ALA-101 Hybridization Manual

Complete parameter reference for every control.

Plugin Overview
Recommendation

This plugin delivers its best performance at the reference level. Signal levels may deviate from the reference, but modeling accuracy may decrease. Pushing the signal extremely hot into the plugin will result in extreme distortion and heavy compression. The reference level can be adjusted via the gear icon menu (Settings > Reference Level): +4 dBu = -18 dBFS or -20 dBFS. To get the most out of this plugin, always perform gain staging using the RMS meter or the Compensate Gain button.

Each parameter at 50% (or 5.0) represents the nominal range — closest to the real hardware behavior. Beyond that, the knob color indicates the intensity: yellow signals caution, red signals warning. Some knobs control dB values where caution/warning levels don't directly apply, but the color still represents the strength of the effect.

Contents

① Input

Input Trim

Adjusts the input level within ±24 dB. Nominal input: +4 dBu = -18 dBFS. Knob color changes with signal level. The reference level can be configured in the settings menu.

Compensate Gain

Auto-compensates input level to the reference level using a 3-second RMS measurement. The reference level can be configured in the settings menu.

Unity Gain

Automatically compensates Output Trim when Input Trim is changed, maintaining unity gain.

Bypass Linked

Bypasses all sections with Link enabled. Useful for A/B comparison of multiple parameters at once.

② Metering

RMS Meter

RMS meter displaying input and output levels simultaneously. Use for gain staging. The reference level can be configured in the settings menu.

Peak Meter

Sample-accurate peak meter. Click to reset peak hold.

③ Output

Output Trim

Adjusts the output level within ±24 dB. Knob color changes with signal level. Hover or click to reveal the Dry/Wet knob.

Loudness Match (Auto Level)

Performs a 3-second K-weighted loudness measurement and auto-adjusts Output Trim to match the input level.

Clip > Out

Routes the signal through the clipper after Output Trim. Useful for final peak limiting in mastering workflows.

Delta Monitor

Outputs only the wet-minus-dry difference signal, allowing you to hear the nonlinear components in isolation.

Dry/Wet

Controls the dry/wet mix ratio (0–100%). Dry signal is delay-compensated for OS latency.

④ Tube Drive

Tube Drive

Models the dynamic behavior of a vacuum tube line amplifier. The tube's compression characteristic strongly affects the perceived level, which may appear to decrease. Adjust with Output Trim as needed.

L/R — M/S (Expansion Mode)

Switches Analog Expansion between L/R mode and M/S mode. L/R: enhances stereo channel separation. M/S: naturally widens the stereo image.

⑤ Transformer Tolerance

Transformer Tolerance

Models the dynamic behavior of an output transformer.

Trans Pattern A / B

Switches between Transformer Pattern A and Pattern B. Each pattern has a different saturation characteristic captured from the hardware.

⑪ Expansion & Fluctuation

Analog Expansion

Reproduces analog L/R channel variation. Automatically scales with input level — quiet signals stay matched, loud signals diverge. The knob sets the maximum expansion amount.

Fluctuation

Reproduces the subtle wow fluctuation characteristic of analog equipment.

⑫ Hysteresis & Bloom

Core Hysteresis

Enhances the low-frequency response from transformer core hysteresis.

Hysteresis Bloom

Adjusts the hysteresis low-frequency modulation depth. Useful for controlling low-end muddiness or masking.

Sub LPF

Applies a low-pass filter to the hysteresis processed signal. Off: no filtering. 2-Pole: gentle roll-off. 4-Pole: steep roll-off.

⑥⑦ Shelf EQ & Filtering

Low Shelf

Reproduces the low-shelf EQ measured from the hardware unit.

High Shelf

Reproduces the high-shelf EQ measured from the hardware unit.

Pre Trans

Moves the shelf EQ before the transformer stage (between Tube and Trans). Default position: after Trans.

EQ Response

Displays the composite frequency response of Low Shelf, High Shelf, LPF, and HPF filters.

HPF Resonance

Adjusts the Q of the transformer-derived high-pass filter.

HPF Tight (5.0 Hz / 5.47 Hz)

Switches HPF frequency between 5.0 Hz (Transformer characteristic) and 5.47 Hz (Tube characteristic).

LPF Resonance

Adjusts the Q of a mastering-grade ADC converter's high-frequency roll-off filter. Recommended to keep enabled, as the plugin's processing can cause high-frequency phase disturbances.

LPF Scale

Selects the LPF cutoff frequency. Maximum frequency varies by sample rate (18.98 kHz at 48 kHz, 37.95 kHz at 96 kHz, 75.90 kHz at 192 kHz).

⑧ Clipper

Clip Drive

Sets the drive amount pushing the signal into the clipper. Knob color changes with gain reduction amount. Hover or click to reveal the Ceiling knob. When calibrated with Compensate Gain, additional headroom is created before the clipper threshold, allowing more drive to be applied.

Clip Ceiling

Sets the clipper ceiling level. Knob color changes with gain reduction amount.

Clip Character

Morphs the clipper character from soft saturation to hard clipping.

Clip Symmetry

Adjusts the positive/negative asymmetry of the clipper. Increasing this enhances even-order harmonics (H2, H4).

Clipper Position (Pre / Post HPF)

Switches the clipper position. Pre (default): Clipper before HPF. Post: HPF before Clipper (Post HPF also functions as a DC cut for the clipper).

Clipper Analysis Overlay

Real-time harmonic analysis (H2–H5) of the clipper output. Shows the harmonic balance at the current Character and Symmetry settings.

⑯ Top Bar & Presets

Top Bar

The top bar provides quick access to all global controls. From left to right: Master Bypass, Polarity Invert, Undo/Redo, Preset selector, Save/Load, A/B comparison with Copy, Model Mode selector (Standard / Hybrid / Professional), Sub LPF, Oversampling rate, Help overlay, and Settings.

Master Bypass

Bypasses the entire plugin processing chain. The input signal passes through unprocessed.

Bypass Linked

Bypasses all sections with Link enabled. Useful for A/B comparison of multiple parameters at once.

Undo / Redo

Undoes or redoes the last parameter change.

Presets

Selects a factory or user preset. Overwriting 'User Default.nkpd' sets the startup preset for future sessions.

A / B & Copy

Switches between Preset A and Preset B for instant comparison. Copy duplicates the active preset to the other slot.

Model Mode

Switches the processing model. Standard: lowest CPU (waveshaper). Hybrid: low CPU (neural network block processing). Professional: high CPU (real-time inference).

Oversampling

Sets the oversampling rate (1x / 2x / 4x). Higher values reduce aliasing at the cost of increased CPU and latency.

Utility & Settings

Settings Menu
Settings Menu

Opens the settings menu: License Manager, Reference Level, Secret Mode, Window Size, Manual.

Help Overlay (?)

Toggles the help overlay. When enabled, hovering over any control displays a description.

License

Manages license activation and validation. Enter your license key to unlock the full version. Trial mode injects periodic noise bursts.