How this works

CTZ Bus-Cascade Sandbox - your online sandbox for the Loopy rig. No real audio, just the wiring.

Concept

• Each node is a tap point. The chips show the actual plugin chain.
• Pincer: per source SAT (bottom) -> VCA (linked) -> HARD (top). Sat lifts RMS without peaks, Hard clips peaks at 0 dBFS. Two sides squeeze the crest factor.
• VCA trick: all source VCAs are pink-linked. The VCA slider top right drives all drives simultaneously. PRE-MASTER REV compensates output level - A/B at matched loudness is possible.
• Every summing point carries a Hard Clipper @ 0 dBFS that only shaves 1-3 dB. Share the load.
• Pre-Master = de-facto master: SmartEQ + TapeSat (spectral) + Hard + Limiter (small lift).
• The Loopy master stays EMPTY. No clip, no FX. The mastering lives on the Pre-Master.
• Order per bus: DUCK -> then CLIP. Never clip-then-duck.

Operation

• Drag a node by the head. Double-click = rename.
• Multi-select: drag on the background = marquee (selection rectangle). Shift+Click on a node head = add/remove individually. Cmd+A = all, Esc = none.
• Move several: after selection drag one of them, the rest moves along. Delete removes all selected (Master/Pre-Master are safe).
• Pan: Cmd/Ctrl + drag on the background (or middle button / right-click + drag). Mouse wheel = zoom.
• Right-click / long press = menu (color, split, collapse, child, delete).
• Cables: drag from out port (right) to in port (left). Under 3 steps.
• Tap a cable = Inspector: level, PRE/POST fader, tap point, delete.
• Tap a chip = info toast. Shift+Click = remove. "+" at the chain end = add plugin.
• VCA knob top right = one slider, all linked source drives.
• Drag fader in the tile = live send level.
• Cascade: trace the clipper chain, shows dB shaved per stage + loudness toward K-target.

Plugin chips

SAT Saturator

Parallel multiband (BLEASS / Saturn 2). Lifts RMS without lifting peaks. Crest -1 to -4 dB. Pincer bottom.

VCA VCA Gain linked

One MIDI CC controls all source VCAs simultaneously. Slider top right. Dial in during template creation to target LUFS, freeze.

HARD Hard Clipper

Knoc / FAC / K-Clip. Ceiling 0 dBFS. Corrective, transparent, last. Pincer top.

SOFT Soft Clipper

Soft saturation-clip instead of hard. Optional on tonal buses when HARD cracks.

SEQ Smart EQ

Spectral processing at the Pre-Master. Not at the Master.

TAPE Tape Sat

Spectral glue at the Pre-Master.

REV Reverse VCA

Compensates output level when the VCA group is moved. A/B at matched loudness.

LIM Limiter

Transparent limiter with a small lift (max 1 dB GR). Above 2-3 dB GR = stage upstream is under-clipped, fix it there.

DUCK Sidechain Duck

BLEASS Sidekick (MIDI-triggered). Kick + Snare fan-out, NOT per loop, but per bus.

Terms

Pre-Master

Final summing point before Master. De-facto your master bus.

Pre-Fader Send

Tap BEFORE the fader. Reverb wash stays up.

Post-Fader Send

Tap AFTER the fader. Send follows the fader 1:1.

Tap: Post-FX

After all insert effects.

Tap: Pre-FX

Before the channel's own inserts.

K-target

LUFS target: Live/PA -9 to -8, EDM -7. Bake in at the template.

Shortcuts

C Cascade   F Focus   Esc Clear selection   Del Clear all selected   Cmd+A all   Shift+Click add single to selection   Cmd+Z Undo   Cmd+] expand more   Cmd+Drag pan