Dusk Audio 4K EQ, Multi-Comp & TapeMachine
Key Features
- Three-plugin mixing set with console EQ, multi-mode compression, and tape saturation duties covered separately
- 4K EQ offers Brown and Black British-console modes, filters, saturation, oversampling, mid/side processing, and spectrum analysis
- Multi-Comp includes opto, FET, VCA, bus, digital, and four-band multiband compression modes for broad dynamics work
- TapeMachine models Swiss800 and Classic102 tape machines with multiple formulations, speed/path choices, wow, flutter, noise, and bias control
- Cross-platform releases cover Linux, Windows, and macOS, with VST3, LV2, AU, and newer CLAP builds depending on platform
- Open-source GitHub releases provide direct ZIP assets without signup or checkout
Description
Dusk Audio 4K EQ, Multi-Comp, and TapeMachine is a cross-platform mixing plugin set covering console EQ, multi-mode compression, and analog tape color. The developer presents the plugins as permanently available open-source tools for Linux, Windows, and macOS, with no account gate, trial limit, or feature lock.
4K EQ handles channel and bus tone shaping with Brown and Black console modes, high-pass and low-pass filters, optional saturation, oversampling, mid/side processing, and a real-time spectrum analyzer. Multi-Comp adds eight dynamics modes, including opto, FET, VCA, bus, digital, and four-band multiband compression, so it can move from simple leveling to more technical dynamics control.
TapeMachine is the color piece in the set, with Swiss800 and Classic102 machine models, four tape formulations, multiple signal-path modes, wow, flutter, noise, bias, oversampling, and VU metering. The three plugins work best as a practical analog-style mix toolkit: shape the frequency balance, control dynamics, then add tape weight or movement where a track needs character.
The main review caveat is packaging. These are three separate GitHub-release downloads rather than a single installer, and the website still shows older version numbers while GitHub has newer release tags.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these one plugin or three separate plugins?
They are three separate Dusk Audio plugins: 4K EQ, Multi-Comp, and TapeMachine. Treat them as a small mixing toolkit rather than a single channel-strip plugin.
Which plugin should I start with?
Start with 4K EQ when the track needs broad tone shaping, Multi-Comp when level control or bus glue is the priority, and TapeMachine when you want saturation, head-bump, wow/flutter, or more obvious analog-style character.
Do the releases include CLAP?
The official website still lists VST3, LV2, and AU, but the newer GitHub release notes for 4K EQ v1.0.10, Multi-Comp v1.3.1, and TapeMachine v1.0.9 mention CLAP builds as well. That version mismatch should be reviewed before publishing final download copy.
Are the downloads direct?
Yes. BPB notes that the plugins can be downloaded directly from the developer without an account, and the official download buttons resolve to public GitHub release pages with ZIP assets for each supported platform.
