Apollo
Precision Multiband
Mix and master with simple compression, expanding, and gating.
- Reach inside your mixes and fine tune with five bands of compression, expansion, and gate
- Breathe life into stale samples with the Expander section
- Glue a drum or vocal bus together with flexible compression section
- Easily de-ess vocals and tame unruly drum overheads with the Gate
Mix and Master with Simple Compression, Expanding, and Gating
What They Say
Eddy Schreyer
Oasis Mastering
Pete Doell
Miles Davis, Sheryl Crow, Marilyn Manson
Brian Foraker
Loquat, ELP, Heart
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
The Precision Multiband plug-in is worth it for anyone who needs frequency-specific dynamics control on a mix bus or master. It splits the signal into five bands, and each band can compress, expand, or gate independently, so you can fix a problem in one part of the spectrum without affecting the rest. The controls stay approachable enough for a first mastering pass while going deep enough for detailed dynamic shaping.
The Precision Multiband plug-in stands apart because each of its five bands can be set to compression, expansion, or gating on its own, rather than locking every band into the same processing type. That means a single instance can tighten low-end dynamics, add life to dull midrange, and tame harsh highs at the same time. Its layout keeps that flexibility readable, so you can see what each band is doing at a glance.
With the Precision Multiband plug-in you get five spectral bands, and each one works as a compressor, an expander, or a gate independently. You might compress a boomy low band to control it, expand a flat midband to open it back up, and gate a noisy high band to clean it. This mix-and-match approach turns one plug-in into a full set of tools for spectral dynamics.
The Precision Multiband plug-in is built to stay clean and transparent, which is what you want from a mastering-stage processor. It holds onto transient detail even under heavier processing, so drums and percussive material keep their punch rather than going flat. For obvious character you reach for other tools, but for surgical, natural dynamics control this one stays out of the way.
The Precision Multiband plug-in runs on the onboard DSP of your Apollo interface or UAD Accelerator, not on your computer's CPU. Because the processing happens on dedicated hardware, you can run it in realtime with near-zero latency and keep your computer free for the rest of your session. This is the same DSP engine that powers UA's realtime monitoring and recording workflow.
The Precision Multiband plug-in requires an Apollo audio interface or a UAD Accelerator, because it runs on UAD DSP hardware rather than your computer's processor. That includes current Apollo interfaces along with UAD-2 Satellite and PCIe accelerators. Without one of these, the plug-in has no DSP to run on.
The Precision Multiband plug-in runs on both macOS and Windows, including current Apple Silicon Macs, when connected to qualifying Apollo or UAD-2 hardware. UA keeps the UAD software current with recent operating system releases. Check UA's system requirements page for the exact supported versions before you install.
The Precision Multiband plug-in works in all major DAWs as a VST, AU, or AAX plug-in. It loads like any other plug-in on a track, bus, or master once your UAD hardware is connected. That means you can use it in whatever recording and mixing environment you already have.
The Precision Multiband plug-in is used for frequency-specific dynamics control during mixing and mastering. Common jobs include gluing a drum or vocal bus together, de-essing vocals, taming harsh drum overheads, reviving flat samples with expansion, and putting the final dynamic polish on a full mix. Because each band is independent, you can handle several of these tasks in one instance.
Yes, the Precision Multiband plug-in de-esses vocals by compressing only the high band where sibilance lives. You set that band to catch the harsh "ess" frequencies while leaving the rest of the vocal untouched, which keeps the performance natural. The same targeted approach works for any narrow frequency problem in a track.
Yes, the Precision Multiband plug-in works well on a drum or vocal bus, where its independent bands let you control different parts of the spectrum at once. On a drum bus you might tighten the lows and smooth the cymbals in a single pass, and on a vocal bus you can even out body and presence together. This band-by-band control is what gives bus processing cohesion without dulling the source.
DSP-based plug-ins like the Precision Multiband plug-in remain worth buying in 2026 because they run on dedicated hardware, which frees your computer's CPU and allows realtime processing with near-zero latency. That matters most when you are tracking through effects or running large sessions where CPU headroom is tight. If you’re already using Apollo or UAD Accelerator hardware, DSP plug-ins keep that investment working across every project.
A dedicated multiband plug-in like the Precision Multiband plug-in still earns its place because it gives each frequency band its own compressor, expander, or gate, which a single-band dynamics section cannot do. Channel strips handle broad shaping well, but spectral problems such as a boomy low end or harsh sibilance need band-specific control. A purpose-built multiband tool gives you that precision on the mix bus and master.
Multiband compression splits the audio into separate frequency bands and compresses each one independently, and the Precision Multiband plug-in gives you five of these bands. You use it when a single-band compressor would overreact to one part of the spectrum. By isolating the problem frequency, multiband compression controls it without pumping the rest of the track.
Yes, the Precision Multiband plug-in shapes drum transients using its per-band compression and expansion. Expansion on a chosen band can emphasize attack and add snap to a dull drum, while compression can round off transients that feel too sharp. Because you work one band at a time, you can shape the click of a kick or the crack of a snare without affecting the cymbals.
Yes, the Precision Multiband plug-in is a strong choice for mastering, and it was designed as a mastering-stage dynamics tool. Its five independent bands let you correct spectral balance and control dynamics across a full mix with detail that a single-band processor cannot match. Transparent processing and readable controls make it the go-to for mastering engineers at every level.