Controls Reference

Reference for Pressure's active user-facing controls, organized by section with ranges, defaults, and descriptions from source code. Additional host-visible sidechain-band and compatibility identities are intentionally not presented as front-panel controls.

Hero Section

The primary controls you'll use on every session. These are the largest and most accessible controls in the interface.

Input

Range: -12 to +12 dB
Default: 0 dB
Description: Pre-compression gain staging. Drives the detector harder at higher values.

Pressure

Range: 0-100%
Default: 35%
Description: Central compression control. Maps to threshold, ratio, attack, release, and knee per engine.

Output

Range: -12 to +12 dB
Default: 0 dB
Description: Post-compression gain staging. Sets final output level.

Tone

Range: 0-100%
Default: 35%
Description: Sidechain detection tilt. Controls SC HPF (VCA/Drums/VariMu) or emphasis (Opto). No effect on FET sidechain.

Mix

Range: 0-100%
Default: 100%
Description: Dry/wet blend for parallel compression.

Auto

Range: On / Off
Default: On
Description: Program-dependent attack and release.

Mode

Range: MIX / INST / VOCALS / DRUMS / MASTER
Default: MIX
Description: Selects the compression engine topology.

Link

Range: 0-100%
Default: 100%
Description: Continuous stereo detector-input blend. 0% = each channel follows its own signal; 100% = averaged L+R peak drives both for matched gain reduction. M/S mode forces 0%.

Gain Link

Range: On / Off
Default: Off
Description: Couples the Input and Output gain knobs to move together (UI: I/O).

Parameter	Range	Default	Description
Input	-12 to +12 dB	0 dB	Pre-compression gain staging. Drives the detector harder at higher values.
Pressure	0-100%	35%	Central compression control. Maps to threshold, ratio, attack, release, and knee per engine.
Output	-12 to +12 dB	0 dB	Post-compression gain staging. Sets final output level.
Tone	0-100%	35%	Sidechain detection tilt. Controls SC HPF (VCA/Drums/VariMu) or emphasis (Opto). No effect on FET sidechain.
Mix	0-100%	100%	Dry/wet blend for parallel compression.
Auto	On / Off	On	Program-dependent attack and release.
Mode	MIX / INST / VOCALS / DRUMS / MASTER	MIX	Selects the compression engine topology.
Link	0-100%	100%	Continuous stereo detector-input blend. 0% = each channel follows its own signal; 100% = averaged L+R peak drives both for matched gain reduction. M/S mode forces 0%.
Gain Link	On / Off	Off	Couples the Input and Output gain knobs to move together (UI: I/O).

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Precision Controls

Classic compression parameters. These override the PRESSURE knob's automatic mapping when you need manual control.

Threshold

Range: -60 to 0 dB
Default: -20 dB
Description: Level above which compression begins.

Ratio

Range: 1:1 to 24:1
Default: 4:1
Description: Gain reduction amount above threshold.

Attack

Range: 0.01-100 ms
Default: 10 ms
Description: How quickly compression engages. Log-skewed (0.3) for precision at low values.

Release

Range: 10-15000 ms
Default: 100 ms
Description: How quickly compression releases. Log-skewed (0.4).

Makeup

Range: -6 to +6 dB
Default: 0 dB
Description: Fine gain trim (0.01 dB precision). Works with Output for dual gain staging.

Knee

Range: 0-48 dB
Default: 6 dB
Description: Soft knee width. 0 = hard knee, 48 = saturation territory.

Hold

Range: 0-500 ms
Default: 0 ms
Description: Delays release onset to preserve punch. Log-skewed (0.5).

Range

Range: -60 to 0 dB
Default: 0 dB (off)
Description: Maximum gain reduction limit. 0 = unlimited.

HPF

Range: On / Off
Default: Off
Description: Sidechain high-pass filter toggle.

SC HPF Hz

Range: 20-300 Hz
Default: 120 Hz
Description: Sidechain HPF frequency.

Ratio Limit

Range: On / Off
Default: Off
Description: Caps ratio at safe maximum for the current engine.

