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Features

Everything Tsukura can do — nothing hidden.

Minimum System Requirements
Operating System Windows 10 20H1 (Build 19041+) or later, 64-bit · Windows 11 recommended for full visual integration
Processor x64 processor, 2 GHz or faster
Memory 4 GB RAM minimum · 8 GB recommended (especially with VST3 plugins)
Audio Any WASAPI-compatible audio device (standard on all Windows systems)
Storage ~100 MB available disk space
Optional ASIO driver — for low-latency hardware output monitoring
VST3 plugins — any VST3-compatible plugin from any vendor

Tsukura Mixer does not require virtual audio cables, additional drivers, or third-party software. Per-process audio capture uses the native WASAPI Loopback API available since Windows 10 20H1.

Core Application

Tsukura's core is the intelligent shell that ties everything together — a native Windows app that stays out of your way while giving you total control.

  • Dark native titlebar (DWM immersive dark mode + caption color) — looks like it belongs on Windows 11
  • System Tray: minimize or close to tray; restore on double-click or context menu
  • Window: starts at 1280×900, freely resizable, minimum 800×600
  • Preset system: JSON-based, stored in %AppData%; auto-save on close, auto-load on start
  • Built-in presets: [Reset], [Default], [Last Session]
  • Live theme switching from JSON files — no restart ever required
  • Preferences window with 6 categories: Audio Hardware, Core, Themes, VST Plugins, Mixer, System
  • Configurable buffer size: 128–2048 samples (Preferences > System)
  • CPU load meter + WASAPI device name in status bar
  • Tooltip system — toggle on/off with the ? toolbar button
  • About window loaded from about.json: version, credits, licenses, clickable links

Mixer — The First Module

Tsukura Mixer replaces your Windows system mixer entirely. Every application that outputs audio gets its own dedicated channel strip — with the full processing power of a professional mixing console, routed to multiple outputs simultaneously.

  • Replaces the Windows system mixer — no virtual audio cables, no third-party drivers
  • Every audio-outputting application automatically gets its own channel strip
  • 3-column console layout: Inputs | Subgroups | MainOutput with draggable dividers
  • Per-process WASAPI Loopback Capture — captures each app independently at the system level
  • Input strips: one WASAPI session per strip, split-channel support for multi-stream apps
  • Live session auto-discovery every 2 seconds + IAudioSessionNotification watcher
  • Subgroup strips: 1/2/4/6/8 channel routing — group and process multiple inputs together
  • MainOutput: multiple freely selectable output devices simultaneously
  • Output device persists across sessions, auto-reactivates on device change
  • All DSP sections are collapsible accordion panels with individual pin support

Input Section

Every signal starts here — dial in the perfect pre-DSP level and routing before the signal even enters the processing chain.

  • Gain: −60 to +20 dB — pre-amplification before the entire DSP chain
  • High-Pass filter: 20 Hz – 18 kHz cutoff frequency
  • Low-Pass filter: 200 Hz – 20 kHz cutoff frequency
  • Mono button: Stereo / Left only / Right only / L+R Mix / All Channels — left-click toggles, right-click opens menu
  • Phase button: swap left and right channels (stereo inputs only)

Gate

Cut the noise between words, keystrokes, and room ambience — automatically and transparently, without touching the signal when you want it heard.

  • Threshold: −80 to 0 dB — level the signal must exceed to open the gate
  • Attack: 0.1 – 500 ms — how fast the gate opens after threshold is crossed
  • Release: 10 – 2000 ms — how fast the gate closes after signal drops below threshold
  • Reduction: 0 – 120 dB — attenuation when gate is closed (0 dB = transparent, 120 dB = silence)
  • Stereo-linked peak detector using CH 0 as sidechain
  • GR meter shows current gate gain reduction in real time

Compressor

Glue your mix together with studio-grade dynamics control — smooth out peaks and control dynamics without the sound ever feeling compressed.

  • Threshold: −60 to 0 dB — level at which compression begins
  • Ratio: 1:1 to 20:1 — compression ratio above threshold (20:1 ≈ limiting)
  • Attack: 0.1 – 200 ms — time for compression to fully engage after threshold is crossed
  • Hold: 0 – 500 ms — time compression stays active after signal drops below threshold
  • Release: 10 – 2000 ms — how fast the compressor recovers after a peak
  • Makeup Gain: −12 to +24 dB — compensate for gain lost through compression
  • Stereo-linked with GR meter

De-esser

Tame harsh sibilance with a single intelligent dual-control — surgical frequency-targeted reduction that leaves the rest of the signal untouched.

