Overview
Pressure uses a two-tab interface with a shared control strip. The top row holds the primary controls you'll use on every session; below that, two tabs switch between the Orb visualization and detailed metering views.
Interface Layout
Hero Section
The top row holds the primary controls you'll use on every session: Input, PRESSURE, Output, TONE, MIX, the AUTO toggle, LINK toggle, and the Mode selector. The PRESSURE knob is the largest element — it's the single most important control.
ORB Tab
The default view shows the Pressure Orb visualization — a real-time display of compression activity and gain reduction. Below it, the ReadoutStrip provides quick access to flavor controls: IMAGE, ROUND, AIR, and ANCHOR.
METER Tab
Switch to the Meter tab for detailed analysis: a full-size transfer curve, GR history meter, and input/output level meters. Use this view when you need precise visual feedback on the compressor's behavior.
Signal Flow
Audio flows through Pressure in this order:
Input Gain adjusts the signal level before it hits the compressor. Use this to drive the detector harder (more compression) or back off for lighter touch.
Compression Engine is selected by the Mode control. Each engine (VCA, FET, Opto, Dynamics, VariMu) has its own character and responds differently to the PRESSURE knob.
Flavor adds tonal character after compression — stereo image widening, transient rounding, air boost, and low-frequency anchoring.
Mix blends the compressed signal with the dry input for parallel compression. At 100% you hear only the compressed signal; at 50% you get equal parts dry and wet.
Output Gain sets the final level after all processing.
The full signal chain has 11 stages. Key stages not shown above: Oversampling (if enabled) wraps the compression stage, Sidechain Processing shapes the detector signal before compression, and Metering runs in parallel after output.
Engine Modes at a Glance
Pressure includes five analog-modeled compression engines. Each one responds differently to the PRESSURE and TONE knobs.
| Mode | Engine | Character |
|---|---|---|
| MIX | VCA | SSL G-Bus — clean, punchy, versatile |
| INST | FET | 1176 “Dr. Pepper” — fast, aggressive, colorful |
| VOCALS | Opto | LA-2A — smooth, natural, program-dependent |
| DRUMS | Dynamics | dbx 160 — transparent, precise, hard knee |
| MASTER | VariMu | Fairchild 670 — warm, wide knee, tube character |
For detailed breakdowns of each engine, see Engine Modes.