What is Spectral Processing?

The easiest way to understand Spectral Processing is to think of it as manipulating the building blocks that make up a digital signal – rather than the actual signal. Our algorithm uses Fast Fourier Transform – or FFT – to break the incoming audio into tiny particles, which are analyzed and processed separately, before being put back together again. This all happens in realtime and allows for a much more surgical approach to resonance detection and rebalancing than what would be possible with traditional audio effects.

While most spectral tools focus on audio restoration, we wanted Smooth Operator to be all about creative expression. The plugin is meant for shaping your tone. Use it to compress, EQ and ‘purify’ in one simple process – and know that Smooth Operator has your back when it comes to automatically eliminating artifacts.

Workflow

1- Pull the middle circle down to increase the effect level. Smooth Operator automatically attacks the most dominant/fatigued frequencies first, even with a straight curve. You may not need to do more than this.

2- Move the 4 outer nodes to shape the tonal response. Preserve frequency areas by moving the nodes up, or remove frequency content by pulling them down. Use your mousewheel or trackpad-scroll to adjust the Q.

3- FOCUS controls how surgical Smooth Operator gets. At 100%, each frequency spike is processed independently. Lower focus values will give you a broader, more balanced, response.

4- Engage SOLO to audition different parts of the frequency spectrum separately during node hover-over.

5- Engage SIDE CHAIN mode to duck your signal with the frequency balance of another track in your mix. This feature could have been a plugin in its own right(!) It allows you to create a hyper-surgical side chain effect where the exact frequency make-up of a lead track can be used for ducking a secondary track.

Presets

Smooth Operator comes loaded with 63 presets created by friends of BABY Audio – including:

• Preston Reid (Ciara, Toni Braxton, Lil Uzi Vert)
• David Nakaji (Post Malone, Aminé, Lil Eazzyy)
• Rob Kleiner (David Guetta, Sia, Britney Spears, Giorgio Moroder)
• Neenah (Winne, Mr. Probz, Nana Fofie, Joe Budden)