The smart:comp User Guide

June 24, 2019 | Tutorial

smart:comp tackles well-known compression challenges in a precise, time-saving and user-friendly manner, and contains fine-tuning features that create incredible definition and clarity in audio tracks. On this page you will find very helpful information about how to use smart:comp.

Note: We replaced smart:comp with smart:comp 2! The spectro-dynamic compressor now sports sound-shaping option, an entire range of new profiles (single tracks, buses, mixes), a free-form transfer function with compression templates, states, mid/side processing, … and much more.

smart:comp comes with a lean and intuitive user interface that allows for easy handling of this high-tech tool. The main features – time-domain compression and the spectral compression – are apparent at first glance. The learning button for initiating automatic parametrization and spectral compression, profiles and the smart:state button are placed on top. Amongst others, you’ll find the switch for sidechain ducking and the auto gain button on the bottom of the plug-in. And there is a lot more to discover in smart:comp – let’s start.

You can download the smart:comp manual with very detailed information about the features of the plug-in on our support page.

The first steps with smart:comp’s main features are shown in this video.

How to use smart:comp’s spectral ducking in sidechain mode

Discover helpful control elements of smart:comp.

Changelog

1.2.0

  • added native Apple Silicon support
  • removed PACE iLok License Manager dependency for non-iLok licenses
  • fixed issue when entering license key

1.1.4

  • updated macOS signing certificate
  • fixed VST3 incompatibility with older sessions

1.1.3

  • fixed various issues related to NVIDIA OpenGL Windows Driver (496.13, October 2021)

1.1.2

  • internal only

1.1.1

  • improved UI/openGL performance
  • fixed potential UI freeze
  • various bug fixes

1.1.0

  • added Replay: visualize effect of current parameter values on past events
  • added Tempo Sync: release time can be set relative to current DAW project tempo
  • moved Soft Limiter controls to main view
  • improved level meter scale mapping and added peak-hold
  • fixed plenty of tiny bugs

1.0.4

  • various UI and DSP performance enhancements

1.0.3

  • added setting to enable/disable OpenGL rendering and automatic failover if OpenGL is unavailable
  • fixed spurious crashes after several hours of processing
  • improved undo handling
  • various UI and DSP performance enhancements

1.0.2

  • fixed spurious crashes when closing Cubase 10 on Win10x64
  • fixed issues when loading fresh instance in Cakewalk
  • fixed various little UI display bugs and improved graphics performance

1.0.1

  • fixed problem recalling the auto-gain state
  • fixed possible interruption of audio playback when opening settings dialog
  • fixed mono-meter issue in Nuendo
  • added tooltips
  • fixed various UI state recall issues
  • improved graphics performance and fixed possible issue when closing multiple editor instances