What is "the trick"?
Set LF Boost and LF Atten to non-zero values at the same LF Frequency. On paper it looks like it should cancel. It doesn't — the boost and atten are wired to two separate LC networks. The result is a resonant low-end lift followed by a scoop above it. Bigger bottom, tighter low-mids. That's the trick.
Why does the plugin sound coloured even with all EQ off?
The passive network has about 24 dB of insertion loss. The tube makeup stage restores that level and adds its own even-order harmonics. The transformer voicing adds low-end warmth. Both are always in the signal path — that's how the original hardware works.
Why are the LF Boost and LF Atten frequencies locked together?
On the original hardware, both LF networks sit behind a single four-position rotary switch. The Trick is wired the same way. This coupling is what makes the trick work — you are running two independent filters through a shared topology.
What is the difference between HF Boost and HF Atten?
HF Boost is a resonant RLC peak — the energy lives around the centre frequency, not above it. HF Atten is a shelving cut. They have completely independent frequency selectors. This lets you boost at 10 kHz while rolling off at 20 kHz — air without sizzle.
What is a Wave Digital Filter?
A WDF models each component in a circuit (resistors, capacitors, inductors) as a scattering junction in a tree structure. It preserves the circuit topology exactly — the frequency response, the phase, and the interaction between components all emerge from the structure, not from curve-fitting.
Can I use The Trick as a surgical EQ?
No. The HF Boost has only 7 frequency positions, the LF section has 4. These are broad musical lifts, not narrow parametric cuts. If you need to notch a specific resonance, use a parametric EQ. The Trick is for tone shaping and harmonic colour.
Does The Trick add latency?
The tube stage runs at fixed 2\u00d7 oversampling, which introduces a small latency from the oversampling filters. Your DAW will compensate automatically.
Where should I put The Trick in my signal chain?
On a bus or master: after dynamics, before the final limiter. The tube stage adds harmonics, so placing it after a brickwall limiter undoes the limiting. For mastering colour, put it first in the chain with a bus compressor after it — the classic placement.
Is The Trick really free?
Yes — completely free, no demo limitations, no noise bursts, no time limit. Every control active. No account required to download.
Can I resize the plugin window?
Yes. Use the \u2014 and + buttons in the bottom-right of the status bar to scale the interface up or down. The current scale percentage is shown between the two buttons. Your setting is saved and restored on next load.
Which DAWs are supported?
It works in DAWs that support VST3 or CLAP on Windows or Linux. On Linux, that includes hosts like Reaper and Bitwig. On Windows, it works in major VST3/CLAP-compatible DAWs.