Easy-NY by Terry West: Legendary Parallel Compression in One Plugin
Looking for that same dense, rich drum or vocal sound that you hear on many professional recordings? Meet the “New York Compression” or parallel compression method! This technique involves mixing an unprocessed signal with its heavily compressed version, allowing you to preserve the dynamic range of the original sound while adding density, sustain, and punch from the compressed track.
Now, achieving this effect has become incredibly easy thanks to the Easy-NY plugin from the talented developer Terry West. This VST plugin for Windows has collected all the magic of parallel compression in one intuitive interface, freeing you from the need to create complex routing chains in your DAW.
Features That Make Easy-NY Indispensable:
- Effect mix dial: A key element for parallel processing. Allows you to smoothly blend the original signal with the compressed one, precisely adjusting the intensity of the “New York” effect.
- Volume dial: Simple output level control.
- Dedicated Motown EQ for vocals (+ boost): A unique feature designed specifically to give vocal tracks warmth, presence, and the same vintage sound associated with the famous label. The additional boost helps to “pull” the vocals to the forefront of the mix.
- Soft/Hard switch: Choose between two different compression styles – softer and more transparent or more aggressive and dense, adapting the plugin for different instruments and genres.
- Saturator with Auto-gain: Add harmonic saturation and analog warmth to your signal. The Auto-gain function helps maintain a stable output level when changing the degree of saturation.
- Two Punch modes: Enhance the attack and dynamics of your sound, which is especially useful for drums, bass, or other elements that need more punch in the mix.
- Built-in Compressor EQ and Post EQ: Adjust the frequency balance both before and after compression, allowing you to shape the tone of the compressed signal or the final output mix directly in the plugin.
- Clip mode: Add soft clipping for additional peak control and create a sound “gluing” effect.
- Global bypass: Quickly compare the processed sound with the original to assess the impact of the plugin.
- Includes two skins: Customize the appearance of the plugin according to your preferences.
- 5 presets: Quickly get started using professionally designed presets for different instruments and usage scenarios.
Who Is This Plugin For?
Easy-NY is an indispensable tool for sound engineers, producers, and musicians who want to achieve a professional, dense, and energetic sound for their tracks. It is ideal for processing:
- Drums: Give your drums incredible density, punch, and sustain.
- Vocals: Make your vocals present, warm, and expressive, especially with the Motown EQ.
- Bass guitar: Add weight, presence, and evenness to the bass line.
- Guitars, synthesizers, and other instruments: Use parallel compression to “push” instruments forward in the mix, add harmonic saturation, and improve overall dynamics.
With its simplicity and powerful features, Easy-NY by Terry West is a great way to master the New York compression technique and significantly improve the quality of your mixes. It’s more than just a compressor; it’s a comprehensive tool for giving your tracks a professional shine and character.