Parameter	Range	Default	Description
Threshold	-60 to 0 dB	-20 dB	Level above which compression begins.
Ratio	1:1 to 24:1	4:1	Gain reduction amount above threshold.
Attack	0.01-100 ms	10 ms	How quickly compression engages. Log-skewed (0.3) for precision at low values.
Release	10-15000 ms	100 ms	How quickly compression releases. Log-skewed (0.4).
Makeup	-6 to +6 dB	0 dB	Fine gain trim (0.01 dB precision). Works with Output for dual gain staging.
Knee	0-48 dB	6 dB	Soft knee width. 0 = hard knee, 48 = saturation territory.
Hold	0-500 ms	0 ms	Delays release onset to preserve punch. Log-skewed (0.5).
Range	-60 to 0 dB	0 dB (off)	Maximum gain reduction limit. 0 = unlimited.
HPF	On / Off	Off	Sidechain high-pass filter toggle.
SC HPF Hz	20-300 Hz	120 Hz	Sidechain HPF frequency.
Ratio Limit	On / Off	Off	Caps ratio at safe maximum for the current engine.

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Flavor and Stereo Controls

Tonal character plus independent terminal stereo width. WIDTH defaults to full stereo; tonal controls default to neutral.

WIDTH

Range: 0-100%
Default: 100% (full stereo)
Description: Terminal stereo width. 0% folds to mono, 50% retains half the side signal, and 100% preserves full stereo. It does not widen beyond the source.

Round

Range: 0-100%
Default: 0%
Description: Transient softening. Rounds sharp edges for smoother dynamics.

Air

Range: -100% to +100%
Default: 0% (center-detent)
Description: Bipolar HF tone shaping. Positive values brighten via a high-shelf exciter; negative values darken via an HF-cut path. Centre is true neutral with a tactile detent for return-to-zero. Pair small positive amounts with bus compression for sheen, or small negative amounts to tame harsh top end without an external EQ.

LF Relax

Range: 0-100%
Default: 0%
Description: Relaxes the detector at low frequencies. Reduces how much bass content drives the compressor - kick and sub trigger less gain reduction, preserving low-end punch while letting mid and high transients dominate. Drawmer 1973 canon at max; pair with the SC Low Gain and Freq shelves for surgical Pro-C-style detector shaping.

Auto Gain

Range: On / Off
Default: Off
Description: Automatic makeup gain to compensate for compression.

Drive

Range: 0-100%
Default: 0%
Description: Saturation intensity. Scales per-engine harmonic character - 0% is clean, higher adds warmth and body.

Parameter	Range	Default	Description
WIDTH	0-100%	100% (full stereo)	Terminal stereo width. 0% folds to mono, 50% retains half the side signal, and 100% preserves full stereo. It does not widen beyond the source.
Round	0-100%	0%	Transient softening. Rounds sharp edges for smoother dynamics.
Air	-100% to +100%	0% (center-detent)	Bipolar HF tone shaping. Positive values brighten via a high-shelf exciter; negative values darken via an HF-cut path. Centre is true neutral with a tactile detent for return-to-zero. Pair small positive amounts with bus compression for sheen, or small negative amounts to tame harsh top end without an external EQ.
LF Relax	0-100%	0%	Relaxes the detector at low frequencies. Reduces how much bass content drives the compressor - kick and sub trigger less gain reduction, preserving low-end punch while letting mid and high transients dominate. Drawmer 1973 canon at max; pair with the SC Low Gain and Freq shelves for surgical Pro-C-style detector shaping.
Auto Gain	On / Off	Off	Automatic makeup gain to compensate for compression.
Drive	0-100%	0%	Saturation intensity. Scales per-engine harmonic character - 0% is clean, higher adds warmth and body.

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Advanced Controls

Lookahead

Range: 0-10 ms
Default: 0 ms
Description: Anticipates transients. Adds latency equal to the value.

Delta Listen

Range: On / Off
Default: Off
Description: Solos the compression difference signal.

Detector Mode

Range: Peak / RMS
Default: Peak
Description: Peak catches transients; RMS responds to average level.

