Mallard2:
Sidechain Shaper
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Drawable Sidechain Envelope โ VST3
Overview
Mallard2 replaces fixed attack/hold/release knobs with a fully drawable envelope. Double-click anywhere to add points, drag to shape the curve between them, and fire the result from any sidechain trigger โ or lock it to the DAW beat grid.
Every envelope shape is possible. Slow fade-in with a hard cut. Rhythmic pumping with custom curve tension on each segment. Multi-stage gain rides that track the beat exactly. If you can draw it, Mallard2 can play it.
โEnvelope Shapes
7Sync Divisions
50msMin Duration
VST3Windows 64-bit
The Drawable Envelope
Double-click to add points anywhere on the timeline. Drag points to reshape. Each segment has independent curve tension.
Add Points
Double-click anywhere on the envelope display to add a new control point. Points snap to the timeline and stack to the gain axis. No limit on how many you can add.
Remove Points
Double-click an existing point to remove it. The first and last points are always anchored to the start and end of the timeline โ everything between is freely editable.
Curve Tension
Each segment has its own curve value from โ1 to +1. โ1 gives a logarithmic arc (fast start, slow end). +1 gives exponential (slow start, fast end). 0 is a straight line.
Reset
The Reset button clears the envelope back to a flat line at unity gain โ two anchored points, fully straight. A clean slate for a new shape.
Trigger Modes
Free Mode โ Sidechain Trigger
When Sync is off, Mallard2 fires the envelope whenever the sidechain (or main input if no sidechain is connected) exceeds the Trigger Threshold. A 5ms peak follower tracks the trigger level. Set the threshold anywhere from โ60 to 0 dB.
Sync Mode โ Beat Grid
Enable Sync and Mallard2 fires the envelope directly from the DAW timeline โ locked to the beat grid with sample-accurate precision. The envelope duration is calculated from your BPM and the chosen division. Works at any tempo.
Sync Divisions
Choose from seven divisions: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 bar, 2 bars, 4 bars. The envelope duration updates live as your DAW tempo changes โ no manual adjustment needed.
Retrigger
With Retrigger on, a new sidechain hit restarts the envelope from the beginning even if the previous cycle hasn't finished. With Retrigger off, the envelope completes its full cycle before it can fire again.
Duration & Controls
Duration slider (50ms โ 10s), Sync toggle, Retrigger toggle, and Trigger Threshold slider.
Duration โ 50ms to 10s
In free mode, the Duration slider sets how long one envelope cycle takes. The timeline ruler updates in real time showing timestamps at quarter markers. Toggle between seconds and milliseconds with the unit button.
Trigger Threshold โ โ60 to 0 dB
Sets the sidechain level required to fire the envelope in free mode. The orange LED in the top bar lights up whenever the envelope is actively running โ even in sync mode.
Resizable UI
The plugin window is freely resizable from 500ร280 px up to 1200ร700 px. The envelope display scales with it โ more screen space means more precise drawing and editing of fine envelope detail.
Workflow
01Insert Mallard2 on the track you want to shape โ drums, bass, synth, or a group bus
02Route your trigger source (kick, snare, etc.) to the sidechain input โ or enable Sync to lock to the beat grid
03Double-click on the envelope display to add control points and drag them to the desired gain levels
04Drag the curve tension handles on each segment to dial in logarithmic or exponential arcs
05Set Duration (free mode) or choose a Sync Division and confirm the BPM readout matches your DAW
06Play back and watch the orange LED โ the envelope shape is applied exactly as drawn on every trigger
07The full shape and settings save automatically with your DAW project โ no manual preset step required
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Format | VST3 |
| Platform | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| Version | 1.0.0 |
| UI size | 700 ร 380 px default, resizable 500ร280 to 1200ร700 |
| Duration range | 50ms to 10 seconds (free mode) |
| Sync divisions | 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 bar, 2 bars, 4 bars |
| Trigger threshold | โ60 to 0 dB |
| Sidechain follower | 5ms attack peak follower |
| Gain smoother | 0.3ms single-pole lowpass โ eliminates clicks at trigger points |
| Envelope points | Unlimited โ first and last always anchored |
| Curve formula | f(ฮฑ, k) = (exp(kยทฮฑ) โ 1) / (exp(k) โ 1), k = curve ร 8 |
| Curve range | โ1 (log) to +1 (exp) per segment |
| Sync accuracy | Sample-accurate beat-grid locking via DAW PPQ position |
| Retrigger | Toggle โ restarts envelope mid-cycle on new trigger |
| State save | Full shape + settings saved with DAW project as XML |
| Latency | Zero samples |
System Requirements
DAW
Any VST3-compatible DAW with sidechain routing support โ Ableton Live 11+, FL Studio 20+, Reaper, Cubase, Studio One, and others.
OS
Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit). Mac support is planned for a future release.
Format
VST3 only. Single plugin โ insert on any track. Sidechain routing optional; Sync mode works without it.
Setup
Insert Mallard2 on the track you want shaped. Optionally route a trigger to the sidechain, or enable Sync mode for beat-locked triggering with no sidechain needed.
Version
Current release: 1.0.1. Free updates for all future 1.x releases.
License Info
Personal & Commercial Use
Use Mallard2 in any personal or commercial project โ music production, mixing, post-production, broadcast, and live performance.
Single User
One license per user. Install on up to 3 machines you personally own or operate.
Free Updates
All 1.x updates are free. Your serial activates the current version and all future updates in the 1.x release line.
No Redistribution
The plugin binaries may not be shared, resold, or redistributed. Each user must obtain their own free license.
Free
Drawable Sidechain Envelope