Polarity-MD
Free Multiband Dynamics Processor
Polarity-MD is a powerful four-band dynamics plugin designed for modern mixing and mastering. It combines upward compression, downward compression, and per-band clipping, making it ideal for achieving punchy drums, loud masters, and controlled dynamics.
It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux and supports several modern plugin formats.
Formats available:
VST3
CLAP
LV2
AU (macOS)
Completely free to use, with no account, no DRM, and no telemetry.
Multiband Dynamics Engine
Polarity-MD splits the signal into four frequency bands using precise Linkwitz-Riley crossovers, allowing each band to be processed independently.
Each band includes:
Upward compression
Downward compression
Input gain
Clipper
Normalizer
Solo monitoring
This gives precise control over the entire frequency spectrum.
Upward + Downward Compression (OTT-style)
The plugin uses a dynamics approach similar to the well-known OTT multiband compressor.
Upward compression
Raises quiet details within each band.
Downward compression
Controls peaks and loud transients.
Global controls allow you to adjust threshold, ratio, attack, and release across all bands simultaneously.
Per-Band Clipping
Each frequency band includes its own clipper.
Benefits:
tighter drums
controlled peaks
higher perceived loudness
A final post-FX hard clipper at 0 dB prevents clipping at the output.
You can also listen to what is being clipped using Delta Mode.
Pre-FX and Post-FX Processing
The signal chain is divided into three stages.
Pre-FX
Input gain and compression before band splitting.
Multiband Stage
Independent processing of the four frequency bands.
Post-FX
Final compression, output gain, and brickwall clipping.
This structure gives complete control over the signal flow.
Loudness Monitoring
Built-in LUFS meters show:
input loudness
output loudness
This makes it easier to monitor loudness changes during mastering.
Linear Phase Crossovers
Polarity-MD includes an optional linear-phase crossover mode.
Benefits:
cleaner phase alignment
ideal for parallel processing
reduced phase artifacts
4× Oversampling
Enable 4× oversampling to reduce aliasing when using strong compression or clipping.
This results in:
smoother high frequencies
cleaner distortion characteristics
Workflow Tools
Global Amount Control
Adjust the compression intensity of all bands with one knob.
Band Solo
Listen to individual frequency bands.
Clip Delta
Hear exactly what the clipper removes.
Match Level
Compare processed and unprocessed signals at equal loudness.
Pro Mode
Reveal advanced controls when deeper editing is needed.
Accessibility & Usability
Polarity-MD includes:
tooltips for every control
screen-reader compatibility
automatic window size recall
improved keyboard focus behavior
Supported Platforms
Windows
Win10 / Win11
VST3 / CLAP
macOS
Intel & Apple Silicon
VST3 / AU / CLAP
Linux
x86_64
VST3 / CLAP / LV2
Required libraries for Linux:
libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0libjavascriptcoregtk-4.1-0
Technical Details
Engine:
C++17
JUCE 8
Interface:
WebView2
HTML / CSS / JavaScript
Crossovers:
24 dB/oct Linkwitz-Riley
Oversampling:
4×
Key Features
✔ Four-band multiband compression
✔ Upward and downward compression
✔ Per-band clipping
✔ Global dynamics control
✔ LUFS loudness metering
✔ Linear-phase crossovers
✔ 4× oversampling
✔ Solo and delta monitoring
✔ Free and open workflow
Why Polarity-MD Is Interesting
Polarity-MD combines OTT-style multiband compression with modern loudness tools, making it useful for:
drum buses
aggressive EDM processing
mastering chains
parallel compression setups
All while remaining completely free and cross-platform.
Source : polarity.productions
