'Fuser' Review: Automatic Instrument Frequency Interference Reducer

'Fuser', released by Mastering The Mix, is a dynamic EQ that applies compression to specific frequency ranges. This type of dynamic EQ has been gaining popularity in mixing.

It's particularly a plugin that can create space to prevent two tracks occupying the same frequency range from interfering with each other using sidechain.

Personally, I believe that separating the frequency ranges of instruments during the arrangement process should come first, but it's not always possible for all instruments to be neatly divided by frequency range.

Also, rather than considering this type of sidechain dynamic EQ technique as a cure-all tool, if used to help with the overall organization of the mix, it can make the mix cleaner.

Other plugins of this type include Soothe 2 by oeksound, TrackSpacer by Wavefactory, and DOVE by Acustica Audio. Mastering The Mix's Fuser had a relatively affordable price and a simple, user-friendly interface.

This review was written with an NFR (Not for Resale) license provided through ADSR Sounds. (This link does not contain an affiliate code, and we declare that this is not a sponsored review.)

Mixing Technique: Creating Space with Sidechain

Before the review, I should explain a bit more about the mixing technique of creating space between instruments using sidechain.

The principle of this technique is to set the source that the dynamic EQ's threshold detects to a different track, not the current track. (This is called a sidechain input.)

Let's say we've set the dynamic EQ to work on signals above -10dB around 100Hz of the bass.

Normally, with a dynamic EQ, the EQ would work according to the magnitude of the bass signal. If we change the input to sidechain (kick drum) here, the EQ on the bass will work according to the magnitude of the kick drum signal.

As a result, in sections where the 100Hz kick signal is loud, a compressor is applied to the bass's 100Hz, securing space for the kick drum to stand out.

Typical Use Cases

As mentioned earlier, you can apply sidechain dynamic EQ to bass and kick drum. It can also be used for various other instruments.

It can be applied to bass and synth pads that share the same low frequency range. It creates a hole for the bass attack to punch through the consistently sustained synth pad.

It can also be used to make vocals cut through the MR (Music Recording). Load Fuser onto the MR bus track and set the sidechain input to the vocal track. This will reduce parts of the MR's frequency range that could bury the vocal sound only when the vocal signal is present.

Fuser's Automatic Setting Feature

The advantage of Fuser is that it can make this process possible with just two steps.

First, set Fuser's input to a specific track's sidechain input. In Logic, you can immediately connect to the desired external track as a sidechain input by selecting it in the upper right corner of the plugin window. Some other DAWs may require a separate routing process.

Now when you play the track, the dark line represents the current track's signal, and the white line represents the external sidechain track's signal. Fuser automatically analyzes the audio while playing the track after the sidechain is applied.

When the analysis is complete (the Resolve Conflicts button lights up), you can press the Resolve Conflicts button to automatically apply dynamic EQ to the overlapping bands between the current track and the sidechain track. The waveforms coming down in opposite directions on the screen are the signals being reduced in the current track.

You can press the RESET button in the lower left corner to start track analysis from the beginning again.

Manual Operation Method

Fuser automatically changes other detailed settings as well. If the settings are excessive, you can adjust the Attack and Release to change the speed at which the compressor operates. You can also raise the Q value to limit the applied range to a narrower area.

If desired, you can add nodes to add multiple frequency bands where compression is applied. There's also a Delta listening mode where you can listen separately to only the audio attenuated by these applied settings.

The nodes have different detailed setting values. You can specify different compression speeds for each frequency, or set individual Mid/Side compression.

You can visually check which channel's signals are colliding. The red line indicates Mid channel collisions, and the yellow line indicates Side channel collisions.

You can also adjust only the level recognized inside the plugin through Gain Stage Fix, while keeping the externally heard sound the same. This allows you to maintain the balance heard in the mix while raising only the sidechain level to make the dynamic EQ work more smoothly.

Phase Alignment Function

Another problem that can occur when instruments with similar frequency ranges overlap is that the phase can be misaligned or inverted, causing the sound to be awkward.

In Fuser, you can manually adjust the phase using the Phase knob. Alternatively, there's a function to analyze phase problems between the current track and the sidechain track by pressing the Phase Analyze button and playing the track, then appropriately adjusting the phase.

Overall Evaluation

Fuser has a relatively simple interface. While some detailed settings are possible if desired, you can easily balance the mix by simply loading the sidechain input and clicking the Resolve Conflicts button.

If the changes in settings proposed by Fuser are too extreme, you can make the sound more natural by changing the Q value, adjusting the attack and release times to match the musical beat, and using parallel mix.

Therefore, when using Fuser, there's no need to manipulate each complex detailed setting. I think it's intended to be used as an auxiliary tool where the user can further refine the sound if necessary after the automated process predetermined by the plugin.

Personally, I recommend refining the arrangement of instruments during the composition process before using sidechain dynamic EQ. If the instrument placement isn't properly arranged, no matter how well you use a plugin like Fuser, it will be difficult to see significant effects.

If you're new to mixing, you might think of such plugins as a 'cure-all tool' or a 'cheat key'. However, it's better to use it as an auxiliary tool to help 'slightly' separate the frequency distribution of instruments more clearly. If you consider how to create more intentional instrument placement during the arrangement process, you can take one step further in creating more creative and high-quality mixes in the future.