OptiLab Core

OptiLab Core is a free, accessible broadcast and mastering audio processor from LanesAudio. It combines leveling, density, tone control, saturation, limiting, and general program polish. It is available as a JSFX for REAPER, a 64-bit Windows CLAP plug-in, and a classic Winamp-compatible DSP plug-in for Windows.

The processor has three main controls: Mode, Input, and Auto-Adapt. That simplicity is intentional. OptiLab Core is designed to reach a useful, finished sound without building a large processor chain.

It does not provide audio restoration and cannot repair damaged recordings. It is intended for podcasts, streams, voice work, music playback, internet radio, and quick mastering-style polish.

Modes

Podcast Leveler

Designed for speech, podcasts, voice tracks, and mixed voice content. It focuses on leveling, control, and a smoother mid-focused sound.

Stream polish

Designed for music, internet radio, and higher-energy material. It provides a more finished broadcast-style sound without requiring extensive setup.

Smooth Limiter

Designed for clean limiting and mastering-style use where peak control is more important than an aggressive broadcast sound.

Controls

• Mode chooses the general processing behavior.
• Input controls how hard the processor is driven.
• Auto-Adapt adjusts several leveling, tone, density, and protection stages together.

Start gently. If the result becomes too flat, dense, or pushed, lower Input before changing everything else.

What is new in v1.2.0

Version 1.2.0 adds the first public 64-bit Windows CLAP build while keeping the same Mode, Input, and Auto-Adapt workflow across formats.

It fixes a user-reported short fade-in at the beginning of playback. The CLAP build reports its latency correctly, preserves matching rendered output, and uses standard parameters that hosts and OSARA can expose without opening the custom editor.

The resizable CLAP editor uses native controls, exact dB text, keyboard operation, and REAPER-specific window parenting informed by App2Clap so focus, Tab navigation, and mouse hit testing reach the controls immediately.

Output ceiling and sample rates

OptiLab Core clamps its own output samples to the ceiling selected by each mode. If a host processes Core at one sample rate and then converts the result to another rate, that later resampling can create new peaks above Core's sample ceiling. This is normal resampling behavior and does not mean Core skipped its final limiter.

For a controlled ceiling test, use the same project, processing, and output sample rate. If the final delivery workflow must resample after Core, measure the converted file and apply any required true-peak or delivery limiting after that conversion.

Downloads

Release downloads are available from the repository's GitHub Releases page.

• REAPER users need optilab_core.jsfx.
• 64-bit Windows CLAP hosts need OptiLab-Core-1.2.0-CLAP-x64.zip.
• Winamp-compatible hosts need OptiLab-Core-1.2.0-Winamp-DSP-x86.zip.

REAPER installation

1. Download optilab_core.jsfx from the latest release.
2. In REAPER, choose Options > Show REAPER resource path in explorer/finder.
3. Open the Effects folder and copy the JSFX file into it.
4. Restart REAPER if it is already running.
5. Add OptiLab Core from REAPER's FX browser.

CLAP installation

1. Download and extract OptiLab-Core-1.2.0-CLAP-x64.zip.
2. Close the CLAP host.
3. Copy OptiLab_Core.clap to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Common\CLAP.
4. Restart the host or perform a full plug-in rescan.

See native/CLAP.md for controls, accessibility, build instructions, and host behavior.

Winamp-compatible DSP installation and use

The Windows DLL uses the classic 32-bit Winamp DSP/Effect interface. It can be used by Winamp and by compatible Windows broadcast applications that support Winamp DSP plug-ins.

1. Download and extract the Winamp DSP ZIP from the latest release.
2. Close the host application.
3. Copy dsp_optilab_core.dll into the host's Winamp DSP plug-in folder.
4. Restart the host and select OptiLab Core 1.2.0 in its DSP configuration.

Winamp normally uses C:\Program Files (x86)\Winamp\Plugins. Writing there may require administrator approval. Other hosts choose their own plug-in folders.

The configuration window uses standard Windows controls with keyboard access, normal focus indication, and screen-reader-friendly labels. See native/WINAMP.md for complete details and troubleshooting.

Use the Winamp DSP the same way you use the JSFX: choose a mode, set Input so the processor is working without sounding overdriven, then raise Auto-Adapt if you want more automatic leveling, tone balancing, and protection.

Development Layout

Source ownership and generated-file boundaries are documented in docs/REPOSITORY_LAYOUT.md. CMake build trees, release staging, installed plug-ins, and local Graphify output are intentionally kept out of version control.

Donations and contact

OptiLab Core is free. Donations are welcome but never required.

Donate via PayPal

Questions, bug reports, and accessibility feedback: info@lanesaudio.com

License

OptiLab Core is released under the Apache License 2.0. You may use, modify, and redistribute it under the terms of the included LICENSE file.

If you distribute a modified version, clearly identify it as modified from the original LanesAudio OptiLab Core release.