Dyna-Mu: Vari-Mu Tube Compressor Plugin by IK Multimedia

IK Multimedia describes Dyna-Mu as an emulation of a well-known American tube compressor, with its circuit modeling intended to match the hardware closely.

By default the compression ratio is a soft setting of about 1.5:1. Engaging the HARD switch moves it to a medium ratio of 4:1. The developer positions the normal setting for mixes and the HARD setting for single tracks.

When driven to its limits, the processor produces saturation that can be used to add color to both full mixes and individual tracks.

Dyna-Mu uses simple controls that work in both L/R and M/S modes: Input, Threshold, Attack, Release and Output. Attack sets the time in milliseconds before processing starts after the threshold is exceeded. Release sets how quickly the compression eases off once the level falls below the threshold.

The GANG switch lets you control both rows at once. The LINK switch sets the sidechain detection for the two channels to either linked or independent.

The SC switch inserts a gentle high-pass filter so the compressor responds less to content below 100 Hz. The developer suggests this for heavy kick drums or deep bass.