I Heart NY – Parallel Compressor Released
I Heart NY comes with a true ‘New York-style’ parallel compression — with an addictively punchy flavor. ‘I Heart NY’ creates a copy of the incoming audio signal – hosted within the plugin – and lets you spank it hard before mixing it in. This replicates a true parallel compression workflow, but with the ease of avoiding complicated routing. According to the plugin comes as a VST, VST3, AU and AAX audio plugin for Mac and PC and is compatible with all DAWs.
About BABY Audio
The plugin was released by BABY Audio is based in New York City, founded by a European team.
Parallel compression
Parallel compression is an essential production technique for creating fatter, more powerful, tracks and mixes. But it can also be a hassle to set up properly when you’re in the zone. BABY Audio made a plugin that does all the hard work for you — with an addictively punchy flavor.
‘I Heart NY’ creates a duplicate track of your audio – hosted within the plugin – and lets you spank it hard. This process replicates the true parallel compression workflow, unlike compressors with just a wet/dry knob.
I Heart NY Features
- Parallel bus ‘hosted’ within the plugin for an easy workflow
- Unique compression algorithm with ‘smack’ and ‘punch’
- Works as a regular compressor in ‘SOLO’ mode
- Mac and PC, VST, VST3, AU, and AAX support
The Magic behind the Plugin
Most modern compressors will offer a wet/dry knob. But for a true parallel compression workflow, you need to juggle two audio tracks — and be really mean to one. BABY Audio set out to build a plugin for that. With extra sonic flavor.
The ‘SPANK’ knob controls a complex algorithm, designed to fire-up anything you throw at it. Revealing exactly what goes on under the hood would take away some of the magic, but in short it’s a mix of punchy high-ratio compression with a transient-friendly envelope – and a bit of EQ – combined with a low-end preservation filter applied to the compressor’s internal detection signal for that extra ‘boom’. I Heart NY is designed to range from subtle tightness to ‘pumping galore’, depending on your taste.
While parallel compression is its primary strength, I Heart NY can be more than a one-trick pony. Engaging ‘SOLO’ mode makes the plugin operate as a normal insert compressor (by muting the dry audio signal). This opens up a whole new set of possibilities for using the ‘SPANK’ algorithm on your material.
