Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor Plug-in

Multiband Compressor Plug-in with Five User-definable Bands with Linear-phase Crossovers - AAX Native, AudioSuite, AU, VST3, SoundGrid

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Item ID: LinPhaseComp

Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor Plug-in

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Software Compatibility

Most software is compatible with both macOS and Windows, but check to make sure.

If you're using Pro Tools, AAX plug-ins are what you need. Most other DAWs on macOS support Audio Units (AU) plug-ins, while VST is compatible with many DAWs on oth macOS and Windows. Be sure you choose plug-ins that work with your DAW!

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Q: What is the Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor plug-in used for?

This plug-in allows you to precisely control the dynamics of your audio across multiple frequency bands without introducing phase distortion. It's ideal for mastering, mixing, and sound design, helping you achieve a clear, balanced, and punchy sound. You can transparently shape your low-end, mids, and highs independently, making it a powerful tool for both subtle enhancements and dramatic sonic sculpting.

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Q: What are the system requirements for running the Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor?

For Mac, you'll need macOS 13 or later with an Intel Core i7 (or M1/Apple Silicon) processor and 8GB RAM. PC users require Windows 10 (22H2) or later, an Intel Core i5 / AMD Quad-core (with AVX support) or higher, and 8GB RAM. This 64-bit plug-in ensures optimal performance on modern systems.

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Q: Which plug-in formats does the Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor support?

The Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor is highly versatile, supporting AAX, AU (Audio Units), and VST formats. This ensures compatibility with most major DAWs on both Mac and PC platforms. It also offers additional compatibility with AudioSuite, SoundGrid, and NKS for expanded workflow options.

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Q: How does a linear phase multiband compressor benefit my audio compared to a standard compressor?

A standard compressor treats the entire frequency spectrum uniformly, which can sometimes lead to unwanted pumping or artifacts. A linear phase multiband compressor, like this Waves plug-in, allows you to apply compression to specific frequency ranges independently without introducing phase shifts. This results in a more transparent and natural-sounding dynamic control, preserving the original character of your audio while achieving greater clarity and balance.

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Multiband Compression for Mastering

Sweetwater mastering engineers need musical-sounding compression that elegantly controls level without squashing the sound, and that's just what Waves' Linear Phase Multiband Compressor does. Strap it across your master buss and apply sparingly to "glue" your mix without audible artifacts. With adaptive thresholds, automatic makeup gain, and finite response filters, the Linear Phase Multiband Compressor gives you the sculpting power and finesse of five user-definable bands with linear-phase crossovers for phase-distortion-free multiband compression. Take it from us - Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor plug-in will become an essential component in your mastering chain.

Tech Specs

Software Type: Compressor
Platform: Mac, PC
Upgrade/Full: Full
Download/Boxed: Download
Bit Depth: 64-bit
Plug-in Formats: AAX, AU, VST
Additional Compatibility: AudioSuite, SoundGrid, NKS
Hardware Requirements - Mac: Intel Core i7 or higher (M1 support), 8GB RAM minimum
Hardware Requirements - PC: Intel Core i5 / AMD Quad-core or higher (AVX required), 8GB RAM minimum
OS Requirements - Mac: macOS 13 or later
OS Requirements - PC: Windows 10 (22H2) or later
Manufacturer Part Number: LMBTDM

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Firstly this multi compressor is important because of the linear phase, it won't colour or change phase of your audio. That's super important in mix - mastering.

Secondly it helps to level out your overall mix and fix problem areas such as sub frequencies that swell and reduce head room.

I use the basic adaptive multi preset and reduce about -3db just to smooth out things. It can help you attain a louder mix but use sparingly!

First off, what makes this MBC somewhat unique and the reason "Linear Phase" is in the name is because a traditional multi-band compressor will "color (i.e. boost or cut) your signal around the crossover frequencies you specify. This can be used to your advantage, if you know what your doing. This version, however, is supposed to be neutral at the selected crossover points and is intended for use mainly on a the master buss during mixing or on a mix master in a mastering session. I feel it accomplishes this quite exquisitely. This plugin is great for that which it was intended. The following is only commentary on MBC in general.

