FINALLY! A Resonance-Reducer that Works!

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:03]I've had mixed opinions about resonance reduction plugins before. I've even made entire videos about how they can easily destroy mix. But I'm realizing now that resonance reduction isn't the problem.

[00:00:13]It's how resonance reduction has been addressed so far. And until now, at least in my opinion, it's been handled pretty poorly, or at least in a way that makes it easy to do more harm than good.

[00:00:22]Thoughtful design and meaningful user control transform an often destructive form of processing into something useful. And that's what Fixate Mid-range does. We'll discuss how and why. This plugin's design corrects the problems of previous resonance reducing and spectral rebalancing plugins. So, if you're new here, welcome to Sage Audio. Or if you've seen our videos before, welcome back. Let's get into finally resonance reduction that works. Now, I'm referring to Fixate Mid-range as a resonance reducer here, mainly because I want to focus on what it does differently and better than other resonance reducer plugins. But just in case you're wondering about this EQ balance function and this analyze button, know that we'll get into that at the end of the video. I think the value of those functions, mainly the EQ, will make more sense after we cover resonance reduction. So, first up, let's discuss how most resonance reducers don't control resonances. Now, this has been the main issue that I've had with resonance reducers. They don't control resonances, at least not accurately. They control high amplitude signals as they relate to the overall signal's relative amplitude.

[00:01:24]As a result, overtones that are crucial to the signal's tamber are attenuated, leaving you with a, in my opinion, lifeless sound. Now, don't get me wrong, these plugins are trying to fix an actual problem that engineers have. But they don't use a refined method.

[00:01:37]Subsequently, way too much musical and desirable signal is thrown out in addition to whatever resonances were detected. Now, fixate mid-range fixes these problems in my opinion with three needed additions. First, and I think most importantly, it uses a science-based approach for identifying audible resonances. Second, multiple forms of measurement are available so that the best resonance identification can be used for a specific signal type.

[00:02:02]And lastly, the user has comprehensive control over which resonances are attenuated and to what extent. So, let's take a look at these needed additions, starting with a science-based approach to resonance identification. Instead of making changes to a region simply because of its amplitude, fixate mid-range uses both relative amplitude and critical band theory to make changes. The plug-in controls frequencies between roughly 160 Hz and 10 kHz. There are 13 mid-range bands from 217 Herz to 4 kHz. Now, these 13 bands align with critical bands. Now, I've covered this idea before, but those are frequencies to which our ears are most sensitive. By affecting these bands, more specifically by altering the amplitude of the critical bandwidth's center frequency, we can greatly alter our perception of the surrounding frequency range. So, it only makes sense that a resonance reducer designed to control unwanted frequencies and reduce masking would utilize these bandwidths.

[00:02:57]This psycho acoustic filter design is used in tandem with multiple measurement types. First, there is the standard transparent mode. This measures the RMS level or average loudness of the surrounding frequencies relative to the detected high amplitude signal. Now, all in all, this is a great algorithm to start with. Natural does something very similar, but it subtracts the high amplitude signal's contribution to the RMS level. As a result, the high amplitude signal or resonance will stand out more and will be attenuated more. I found this is a good option for slightly more aggressive resonances. Lastly, the controlled algorithm uses a secondary measurement to find resonances, and this results in the sharpest, most surgical changes to the frequency response, and I find it's great for strong resonances.

[00:03:41]As you might have noticed, changing the algorithm alters the spectrum, giving you real-time visual cues as to what the algorithm is identifying as an issue, and depending on the color intensity, to what extent the offending frequency is passing the threshold. I'll get into the user controls that fixate mid-range offers in just a second. But for now, let's take a listen to how this combination of critical band filters, neighbor based frequency range measurement, and various algorithms improve upon previously released resonance reduction type plugins. Posing for a picture in the muck in the mud, posing for a picture after walking through hell. I know it cuz I done it and I seen it myselfing through the miles in the muck in the mud.

