pascalcompressor/README.md

# Pascalcompressor

An audio compressor audio plugin, built with [JUCE](https://juce.com/) as an Audio Unit (AU) and VST3.

![Pascalcompressor](pascalcompressor.png)

## What it is

Pascalcompressor is a dynamics processing plugin - a compressor - that reduces the level of audio that exceeds a threshold, making loud parts quieter and the overall signal more consistent. It's the kind of tool you use to glue a mix together, tame peaks, or shape the punch of a track.

## What it does

The plugin's DSP (in `Source/Compressor.cpp`) implements a classic soft-knee compressor with the standard controls:

- **Input** - pre-gain applied to the signal before detection
- **Threshold** - the level above which compression kicks in
- **Ratio** - how much gain reduction is applied above the threshold
- **Attack** - how fast the compressor responds once the signal crosses the threshold
- **Release** - how fast it lets go after the signal drops back below
- **Makeup gain** - compensates for the level lost to compression
- **Dry/wet** - blend between the uncompressed and compressed signal, handy for parallel compression

It uses a feed-forward design with a mono-summed detector and a one-pole envelope follower, so the gain reduction feels smooth and "glued" to the source.

## Why it's called Pascalcompressor

A friend of mine is named Pascal. This is named after him - "the Pascal compressor."

## Building

The project is set up with CMake and JUCE's `FetchContent` (it pulls JUCE automatically into `build/_deps`). See the `Makefile` for common targets, e.g.:

```sh
make build   # configure + build default targets
make install # build and install the plugin
make smoke   # run a smoke test against the built AU (if present)
```

Configuration defaults to a build in `build/`; see the `Makefile` for available
variables (e.g. `CONFIG`) and targets.

Build output lands in `build/Pascalcompressor_artefacts/` (`.component` for AU, `.vst3` for VST3).

## Repository layout

```
Source/    plugin DSP and editor code
Tests/     unit tests
CMakeLists.txt
Makefile
```