SEGX2: Two-Band Expander/Gate by Sonic Anomaly – Precise Dynamics Control
Effective control of the dynamic range is an important aspect of professional mixing. Gates and expanders help to clean up recordings from noise, control signal “leakage,” and shape dynamics. Traditional broadband processors are sometimes limited when different processing is needed for different frequency bands. This is where multi-band solutions become indispensable.
Meet SEGX2: Your New Tool for Refined Dynamic Control
SEGX2 by Sonic Anomaly is an innovative two-band expander/gate, available as a VST plugin for Windows (32/64 bit). It is designed for flexible and musical control of dynamics in two independent frequency ranges. SEGX2 is ideal for:
- Cleaning tracks of background noise and “leakage.”
- Precise shaping of the attack and dynamics of instruments (drums, bass, guitars).
- Creative use for rhythmic effects.
Thanks to its thoughtful design and features, SEGX2 allows you to achieve professional results while preserving the natural sound.
Key Features and Benefits
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Two-Band Architecture: Independent processing of low and high frequencies allows you to apply different threshold, ratio, and release time settings. Control hum in the low end without affecting cymbals, or vice versa – this opens up new possibilities for mix clarity.
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Smooth “Soft” Knee: SEGX2 always works with a soft knee from the threshold. The transition from unprocessed to processed signal is gradual and smooth, minimizing the processor’s visibility and making the expansion/gating more natural.
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Independent Release Time for Each Band: Setting separate release times for the low and high bands gives exceptional control over how quickly the gate closes or the expander returns to its initial state. This is critical for preserving the naturalness of the sound and avoiding artifacts, especially on percussion and instruments with resonances.
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Adjustable Ratio: Precisely adjust the degree of expansion or gating, from soft processing to hard signal cutoff.
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Delicate Crossover Filters (6 dB/octave): Using filters with a 6 dB/octave slope provides a delicate phase characteristic. When the gate is open, the phase integrity of the signal remains unchanged, which helps preserve the natural timbre of the instruments.
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Band Link Control: The Band Link control allows you to link the behavior of the bands. At 100% link, the plugin works as a broadband gate/expander. Mix this parameter to find the perfect balance between independent and linked operation.
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Detector Monitoring Function: Listen to the sidechain signal of the detector or even the signal cut off by the gate. This is invaluable for fine-tuning the threshold and other parameters, helping to ensure that you are not removing important parts of the sound.
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“Pre-Gate” Option to Preserve Attack: Activating Pre-Gate adds a small delay, but allows the gate to “open” in advance. This ensures that fast transients pass without clipping, which is especially important for drums and instruments with a bright attack.
Conclusions: SEGX2 for Your Mix
SEGX2 by Sonic Anomaly is a powerful and flexible tool for dynamics control. Its unique two-band architecture, smooth operation, independent release time control, and useful additional features make it a valuable addition for any musician or sound engineer on Windows. SEGX2 allows you to achieve a clean, focused, and professionally processed sound while preserving the naturalness of the performance. Add this plugin to your arsenal and feel the difference!
