Impact Soundworks’ Peak Rider 2 is a dynamic processing plug-in for any AU, AAX, RTAS and VST-compatible DAW hosts supporting sidechaining.
As an advanced sidechain dynamic processor, Peak Rider 2 can be used to match the dynamics of one signal to another, subtract or invert peaks, closely follow the level of a generated tone or equalise a signal while retaining its dynamic characteristics. Creatively, it can also be used for transient designing, tight drum gating, dynamic retention across distortion or other effects, reshaping stereo imaging among other processes.
Now Pro Tools compatible – courtesy of AAX and RTAS plug-in format support – a new EQ mode allows up to 12 discrete parametric EQ bands to be simultaneously used. In this mode, equalisation can be applied to any audio signal while maintaining the ‘dry’ signal level.
Peak Rider 2 offers five operation modes. The sidechain input is analysed and an continuous envelope created from it, while the same is done with the main input signal. The two envelopes can then be matched, combined and subtracted for a wide variety of mix and sound design applications. Each envelope can also be split into multiple bands and detected using algorithms for Peak – realtime, fast peak meter-style envelopes; RMS – realtime, smooth envelopes; or Smooth – smooth, look-ahead, windowed-average envelopes; stereo LR or mid/side; and tweaked on a per-band basis.
Envelopes are selected with the Mode knob – Exact (matches the main envelope to the sidechain envelope), Noboost (matches the main envelope to the sidechain envelope; attenuation only), Duck (subtracts or adds the sidechain envelope to the main envelope), Expand (expands the dynamics or the main envelope with the sidechain envelope), and EQ (matches an equalised version of the main envelope to an unprocessed main envelope).
Other Peak Rider 2 features include smoother parameter automation; informative GUI metering; SC Input Processor (process the input sidechain signal with panning, volume, filtering, and EQ, and also replace the signal with signal generators directly before being processed by any other dynamic modes); SC Signal Generators (Off, Tone, Pink); overhauled RMS algorithm; new presets; Undo/Redo buttons (Peak Rider 2 remembers each control changed while open); Next/Previous preset buttons; and updated registration hardware encoding.
More: www.impactsoundworks.com