Second, multi band compression, regardless of flavor, has the potential to put a final polish on a good mix/master or completely destroy a mix if used with a heavy hand (or if you don't really have a firm grasp on what a compressor actually does and how it functions). I've learned this from experience and is the reason I have only recently started using MBC in mix sessions again. But, now that I have revisited it, I think that what multi band compression brings to the table at the end of a mix is absolutely amazing when used "correctly". (Which only means that you know how to set it to get the results you were after, or better)

Here's a workflow to start you in the "right" direction...

1. Mix your session as you normally would and once things are in the ballpark regarding balance, EQ, and gain staging...

2. Scale back any compression you may have added to the master buss. By that I mean, you'll be better served if your mix buss compressor is reducing gain by less than 2db at the most and, since you're about to add more compression, you'll want to retain as much dynamics as possible going into the MBC.

3. Depending on the material you're mixing and how you use EQ to make space for things in the mix, the Crossover frequencies and attack settings for each band will vary. Solo each one and listen to what range of each individual track is being represented and adjust crossovers to taste. I find for my mixes that 0-80Hz captures most of the lows (kick and low bass notes), 80-650Hz captures low-mid (beefiness of bass guitar and toms and general muddiness from everything else), 650-3500Hz captures mids (most instruments and vocals), 3500-8000 captures high-mids ("presence" of instruments/vocals and meat of cymbals), and 8000Hz+ captures highs (vocal sibilance, cymbal shimmer, and general "air"). I set the attack based on whether I want to allow transients in each band to come through or be reigned in - 15ms if yes and 2ms if not.

4. Pull the Threshold of each band down until it just begins kissing the gain reduction (represented by a 2-3db drop in the yellow line). Some bands may require more gain reduction than others (i.e. if you're having a hard time taming muddiness in the low-mids, which happens to me quite often).

5. Compensate for the compression gain reduction by adding 2-2.5db of makeup Gain. This is also where you can rely begin to sculpt the spectrum of your mix. I must be mixing in a bright (high-mid/highs accentuating) room, because it never fails that I take a mix somewhere else to reference it (in the car, home stereo, etc.) that it's a little heavy in the low-mids and sometimes lows. So, what I do is either adjust the Thresholds in those band to reduce more, reduce the makeup Gain by a db or two, or both.

What you'll find is that you can sculpt the dynamics and EQ balance of an entire mix with having the compressor mask mids and highs when it invariably responds mainly to low frequency energy in your mix. This will make your mix immediately "seem" brighter because kick, toms, and bass guitar are no longer causing the compressor to mask those bands. Just remember a little goes a long way here. 2-3db of gain reduction and 2-3db variations in makeup Gain will serve you well. Cheers!

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What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?

Chris Kress

Having mixed hundreds of music projects over the last 20 years, I've mastered using lots of different software. Now my go-to plug-in is the Waves Linear Phase Multiband Compressor. Its sound quality is excellent and the interface is easy to use. This is a tool that's powerful for both quick projects as well as my most serious mastering work.

Since the early days of DAW software, Waves has been a dominating force in music and audio production. For those of us here at Sweetwater who've been recording since the industry switched over to computer-based studios, it's impossible to imagine sessions without L series Ultramaximizers, MaxxBass, and other staples. Since then, we've been impressed every time Waves has brought top producers such as Jack Joseph Puig and Chris Lord-Alge to Sweetwater to show off their next cutting-edge creations, and Waves is constantly adding new and innovative plug-ins to their catalog. And with cool new gear such as their SoundGrid series, Sweetwater engineers have discovered just how easy it is to use Waves plug-ins live.

See also: Dynamics Plug in , Waves, Waves Limiter, Gate & Compressor Plugins