max1mus audio has launched Mult1Comp, a surround multiband compressor and frequency router for Dolby Atmos, surround and immersive mixing. The plugin supports bed layouts from 5.1 to 9.1.6 and provides frequency-based routing for mono and stereo object tracks.
Mult1Comp is available in AU, VST3 and AAX formats for macOS, and VST3 and AAX formats for Windows. It is designed for use in surround-capable DAWs, with listed support including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Nuendo, Fender Studio Pro, Reaper and Pyramix.
In bed mode, each speaker channel, including height channels and the LFE, can be divided into up to eight frequency bands. Each band has an individual compressor, with timing intended to correspond to its frequency range, using slower response for bass bands and faster response for treble bands. The ALL setup can apply settings across speakers, while individual speaker settings can subsequently be adjusted separately. Stereo pairs can be linked or separated.
The plugin provides SPEED, RATIO, HEADROOM and parallel COMP MIX controls for bands, alongside an IN control that drives all bands together. Individual bands and speakers can be muted or soloed, while threshold and gain-reduction metering are displayed for each compressor. The spectrum display represents compression across the frequency range.
For object-based workflows, users can place the same source on multiple mono or stereo object tracks and insert Mult1Comp on each track. The instances link automatically, with each instance assigned a frequency band. A group can contain up to 16 bands, and the plugin supports 16 groups of up to 16 members. Group crossover and compression settings can be edited from any linked instance before the objects are positioned in a renderer.
Object-track frequency bands normally form a crossover that sums back to the original source. Their crossover edges can also be adjusted to create overlap or gaps between ranges. The system is intended for placing different frequency areas of a source at different positions in an immersive sound field, such as assigning low frequencies to front objects and higher frequencies to side or height objects.
Mult1Comp also provides frequency routing and bass-management functions for bed channels. Any band can be routed to another speaker after compression. Factory presets route low frequencies to the LFE, or to the left and right channels, at crossover points of 80 Hz or 120 Hz. The LFE presets set the LFE MASTER control to -10 dB for calibrated monitoring, and the developer’s FAQ recommends 24 or 48 dB-per-octave slopes for bass-management use.
The SUB BASS SYNTHESIS section adds a signal one octave below the material reaching the LFE. Users can select sine, triangle, square or MULTI modes, then adjust tuning, drive and mix. The LFE MASTER control sets the output level for material sent through the LFE.
- Linear-phase and minimum-phase operation, with crossover slopes from 6 to 48 dB per octave
- Equal Split presets for two to eight bands, plus 12-band and 16-band presets for object tracks
- Automatable gains, crossovers, mutes, solos, global controls and sub-bass parameters
- A/B/C/D comparison slots and user preset saving
- Built-in help and tooltips in 22 languages, alongside PDF and online manuals
Linear-phase mode keeps bands time-aligned when they are sent to different speakers, with latency of approximately 85 ms that is intended to be compensated by the host. Minimum-phase mode has almost no latency and is intended for tracking applications. The plugin also includes GROUP BYPASS for comparing an object-track split against the original source.
Mult1Comp requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later on Mac, where it runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel systems and can load in Rosetta hosts. Windows compatibility requires 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11. A surround-capable DAW and compatible plugin host are required.
Mult1Comp is available now at an introductory price of $99, reduced from $125, until November 8, 2026. max1mus audio also offers a fully functional 14-day trial. The developer lists the product as a one-time purchase with free updates included.
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