Ext Sidechain

Range: On / Off
Default: Off
Description: Triggers from external audio (channels 3-4).

Mid/Side

Range: On / Off
Default: Off
Description: Processes mid and side channels independently.

SC Listen

Range: On / Off
Default: Off
Description: Auditions the signal that triggers compression: the post-shelf detector with the sidechain HPF and stereo LINK applied. Mutually exclusive with Delta Listen (SC Listen takes priority).

Parameter	Range	Default	Description
Lookahead	0-10 ms	0 ms	Anticipates transients. Adds latency equal to the value.
Delta Listen	On / Off	Off	Solos the compression difference signal.
Detector Mode	Peak / RMS	Peak	Peak catches transients; RMS responds to average level.
Ext Sidechain	On / Off	Off	Triggers from external audio (channels 3-4).
Mid/Side	On / Off	Off	Processes mid and side channels independently.
SC Listen	On / Off	Off	Auditions the signal that triggers compression: the post-shelf detector with the sidechain HPF and stereo LINK applied. Mutually exclusive with Delta Listen (SC Listen takes priority).

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Sidechain EQ

Shapes the detector signal independently of the audio output.

SC Low Gain

Range: ±12 dB
Default: 0 dB
Description: Low shelf gain in the sidechain. Cut to prevent bass pumping.

SC Low Freq

Range: 60-400 Hz
Default: 150 Hz
Description: Low shelf corner frequency.

SC High Gain

Range: ±12 dB
Default: 0 dB
Description: High shelf gain in the sidechain. Boost for de-essing.

SC High Freq

Range: 1k-10k Hz
Default: 3000 Hz
Description: High shelf corner frequency.

Parameter	Range	Default	Description
SC Low Gain	±12 dB	0 dB	Low shelf gain in the sidechain. Cut to prevent bass pumping.
SC Low Freq	60-400 Hz	150 Hz	Low shelf corner frequency.
SC High Gain	±12 dB	0 dB	High shelf gain in the sidechain. Boost for de-essing.
SC High Freq	1k-10k Hz	3000 Hz	High shelf corner frequency.

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Metering & Visualization

GR History Window

Range: 1-10 s
Default: 5 s
Description: Time window for the GR history graph.

True Peak Hold

Range: 0-5000 ms
Default: 2000 ms
Description: How long the peak value is held before decaying.

True Peak Decay

Range: 1-60 dB/s
Default: 20 dB/s
Description: Decay rate after hold expires.

LUFS Metering

Range: On / Off
Default: On
Description: ITU-R BS.1770-4 loudness measurement. Disable to save CPU.

Parameter	Range	Default	Description
GR History Window	1-10 s	5 s	Time window for the GR history graph.
True Peak Hold	0-5000 ms	2000 ms	How long the peak value is held before decaying.
True Peak Decay	1-60 dB/s	20 dB/s	Decay rate after hold expires.
LUFS Metering	On / Off	On	ITU-R BS.1770-4 loudness measurement. Disable to save CPU.

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Processing Quality

Oversample

Options: Off / 2x / 4x / 8x
Default: 2x
Description: Realtime oversampling during playback.

Oversample (Offline)

Options: Off / 2x / 4x / 8x / 16x / 32x
Default: 8x
Description: Oversampling for bounce/render. Auto-detected via isNonRealtime.

Oversample Quality

Options: Eco / Standard / Pristine
Default: Pristine
Description: FIR filter precision tier. Eco (~80 dB stopband), Standard (~100 dB), Pristine (~120 dB). Applies to both Realtime and Offline oversampling.

Parameter	Options	Default	Description
Oversample	Off / 2x / 4x / 8x	2x	Realtime oversampling during playback.
Oversample (Offline)	Off / 2x / 4x / 8x / 16x / 32x	8x	Oversampling for bounce/render. Auto-detected via isNonRealtime.
Oversample Quality	Eco / Standard / Pristine	Pristine	FIR filter precision tier. Eco (~80 dB stopband), Standard (~100 dB), Pristine (~120 dB). Applies to both Realtime and Offline oversampling.

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