Lumiq

Lumiq levels the way a light cell does: it reacts to how loud the music has been, not just to each peak, so vocals and bass sit steady without sounding squashed. We added what the originals never had: an Attack control, Memory for how much the release remembers, and a little tube drive.

The controls

Peak Reduction

How hard it levels. The more you turn it, the more the loud parts come down.

Gain

Level after the levelling. Turn up until the bypassed and active versions feel equally loud.

Attack

How quickly the cell reacts: low lets the front of a note through, high grabs it straight away.

Memory

How long it holds on after a loud stretch. Low recovers quickly; high keeps a long, smooth hold after a big chorus, like a cell that has been working hard.

Tube

Warm colour from the output stage. Subtle at 2 to 4; obvious above 7.

Mode

Compress is gentle and musical; Limit is firmer for peaks.

Best for

• Lead and backing vocals: steady level without obvious pumping
• Bass guitar: an even, round bottom end
• Mix bus at gentle settings: glue with a soft touch
• Strings and pads: smoothing long notes

Starting points

Load Lumiq, set these, then adjust by ear. In the plugin, Level match helps you judge the sound, not the loudness.

Hints and tips

• Aim for 3 to 6 dB of levelling on the loudest phrases: Lumiq shines when it works steadily, not hard.
• Raise Memory on vocals that jump between verse and chorus: it stops the level bouncing back too fast.
• Use Attack to keep consonants: an Attack of 2 to 4 lets the 't' and 'k' through while the vowels are held.
• Set Gain by ear with Level match on in the plugin: you'll hear the tone, not just louder.

Chains it works best in

Every Original works in a chain with the others and with members' hardware. These are good places to start.

• Esscape then Lumiq then Platen: the classic vocal: de-ess first so the leveller doesn't react to esses, then a plate behind it
• Ferrum then Lumiq: a preamp's weight into smooth levelling, for vocals and bass
• Lumiq then Fettle: the famous two-stage vocal: Lumiq levels, Fettle catches the peaks it misses

Sidechain

A Sidechain switch for Lumiq is coming with its next update. Today Mortar, Mutone and Clasp follow the sidechain.

Watch out for

• Very fast Attack with high Peak Reduction on drums: it flattens the hits. Use Fettle or Mortar for drums.
• Stacking Tube on several units: the warmth adds up quickly.