Platinumears has released 5ORCERY, a free multi-band compression effect plug-in for Windows.

The traditional way to build a multi-band compressor is to split the signal into the required number of bands (five in this case) using cross-over filters, then run each band-­ through a separate compressor before mixing them back together again. This approach tends to cause phase problems around the cross-over frequencies, requiring sophisticated filter designs to minimize these effects.

5ORCERY takes a different approach: the signal is still split into five separate bands using cross-over filters, and these feed the side-chains of five separate compressors. But the filtered signals are not mixed back together again: instead the gain modulation signals from all five compressors are matrixed into modulation signals for 4 dynamic shelving filters plus a gain stage.

Platinumears 5ORCERY

Platinumears 5ORCERY

5ORCERY features

  • Transparent and easy to use multi-band compression.
  • Dynamic EQ topology to reduce phase artifacts.
  • Five FL4TT3RY 2 compressors, with band-limited side-chains.
  • External side-chain inputs (switchable per band).
  • Intuitive “solo in place” function for each band.
  • Optional soft clipping keeps your peaks below 0dBFS.
  • Flexible Gain / Gain Reduction meters with switchable range.
  • Zero latency.

5ORCERY for Windows (VST) is available as freeware.

More information: Platinumears / 5ORCERY