Diet Audio
Key Features
- Spectral gate processing separates transient information from the sustained body of the incoming signal.
- Two-instance workflow lets producers process transients differently from the rest of the sound, such as adding distortion only to attacks.
- Fast release settings can create artifacts that resemble MP3 compression for glitch, degradation, and lo-fi sound design.
- Full-function free version uses a non-intrusive banner, with Patreon support available to remove the banner.
- 64-bit AU, VST3, and CLAP support covers modern plugin hosts across macOS, Windows, and Linux.
- Direct platform-specific ZIP downloads are available for macOS, Windows, and Linux through UnplugRed's free Patreon post.
Description
Diet Audio is a spectral gate effect from UnplugRed for isolating transient information from the rest of an audio signal. Instead of working like a simple volume gate, it uses spectral processing to split audio into frequency detail that can be shaped in more unusual ways.
The official page highlights two core workflows: separating transients so they can be processed differently, and pushing fast release settings into crunchy artifacts that resemble MP3 compression. Using two copies of the plugin makes it possible to distort, filter, or otherwise treat the transient component separately from the sustained body of a sound.
That makes Diet Audio more of a creative sound-design processor than a transparent cleanup utility. It can turn drums, loops, vocals, and synthetic textures into thinner, glitchier, or more aggressively separated material when ordinary gating feels too blunt.
The free version keeps full functionality and adds only a non-intrusive banner, while the paid Patreon version removes the banner. It runs as a 64-bit AU, VST3, and CLAP plugin on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Diet Audio do?
Diet Audio is a spectral gate that separates transient information from the rest of an audio signal. The main use is creative processing, especially when you want attacks and sustained material to behave differently.
How is Diet Audio different from a normal gate?
A normal gate usually opens and closes based on overall level. Diet Audio works in the spectral domain, which lets it produce more frequency-specific separation and more unusual artifacts than a basic volume gate.
Why would I use two copies of the plugin?
UnplugRed describes a two-copy workflow for processing transients separately from the rest of the audio. For example, one copy can help isolate attack information while another effect chain distorts or reshapes only that component.
What is the difference between the free and paid versions?
The free Patreon post says the free version comes with a non-intrusive banner. BPB and KVR both report that the free version has full functionality, while Patreon support removes the banner.
