plugin for that. With extra sonic flavor.

The ‘SPANK’ knob controls a complex algorithm, designed to fire-up anything you throw at it. Revealing exactly what goes on under the hood would take away some of the magic, but in short it’s a mix of punchy high-ratio compression with a transient-friendly envelope – and a bit of EQ – combined with a low-end preservation filter applied to the compressor’s internal detection signal for that extra ‘boom’. I Heart NY is designed to range from subtle tightness to ‘pumping galore’, depending on your taste. And sanity…

TWO-TRICK PONY

While parallel compression is its primary strength, I Heart NY can be more than a one-trick pony. Engaging ‘SOLO’ mode makes the plugin operate as a normal insert compressor (by muting the dry audio signal). This opens up a whole new set of possibilities for using the ‘SPANK’ algorithm on your material.

PARALLEL COMPRESSION AS EASY AS 1-2-3

• Dial the ‘SPANK’ knob until the left meter peaks below ‘red’
• Bring in the parallel bus with the fader
• Set the OUTPUT level of the combined parallel + dry track

NEW YORK, WHY?

Legend has it that parallel compression was first ‘invented’ in New York City’s production circles. Whether that’s truly the case – or yet another example of the city’s cocky self-confidence – is yet to be confirmed. But as a NYC-based company, we went along with the story when naming our first product.