Blue Cat's MB-5 Dynamix multiband dynamics plugin interface by Blue Cat Audio

MB-5 Dynamix: Multiband Dynamics Processor by Blue Cat Audio Free Download

Rated 5.0/5 on Plugin Boutique (6 ratings)

Blue Cat's MB-5 Dynamix is a multiband dynamics processor plug-in that works as a compressor, limiter, gate, expander or waveshaper across up to five separate frequency bands. It is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats for macOS.

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

Blue Cat Audio's MB-5 Dynamix brings compression, gating, limiting, expansion and waveshaping into one multiband tool. You can split the signal into up to five bands and set each band's dynamics independently, or combine several processing types at once. The plug-in also includes stereo and mid-side processing, a brick-wall limiter or waveshaper on the output, and visual feedback showing response curves and levels as you adjust the settings.

Best for

Multiband compression
Sidechain ducking
Multiband gating
Parallel compression
Mastering dynamics
Mid-side processing

Developer: Blue Cat Audio
Category: Compressors
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Five-band dynamics with compressor, gate, limiter, expander and waveshaper modes
Crossover filters adjustable from 12 to 120 dB per octave
Envelope routing so one band can trigger dynamics on another
Dry/wet control for parallel compression
Stereo and mid-side processing with channel-linking options
Post brick-wall limiter or waveshaper on the output
Real-time response curves, spectrum and level displays
Copy and paste band settings between bands
Automation and MIDI CC output for sidechain effects
No latency and smooth bypass

03In depth

Sound Shaping and Cross-Band Dynamics

MB-5 Dynamix processes each of its five bands separately, with crossover filters adjustable from 12 to 120 dB per octave. That slope range lets you control how cleanly neighboring bands separate.

The unique envelope routing lets one band trigger the dynamics response of another. This opens up cross-band effects in which the level of one part of the spectrum shapes how another part is processed. Dry/wet control supports parallel compression, which the developer refers to as New York Compression.

Stereo or mid-side processing and multiple channel-linking options give you control over how the stereo image is treated.

Workflow, Visual Feedback and Sidechaining

Real-time response curves and level displays show what each stage is doing, including spectrum, input and output levels, and the compression ratio of each band. Copy and paste settings between bands and inter-band linking help you build multi-band treatments quickly.

Blue Cat Audio says the plug-in can send its processing output as automation curves or MIDI CC messages to other plug-ins, which supports multi-band sidechain compression, ducking and gating. The plug-in reports no latency, and it includes a smooth bypass, undo/redo and an integrated presets manager with MIDI program and bank message support.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Blue Cat Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Compressor
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	macOS
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does MB-5 Dynamix support?

MB-5 Dynamix is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. The developer lists the plug-in as running on macOS, and the system requirements include Intel or Apple Silicon (M1) Macs running OS 10.9 or newer.

What can MB-5 Dynamix do besides compression?

The plug-in combines compressor, gate, limiter, expander and waveshaper processing, and each of its five bands can use a different mode. A brick-wall limiter or waveshaper can also be placed on the output.

Can MB-5 Dynamix be used for sidechaining?

Yes. Blue Cat Audio says one band can trigger the dynamics of another, and the plug-in can send its output as automation or MIDI CC messages to other plug-ins for side chain effects such as ducking and gating.