SA-2 Dialog Processor

Name: SA-2 Dialog Processor
Price: 49 USD
Author: McDSP

by McDSP · Vocal Tool · Dialog processor

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A dynamic, multiband processor designed to control harshness and tone in dialog and vocals, modeled on a film re-recording mixer's tools.

Best for: Vocals. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: dialogue, vocals, post-production, corrective, film & game audio, gentle, hardware emulation, metering, multi-band.

What it does

SA-2 is a dialog processor based on hardware designed by re-recording mixer Mike Minkler, and it has won an Emmy.

Bands: five independent bands of active equalisation.
Shift and range: Shift moves all band frequencies by up to an octave; Range increases attenuation up to 50% beyond the original design.
Monitoring: a Monitor button lets you hear what is being removed.
Ballistics: Gentle, Normal and Assault modes; signal reduction metering.

The current version is v7.

Source: McDSP product page

When to use it

Built for cleaning up recorded speech, and equally handy for vocals where harshness or sibilance needs control. It works across several bands at once, unlike a standard de-esser. It is older and less detailed than the SA-3, a spectral option from the same developer.

Where to buy

Best Service: $49
McDSP: $79 (regular $129)

Tutorials and reviews

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