Research Notes: Pressure
Last updated: 2026-02-25 · Plugin v1.0.0 · BPTS v2.1.0
Current Test Status
- ✓Survived The Gauntlet™ (1,000,000 parameter mutations, 0 crashes)
- ✓Category 5 stress tests passing (25/25)
- ✓Zero audio artifacts detected in stress testing
- ✓Pluginval clean (strictness 10)
- ✓Zero memory leaks over 1 hour marathon test
Validation Depth
482
Total Tests
7
Adversarial Systems
6
Golden References
6
Security Vectors
3
Sanitizers
100K
Fuzz Iterations
Production latency: ~62 µs/block on M4 Pro at 48.0 kHz / 512 samples
Audio Quality Specs
Measured at −12 dBFS, 60% pressure
| Engine | THD Range | Character |
|---|---|---|
| MIX (VCA) | 0.02–0.06% | Clean, SSL-style |
| INST (FET) | 0.05–3.0% | Natural 1176-style |
| VOCALS (Opto) | 0.4–0.7% | Warm LA-2A character |
| DRUMS (VCA) | 0.01–0.08% | Transparent dynamics |
| MASTER (VariMu) | 0.06–1.9% | Classic tube compression |
Framework Improvements
Issues identified through mutation testing and their resolutions.
- ✓
DC offset detection added to buffer validation
Mutation testing revealed that buffer validation did not yet cover DC offset. Detection was added with a −60 dBFS threshold, and all plugins were re-validated.
Resolved in BPTS v2.2.0 · 2026-02-01
- ℹ
Sample-level discontinuity detection added
Mutation testing identified that the framework lacked sample-by-sample gradient analysis. A discontinuity detector with a 6 dB inter-sample threshold is being integrated to extend coverage to transient-level anomalies.
In progress
Why Public Research Notes?
Mutation testing is how we verify the test suite itself. By intentionally injecting faults into the plugin, we identify where the testing framework needs to improve—and then we improve it.
This page documents that cycle: what we found, what we fixed, and how the framework got stronger. Engineering rigor, documented in the open.
If you encounter unexpected behavior our tests haven't covered, we want to hear about it.
Learn more about our testing methodology: Testing Suite Documentation
Found a Bug?
If you crash it or hear artifacts our tests missed, email me:
keith@bellweatherstudios.comInclude: DAW + OS version, what you did before it crashed, crash log if available. Best bug reports get credited in release notes.