  • Frequency (outer ring): 2 – 12 kHz — center frequency for sibilance detection
  • Cut (inner knob): 0 to −24 dB — maximum attenuation when sibilance is detected
  • Bandpass sidechain detector: IIR filter, Q=1.5, 2 ms attack / 50 ms release
  • GR meter for real-time gain reduction feedback

5-Band Parametric EQ

Shape your sound with surgical precision — five fully parametric bands cover every frequency from sub-bass rumble to airy presence, all in a compact dual-ring control layout.

  • High Shelf (HS): 2–20 kHz corner frequency, ±12 dB — boost or cut all highs
  • High Mid (HM): 500 Hz–12 kHz, ±24 dB — parametric bell filter in upper midrange
  • Mid (M): 200 Hz–5 kHz, ±24 dB — parametric bell filter in the midrange
  • Low Mid (LM): 80–1500 Hz, ±24 dB — parametric bell filter in lower midrange
  • Low Shelf (LS): 30–500 Hz corner frequency, ±12 dB — boost or cut all lows
  • DoubleKnob design: outer ring = frequency, inner knob = gain — both axes in one control
  • Biquad IIR filters with per-buffer coefficient updates for glitch-free parameter changes

Leveler ⚡ Signature Feature

The Leveler is what sets Tsukura Mixer apart from every other Windows audio tool. It continuously monitors the long-term output level of each channel and automatically adjusts gain — so YouTube videos, Spotify, games, and voice calls all play at a consistent, comfortable volume without you ever touching a fader.

  • Automatically adjusts volume of YouTube, Spotify, games, voice apps, and any audio source
  • Monitors long-term average level — adapts slowly, never pumps or breathes
  • Delay: 0–2000 ms — configurable wait time before leveling begins (prevents pumping on short pauses)
  • Ideal target level: −40 to 0 dBFS — set once, Leveler handles the rest
  • Ceiling: set directly on the H2 (main) fader handle — hard upper limit the Leveler never exceeds
  • Floor: set directly on the H1 fader handle — minimum gain floor
  • IDL line + GR marker shown on the fader track while active — full visual feedback

Brickwall Limiter

Your last line of defense — instant-attack limiting ensures nothing ever clips, on every strip type, without adding any latency to your signal.

  • Threshold: −20 to 0 dBFS — hard ceiling, no sample ever exceeds this value
  • Release: 10–1000 ms — recovery time after a peak event
  • Instant attack — zero look-ahead, zero added latency
  • Stereo-linked with GR meter
  • Available on Input, Subgroup, and MainOutput strips

Insert Slots & VST3

Load your favorite plugins directly into any strip — seamlessly mix Tsukura's native DSP with your entire VST3 plugin library, with per-slot wet/dry blending.

  • Up to 4 VST3 inserts per strip (Input, Subgroup, and MainOutput)
  • Dynamic slot count — list grows and shrinks automatically with usage
  • Mute button [M] per slot — bypass individual plugins
  • Remove button [−] per slot
  • Double-click slot → opens the VST3 plugin editor window
  • Horizontal drag on a slot → Dry/Wet blend 0–100%
  • VST3 scan paths configurable in Preferences > VST Plugins with manual re-scan

Level Meter & Fader

Studio-grade metering and fader control that shows you exactly what's happening — from pre-DSP input all the way to the final output, on every strip.

  • Up to 8 channels per strip with adaptive bar width (7/5/4/3 px)
  • Color zones: Red / Yellow / Green; scale +6 to −48 dBFS
  • Hold-peak display with 0.979 decay factor
  • Pre/Post-fader metering toggle per strip (P button)
  • Cubase-style fader: range −∞ to +6 dB; double-click resets to 0 dB
  • Orange GR meter bar (5 px) right side of every dynamic section (Gate/Comp/De-esser/Leveler/Limiter)

Extensibility

Tsukura is built to grow with you — drop DLLs into a folder to add new modules, and deactivate anything you don't need with a single toggle.

  • Core Module API (CoreModuleInterface.h): drop DLLs into plugins/core/ to add new panels
  • Mixer DSP Module API (MixerModuleInterface.h): drop DLLs into plugins/mixer/ to add DSP sections
  • Each DSP module individually activatable/deactivatable in Preferences > Mixer
  • Deactivated modules disappear completely from all strips — no DSP overhead
  • VST3 plugin manager with configurable scan paths and manual re-scan button