Stratomaster

Stratomaster is an all-in-one, automatic audio mastering plugin that includes:

• 8-Band Parametric (and Shelving) EQ
• Multiband Compressor
• Stereo Imager
• Maximizer (Limiter)
• Auto Mastering Feature

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Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. 8-Band EQ
3. Multiband Compressor
4. Stereo Imager
5. Maximizer
6. Auto EQ / Auto Mastering
7. Additional Notes

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Overview

Stratomaster is a single plugin designed to handle multiple stages of mixing or mastering:

• EQ for tone shaping (parametric, low/high shelf, plus optional low-pass and high-pass filters).
• Multiband compression, for dynamic control of separate frequency bands.
• Stereo imaging to adjust stereo width.
• Maximizer for final loudness and peak limiting.
• Auto Mastering logic that can analyze the incoming frequency content and automatically adjust each EQ band (the “Auto EQ” process).

All parameters are controlled via a single AudioProcessorValueTreeState, so changes persist and can be automated.

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8-Band EQ

Features

• 8 Separate Bands
  Each band has:
  • Frequency parameter (BandXFreq)
  • Gain parameter (BandXGain)
  • Q (quality) parameter (BandXQ)
  • Filter Type (BandXFilterType): choose from Low Pass, Peak (Parametric), High Pass, Low Shelf, High Shelf.
• Drag-and-Drop Curve (in the ParametricEQComponent)
  – You can grab each band’s “handle” in the EQ display to shift frequency/gain visually.
• Real-Time Spectrum overlay.

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Multiband Compressor

Features

• Multiple Frequency Bands (e.g., Low, Mid, High or more).
• Each band has its own threshold, ratio, attack, release, and optional makeup gain controls.
• Crossover Frequencies let you define the boundary between bands.

How It Works

1. Split the incoming audio into separate bands via Linkwitz-Riley crossover filters.
2. Each band gets processed by an individual compressor instance with user-defined parameters.
3. The bands are then summed back together for output, ensuring a cohesive final sound.

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Stereo Imager

Features

• Width Control (ImagerWidth)
  Adjusts the stereo field’s mid/side balance.
  • Values < 1 reduce stereo width (narrower image).
  • Values > 1 expand the stereo width.
• Real-Time Scope display
  A circular “Lissajous” style scope that visualizes stereo correlation and phase relationships.

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Maximizer

Features

• Threshold (MaxThreshold): The point at which the maximizer begins limiting.
• Ceiling (MaxCeiling): The maximum level allowed at the output (e.g., -0.1 dB or 0.0 dB).
• Release (MaxRelease): Controls how quickly the limiter stops attenuating after the signal falls below the threshold.

Typical Usage

1. Set the Threshold to determine how aggressively to limit. Lower values (like -10 dB) create more limiting and potentially higher overall loudness.
2. Adjust the Ceiling to your target output level (e.g., -1 dB True Peak).
3. Tune the Release to avoid pumping; shorter releases can cause distortion, while longer ones may reduce perceived loudness.

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Auto EQ / Auto Mastering

Features

• AutoEQ toggles an internal analysis of the frequency spectrum.
• It averages the energy in separate frequency bands and attempts to match them to a target or “globalMeanDb.”
• Over time, it auto-adjusts each band’s gain to flatten or balance the overall frequency response.
• This ensures a "balanced" frequency response, which may or may not be desired by professional audio engineers, so a future update will allow the user to costomize their desired frequency response target.

How It Works

1. Every block of audio is FFT-analyzed.
2. For each band, the plugin measures the average magnitude.
3. If a band is too loud relative to the global average, the plugin gradually cuts it; if too soft, the plugin gradually boosts it.
4. Once it deems the response “stable” (the difference is small), it stops the auto-adjustment.

Typical Usage

1. Click “Auto EQ” or “Auto Mastering” in the UI (depending on your final design) to enable.
2. Play audio (ideally representative of the track), allowing the plugin to analyze each band.
3. Watch as each band’s gain is slowly adjusted. When it stabilizes, the process stops, offering a quick broad-strokes EQ starting point.

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Installation for VST3

1. Download the plugin from the latest release (you want the .vst3 file).
2. Move the downloaded .vst3 file to C:Program_Files/Common_files/VST3.
3. Follow your DAW's instructions for adding and scanning new plugins.

• In FL Studio, you would go to options -> manage plugins -> "find installed plugins"

4. Locate Stratomaster in your DAW's plugin list and add it to a mixer track.

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Installation for Standalone on Windows

1. Download the plugin from the latest release (you want the .exe file).
2. Run Stratomaster.exe
3. You are done. It's as simple as that.

Additional Notes

• Parameter Sync: All parameters (EQ band freq/gain/Q, compressor thresholds, stereo width, etc.) are stored in a ValueTreeState, so they save/load with your session.
• Graphics / UI: Each section (EQ, Compressor, Imager, Maximizer) has a dedicated UI component.

Stratomaster aims to simplify many steps of the mastering chain into one plugin, letting you quickly tweak EQ curves, multiband dynamics, stereo field, and final limiting. Meanwhile, the Auto feature can provide a good starting point for novices or speed up advanced workflows.