Purr-Static
by Noisebud · Compressor · Slow LUFS-based leveler
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Purr-Static is a free Noisebud loudness rider that slowly adjusts gain to move the signal toward a LUFS target, working as a transparent, slow compressor.
It can follow momentary, short-term or integrated loudness and ignores silence; it is free while in alpha.
Best for: Mastering, Mix Bus, Vocals. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: metering, dialogue, podcast, free, vocals, experimental, full mix, bus processing, corrective, gentle, glue, mastering, mix bus, mixing, single-band, transparent.
What it does
Purr-Static is Noisebud's slow, transparent LUFS-based compressor and loudness rider. Instead of reacting to peaks, it "gradually adjusts the gain over time" to move the signal toward a loudness target you set.
- LUFS target: you set the target loudness, and the plugin rides the gain toward it.
- Measurement modes: Momentary, Short-term or Integrated LUFS, which changes how quickly it responds to changes in loudness.
- Silence-aware: handles silence and quiet passages so the gain doesn't jump when the signal drops out or comes back.
- Invert mode: an experimental mode that pushes the gain the opposite way, increasing dynamics while still targeting loudness.
- Intended uses: evening out dialogue in podcasts and voiceover, controlling the dynamics of music without flattening its character, and taming loud sections while keeping quieter passages.
Alpha 004 is free while in alpha. The developer describes it as early alpha and experimental, so behaviour may still change.
When to use it
Purr-Static is the better pick for slow, long-term leveling toward a loudness figure rather than shaping transients. Compared with Pro-C 3 or The Glue, it has no attack, ratio or knee to set, and it won't add punch or glue; it just moves the level gradually toward the target. Compared with Vocal Rider, which rides a vocal against the rest of the mix, it rides any source toward a fixed LUFS value, which suits dialogue, stems and long recordings. Being free and in alpha, it is a low-risk tool to try but not yet a finished product.
- Best for: evening out podcast and voiceover dialogue, long recordings, stems and dynamic music that needs gentle loudness control.
- Genres: podcasts and spoken word, plus any music genre.
- Look elsewhere if: you need fast peak control or compression with character; Pro-C 3, The Glue or MJUC do that. For riding vocals against a mix, Vocal Rider is the more direct tool.
Where to buy
- Noisebud: Free
Tutorials and reviews
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