[00:04:31]>> Next up, let's talk about controls where you can pick which resonances are reduced by separating both measurement and dynamic processing into multiple bandwidths. Those bandwidths and the common issues associated with each bandwidth can be controlled. As I play a track, you'll notice again color-based indications of resonances within the spectrum. You might have also noticed the five dials at the bottom of the plugin which light up at specific points. In short, whenever a critical band that's associated with say muddiness occurs, the corresponding control, in this case demud, lights up.

[00:05:02]Now, we can adjust the amount of processing applied to that critical band and adjust the detection threshold, meaning we can actually control the offending resonance as needed, not in a broadband way that also attenuates what we want to keep. Now, each function does what the name suggests. Dthin balances demods attenuation with dynamic amplification whenever the amplitude is measured as too low relative to the loudness measurement. The honk attenuates boxy resonances that could be caused by room modes or an instrument's design. The nasal reduces nasely tones caused by resonance of the nasal cavity, although it could also be useful for any instrument with unpleasant buildup in the 2 to 2.7 kHz range. And deharsh attenuates high amplitude resonances that become tiring over long listening periods. Now, the threshold value refers to the resonance's amplitude difference when compared to the chosen detection algorithm. For example, if a resonance occurs around 200 hertz and I've set the demod threshold to a value of four, then whenever the measured resonance is 4 dB greater than the overall signal's average loudness, dynamic processing begins. Now, I'm not certain if the threshold's measurement is in dB, but you get the idea. The greater the threshold value, the higher the resonance's amplitude needs to be before processing is engaged. In addition to having direct control over the reduction, we can monitor it. Each resonance reduction dial includes bypass, solo, and delta modes. Now, with delta, we can hear the difference between the original signal and the process signal. And I could also monitor the delta of all resonance processing within the resonance detail tab. If we use the plugin on a stereo source, we could also monitor and control resonance reduction for the mid and side images separately. Now, there's more functionality that I'm not touching on here, but the exciting thing, at least in my view, is that resonance measurement and amplitude adjustment are being done more effectively than before by utilizing critical bands, and that we have control over the reduction in a meaningful frequency specific way. So, let's take a more detailed listen to the plugin using the five dials, relative thresholds, and various monitoring functions to better understand what the plugin is altering.

[00:07:04]Hell hell know.

[00:07:23]>> Last up, let's cover pairing resonance control with critical band EQ. I wanted to spend the majority of this video covering how resonance reduction could be approached better. And it's been cool to see just about every frustration I've had with past resonance reducing plugins addressed within this plugin. But there are a couple of additional functions that we haven't talked about that I think pair really well with the plug-in's dynamic processing. First, we have the EQ balance detail window. Now, this is a 15B band EQ with 13 bands centered on critical bands. Now, if we wanted, we could just use this like a graphic EQ. We could dynamically control the resonances with the plug-in's first section and then use this EQ for tone control. Or we could simultaneously control the resonances and this 15B band EQ by choosing a sonic profile and analyzing the signal while the fix function is enabled. Now, this adjusts our signal's resonance and overall spectrum automatically. Now, how much you value this type of functionality, I think depends on the type of work that you do, but the amount of alteration, mainly on the EQ side, is adjustable. I think it becomes more useful with this profile management window in which you can create unique profiles that control both resonance and EQ balance. You could also learn a specific sourc's resonance and EQ balance and then turn that into a profile. I think these are useful tools when they're combined with the dynamic functionality of the plugin. But what I hope I've mainly conveyed here is that resonance reduction is improving and it's being improved by using psycho acoustic principles and unlike other plugins I've used in the past, trusting the user enough to control the processing how they see fit. So let's take one last listen to the plugin using all of its features.

[00:08:56]for a picture after walking through hell. I know it cuts a D and I seen it myself. Trudging through the miles in the muck in the mud, posing for a picture after walking through hell. I know it cuz I done it and I seen it myself. Judging through the miles in the mud.

[00:09:17]If you made it this far into the video, thank you so much for watching. If you'd like to work with us, you can create a free account at sageaudio.com to have your songs mastered. You could also try one of our Sage Audio plugins, or if you'd like, you could join our membership. Thank you again so much for watching, and I'll see you in the next video.