Florian Mrugalla has introduced Absorbiere, a free and open-source sidechain ring modulation plugin designed to manage peak levels in your mixes without the typical artifacts of compression.
A New Take on Peak Control
Absorbiere provides an innovative alternative to traditional compressors and volume duckers. Instead of reducing gain directly, the plugin uses sidechain-driven ring modulation to absorb transients. This method can maintain transparency while effectively taming harsh peaks, preserving the original sound character.
Ideal for taming kick or snare transients, Absorbiere analyzes the sidechain input and adjusts gain staging for optimal headroom using a “Capture” button. This makes it easier to prevent clipping without needing aggressive dynamic processing.
Smart Workflow Features
One standout feature is the use of track identifiers, which allow synced settings across multiple plugin instances. When you make adjustments or recapture sidechain input on one instance, those changes apply to all other tracks using the same identifier, helping streamline your workflow.
The Mix knob provides precise control over the modulation depth, allowing you to fine-tune the amount of effect you want to apply, thereby balancing peak control and tonal transparency.
Free Download
Absorbiere is available for free as an open-source VST3 plugin for both Windows and macOS. You can download it directly from Florian Mrugalla’s GitHub page.