New Music Gear Monday: McDSP SA-2 Dialog Processor Plugin

Anyone that works on dialog (or vocals) knows that sometimes it's tough to make it cut through a mix. Add enough compression and EQ and it becomes sibilant, which a de-esser can control but sometimes at the expense of intelligibility. Now the new McDSP SA-2 Dialog Processor plugin gives you more control over that dialog than ever before to keep the dialog sounding natural.

The SA-2 Dialog Processor is based on the hardware originally conceived by Academy Award-winning re-recording mixer Mike Minkler, who used it on over 100 major motion pictures.

The plugin features 5 bands of active equalization centered around strategic frequencies in the dialog or vocal area. Each band has a threshold control to determine at what signal level the active equalizer begins to effect the signal, as well as the ability to solo each band to quickly audition the effect.

The SA-2 also has two mode selectors. One is for controlling the ballistics of the active equalization, and the second is for placing the five bands at other locations in the frequency spectrum. Finally, there are input and output gain controls for overall adjustment.

The McDSP SA-2 Dialog Processor plugin is available in AAX, AU and VST formats, and sells for $149 for native and $249 for HD. There's also a 14 day trial version. Find out more here, or check out the video below.

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