Riding a fader by hand is one of those skills that separates an experienced mixer from someone just starting out, but even the best of us get tired of doing it on every vocal pass or dialogue track. Compressors can smooth things out, but they often change the character of the performance along with the level. The new Levelizer from PSP Audioware is built specifically to solve that problem, acting like an automated fader rider that keeps levels consistent while leaving the natural dynamics of the performance intact.
Auto-Fader, Not A Compressor
Levelizer works differently than a standard compressor or limiter. Instead of squeezing a signal based on a ratio, it continuously analyzes the input and rides the gain to either hold a target level or follow an external reference signal.
That second option opens up some creative possibilities, since a track can be set to automatically track the level of another track in the mix rather than staying at a fixed point.
Three reaction modes, Sharp, Normal, and Smooth, control how quickly Levelizer responds.
Sharp is suited to fast transient control, while Smooth produces the kind of gentle, natural gain riding you’d expect from manually working a fader by hand.
Lookahead controls let you fine tune the timing further, which matters whether you’re working in a live setting, tracking, mixing, or mastering.
Keeping It Musical
A sidechain EQ section, with both Shape and Bell filtering, lets you point the detector at specific frequencies so Levelizer reacts to exactly what you want it to hear rather than the full spectrum.
Adjustable gain range limits, with optional soft boundaries, keep the processing from going further than it should on any given pass.
For extra protection on the output side, Levelizer includes a brick-wall limiter with adjustable drive, ceiling, and release settings, along with stereo linking options.
Levelizer is suited to a wide range of jobs, including vocal level riding, podcast and dialogue leveling, bass and instrument consistency, drum and percussion control, and mastering prep. It also works well as a mix-responsive automation tool when you need one track to follow the level of another.
PSP Audioware is offering Levelizer at an introductory price of $49 through June 30th, 2026, after which it returns to its regular price of $69. It’s available now in AU, AAX, VST, and VST3 formats for both Mac and Windows, with a 30 day trial so you can test it on your own material first.
You can find out more here, or watch the video below.
