So, this gem turns one year old this week. I've slept on it a long time, since I didn't get it at first. DynaQ is the first plugin by renowned German Mastering Engineering Andreas Ballaskas who runs MasterLab Studio in Berlin, Germany. But it's not a Mastering Plugin, it's a pretty damn useful tool with tons of use cases.

I call it a gem because it's different and pretty unique approach to treating a signal – a new wrench in the toolbox which didn't existed yet. It's a bit hard to get your head wrapped around it at first. But once you do the concept it's brilliant and unlike anything out at the moment. The concept is called "Dynamic Split processing":

"Unlike other dynamic filters, DynaQ comes with a complete new approach on dynamic filtering. Instead of delivering several dynamic EQ bands, each with a complete set of dynamic controls, DynaQ simply splits the signal into Below and Above dynamic split point, which then can be processed independently. Mixing back the Below and the Above signal restores the original signal with its dynamic range, but with individually processed changes.

That makes DynaQ not only a dynamic filter, but also a dynamic selective saturator with precise controls over the dynamic splitting point"

So, unklike a Multiband Dynamic processer that splits the frequency spectrum vertically, it's splits it horizontally in a below and above signal which can be set free by a threshold slider - similar to MV2 but with a lot more options better overall control of the signal (and no WUP bs).

You can for example take a drum loop, squash the heck out of it in the below section to really beef it up but can leave the transients in the above threshold section alone, so it retains it's punch and doesn't sounds all squashed to death. And oon top of it you can EQ each split band individually. and control the stereowidth of each of the above and below section individually. So you could widen the lower section but keep the up section dead center or the other way around for basses or pads for example.

For future updates they are planneing to multiple out's for the EQ bands so you coulkd send from each band of each split individually for further processing which opens new creative possibilities.

You should demo this puppy yourself. It's currently on sale for 45 € for a week from Monday 19th 2020 onwards.

https://masterlab.audio/