Freqport - FreqLift

FreqLift is a dynamics and saturation plugin from Freqport that combines two-band upward and downward compression, FreqTube tube saturation and oversampled clipping in one processor. It's built for making vocals, drums, synths and full mixes sound denser and more detailed without simply squashing them.

It runs entirely in software. Owners of a FreqTube FT1 can switch its saturation stage over to real tubes.

Upward dynamics: lifting the quiet bits

A conventional compressor turns down what's loud. FreqLift can also work the other way, using upward dynamics to bring up what's quiet: room ambience, the tail of a note, the texture between the transients. Downward dynamics are there too for keeping the louder passages in check. The result is a sound that feels bigger and more alive rather than flattened, which is a different thing from what most compressors give you.

Two bands, linear-phase split

The signal can be processed full-band or split into LOW and HIGH with a linear-phase crossover, so splitting it doesn't smear the phase around the crossover point. That matters in practice. You can keep a bass part tight and lightly treated while lifting the air and detail up top, or bring out the body of a snare without dragging up the cymbal wash.

FreqTube saturation and clipping

After the dynamics comes the FreqTube stage, the same circuit-modelled tube processing used in FreqTube FT1-EMU, adding harmonic density and colour. Then there's an oversampled clipper with soft and hard modes for catching peaks, tightening transients or pushing things into more aggressive territory. Having all three in one place saves a lot of plugin-chain juggling, and the stages are clearly designed to work together.

Simple or Advanced

Simple mode gets you results from a handful of controls. Advanced mode opens up the split-band settings, expander attack, release and ratio, and tube bias. A wet/dry mix covers parallel use.

Where it fits

FreqLift suits anyone who finds that normal compression makes things louder but not better. It's particularly good on vocals and acoustic sources that need detail brought forward, drum buses that want more room and body, and pads or synths that sound thin in the mix. If all you need is transparent peak control, a clean compressor will do; FreqLift is about adding density and life.

Features

• Multiband upward and downward dynamics
• Two independently processed bands, LOW and HIGH
• Precision linear-phase crossover
• FreqTube tube saturation and harmonics (Digital EMU mode)
• Advanced oversampled clipping with soft and hard modes
• Simple and Advanced modes, with expander attack, release and ratio in Advanced
• Wet/dry mix
• Optional real tube saturation with FreqTube FT1 hardware (sold separately)

System requirements

• macOS (64-bit) or Windows (64-bit)
• VST3, AU (Mac only) and AAX
• iLok activation (free iLok account required)

SOUND7 is an authorised Freqport reseller.
Digital delivery: licence activation code sent by email.