Blue Cat's MB-5 Dynamix

Name: Blue Cat's MB-5 Dynamix
Price: 93.13 USD
Author: Blue Cat Audio

by Blue Cat Audio · Compressor · Multiband dynamics processor

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Blue Cat's MB-5 Dynamix by Blue Cat Audio

MB-5 Dynamix is a multiband compressor, limiter, expander, gate or waveshaper with up to 5 bands and crossovers from 6 to 60 dB/oct.

Envelopes can be routed between bands for cross-band effects, and it runs at zero latency; it costs $99.

Best for: Mix Bus, Mastering, Drum Bus, Vocals, Bass. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: multi-band, low latency, sidechain input, downward expansion, spacious, zero-latency, bus processing, full mix, mastering, mid/side, parallel processing, bass, corrective, drum bus, mix bus, built-in mix knob, mixing, resizable UI, steep learning curve, stereo-linked, visual feedback, vocals.

What it does

MB-5 Dynamix is Blue Cat Audio's all-in-one multiband dynamics processor, billed as "multiband dynamics processing revisited". Each band has its own response curve, so one band can compress while another gates, expands, limits or waveshapes.

Up to 5 bands: adjustable crossovers with a selectable slope per band; parameters are kept when a band is switched off and on again.
Response curves: independent Threshold, Ratio and Knee for the upper and lower parts of each band's curve, so a single curve can gate and compress at once.
Depth and detection: Depth caps the maximum gain reduction or boost per band, and the detector mixes peak and RMS, with an RMS window from 1 ms to 5 s.
Envelope routing: internal side-chaining lets one band's envelope drive another band for cross-band effects.
Parallel and M/S: dry/wet control for parallel processing, stereo or mid/side processing and channel linking.
Output stage: a post brickwall limiter or waveshaper, with zero latency throughout.
Display and workflow: real-time response curves and levels, copy and paste of settings between bands, and a resizable interface (70 to 200%).

KVR lists version 2.24. The demo is limited to 5 instances per session and bypasses the effect for half a second every minute.

Source: Blue Cat Audio product page

When to use it

MB-5 Dynamix is for frequency-split dynamics work with unusual routing. Compared with TDR Kotelnikov or Pro-C 3, which are single-band compressors, it can treat each band as a different processor and let one band's envelope drive another. It also goes further in detection (peak and RMS mix, long RMS windows) and curve shaping, and needs more setup than either. Expect to spend time with it: reviewers agree it rewards experience rather than preset browsing.

Best for: multiband compression and expansion, de-essing or taming a boomy band, upward and downward processing per band, and cross-band side-chain effects.
Genres: any; especially useful in mastering, sound design and electronic production.
Look elsewhere if: you only need single-band compression or a quick, friendly interface; Pro-C 3 or Kotelnikov are simpler.
Tip: copy a finished band's whole state to the next band as a starting point, and use Depth to cap how far each band can move.

What producers say

Reviewers see it as very powerful and versatile, with a steep learning curve.

MusicRadar (2019, version 2) called it one of the most versatile dynamics plugins around, praising the multiband design, internal side-chain routing and visual feedback, but warned "Handle with care!" and noted stereo settings are global, not per band.
KVR users one review (2011) rated it 4 out of 5, praising the cross-band side-chaining, the peak/RMS detection mix and stability ("no crashes here; ever").
Criticisms: a busy interface with small controls, little documentation or tutorials, and not suited to beginners.

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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