What if there was a plugin that would do all the compression and EQing for you without much effort on your part? I think most engineers would be into that, but until now it’s been pretty much a dream. Even the newest AI signal processors mostly concentrate on one process at a time. Waves new IDX intelligent dynamics may be the answer to that dream though, as it takes much of the guesswork out of making a track sound professional in no time at all.
It’s hard to explain exactly what IDX does, but according to Waves, “IDX Intelligent Dynamics is a smart frequency-dependent compressor that optimizes your tracks’ energy for greater punch and focus. The plugin’s smart algorithm automatically identifies the busiest areas of the frequency range—the ones that consume energy but don’t contribute to an instrument’s or a vocal’s tone. It then compresses them using ‘progressive attenuation’ (unlike a traditional compressor which uniformly reduces the signal RMS above a threshold).”
What that means is that it looks for frequencies out of wack and compresses them to clean the signal up. While it’s doing that, it also looks at the other frequencies and adds processing where it thinks it needs them, making the signal more powerful and present.
The Parameters
IDX is dead simple to use as it revolves around a single large control in the center of the plugin. This adjusts the amount of processing, which you can see reflected on the display above it. The blue shows the input frequencies, while the pink shows the output. You can move the frequency priority by moving the white marker in the center, and cutting or peaking as you think is needed, but it probably won’t be necessary.
Below the large amount control is a simple Tilt control to adjust the overall tonality of the track. Move to the right and it will emphasis the highs, and move the left to emphasis the lows. A Speed control on the left adjusts the attack and release speed of the compressor simultaneously so you can fine tune the compression, with a Hard/Soft selector below for further tweaking.
Quick Match, on the right below the Output control, works in conjunction with the AutoGain setting to more closely match the output to the input level. There’s also a recessed Mix control to balance the amount of processed and dry signal.
Waves suggests that you insert this on every track of your mix, but it will also work across the mix buss as well.
IDX might be the beginning of next level processors which take the manual labor out of mixing. It’s available on sale for just $34.99. As with most Waves plugins, it will work on Mac and PC and in all plugin formats.
Find out more here, or watch the video below.
