Bark Filter

What it does

A multiband dynamics processor that spreads compression across the spectrum, up to 27 bands by the store listing, with a spectrum display above the controls. Threshold, ratio, attack, release and makeup gain each get a page, and on each the value is drawn across frequency with a finger rather than typed. Bands group into low, mid and high blocks by default, or single points can be switched on and shaped one at a time. A limiter and auto gain sit at the output, presets save, and it runs as an AUv3 or standalone, where it can also record.

In the demo

Jade works it on a drum kit in AUM, then splits a GarageBand song into separate drum tracks to process the snare alone. She finishes on a listener’s finished mix, loading the Triple Band preset in AUM and Cubasis and pulling output gain down before a mixdown.

Worth knowing

In GarageBand the plugin window crops the interface, so the high bands and the limiter cannot be reached. Jade notes GarageBand adds its own processing on bounce, so she masters elsewhere.