Lemur Audio - ESTER 2 v2.0.0 VST3, AAX for Windows

• Decoupled Pre-EQ Tube Architecture: Places the valve saturation stage ahead of the passive filter network, allowing you to dial in tube density once with auto-gain compensation without altering downstream EQ curves.
• Sculpt Generated Harmonics: Shape tube distortion using the EQ filters—tame harsh upper-order grit with HIGH CUT or filter out saturated sub rumble with LOW CUT.
• Dual Valve Topologies:
  • 6072A (12AY7 Variant): Early-onset, warm, and musical saturation with linear harmonic buildup across the dial.
  • 6N1P (Soviet Dual Triode): Extended clean headroom that breaks into aggressive, bite-heavy harmonic saturation in the upper register.
• Zero-Gain-Shift INPUT TRIM (±24 dB): Automatically balances internal makeup gain so adjusting drive alters color, texture, and density rather than perceived volume.
• 5 Interactive Passive Filter Bands: LOW CUT, LOW BOOST, MID CUT, HIGH BOOST, and HIGH CUT sharing a unified passive electrical network where bands organically interact.
• Classic Low-End Trick: Simultaneous boost and cut on shared low frequencies to carve out muddy boxiness while reinforcing sub-weight.
• Visual Harmonic Meter: Central glowing valve tube meter visually indicates real-time generated harmonic distortion products.
• Independent SAT Bypass: Instantly bypass the tube saturation circuitry without resetting EQ settings or filter curves.
• Stepped Precision Rotary Controls: True calibrated stepped frequency switches ensure exact recall across mixing and mastering sessions.

Vintage Tube Warmth Meets Intuitive Passive Equalization
In classic hardware valve equalizers, the audio signal typically passes through an input valve, a passive inductor/capacitor filter network, and an output makeup valve. While musical, boosting high frequencies into a trailing valve pushes the tube into unintended distortion, forcing engineers to continually readjust their gain staging.

Lemur Audio Ester solves this fundamental limitation with an innovative architectural design: the multi-stage tube circuit is consolidated into a dedicated pre-EQ valve stage. Coloration and tone shaping are separated into two distinct, predictable processes. You set the exact harmonic density and tube flavor using the gain-compensated INPUT TRIM, and then shape the resulting tonal balance using broad, musical passive curves.

Organic Interacting Circuit Physics
Because passive EQ bands share a single underlying electrical network, the overall frequency curve is never a simple mathematical summation of isolated bands. In Ester, moving one knob subtly loads and shifts neighboring filters, creating the deep, cohesive musicality that made vintage passive hardware iconic across vocal buses, drum groups, and mix masters.

Selectable Tube Modes & Drive Control:

• 6072A Dual Triode (Default Initialization):

  • Modeled after classic vintage American dual triodes.
  • Smooth, rich, and progressive saturation that begins gently and thickens across the entire ±24 dB trim range.
  • Enhances even-order harmonics for lush midrange and acoustic body.

• 6N1P Dual Triode:

  • Modeled after heavy-duty Soviet military-spec dual triodes.
  • High headroom that remains pristine at moderate input levels, then transitions rapidly into aggressive, sharp drive when driven hard.
  • Adds bite, punch, and presence to drums, electric guitars, and aggressive vocals.

• Level-Compensated INPUT TRIM:

  • Spans ±24 dB of drive calibration.
  • Automated internal makeup attenuation ensures output volume remains constant, enabling honest A/B comparisons without volume bias.

• Visual Tube Meter & SAT Switch:

  • The central valve filament glows dynamically in proportion to total generated harmonic saturation.
  • Click SAT to bypass the tube modeling stage entirely for ultra-clean passive EQ filtering.

5-Band Passive Filter Architecture:

• LOW BOOST (+16 dB max):

  • Stepped rotary selector: 20, 40, 60, 100, 140 Hz.
  • Broad resonant bell curve designed to inject sub-weight and foundation.

• LOW CUT (−18 dB max):

  • Stepped rotary selector: 30, 40, 100, 400 Hz.
  • Smooth high-pass shelf that works in tandem with LOW BOOST to scoop out low-mid mud.

• MID CUT (−16 dB max):

  • Stepped rotary selector: 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 Hz.
  • Broad dip contour that declutters boxiness and cleans vocal/instrument body without creating unnatural phase notches.

• HIGH BOOST:

  • Stepped high-frequency selector for injecting open, silky top-end air without digital harshness.

• HIGH CUT:

  • Smooth low-pass slope to roll off excessive high-end sizzle or tame aggressive tube drive harmonics.

Plugin Profile:

• Supported Formats: VST3 (64-bit), AAX Native (64-bit)
• Audio Processing: 64-bit internal floating-point DSP
• Sample Rate Support: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
• Channel Configurations: Mono and Stereo track instances

Compatible Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs):

• Image-Line FL Studio
• Ableton Live (All 64-bit versions)
• Steinberg Cubase / Nuendo
• PreSonus Studio One
• Cockos REAPER
• Bitwig Studio
• Avid Pro Tools (AAX Native 64-bit)

Installation Steps:

1. System Prerequisite:

   • Ensure the latest TEAM R2R System runtime package is installed on your Windows operating system.

2. Base Installation:

   • Run the provided setup installer as Administrator (Right-click -> Run as administrator).
   • Select your required formats (VST3, AAX) and confirm installation paths.
   • Complete the installation wizard.

3. Activation & Verification:

   • The plugin communicates directly with the installed TEAM R2R System environment.
   • Launch your DAW and perform a plugin rescan.
   • Insert Ester onto any audio track or master bus. The plugin will launch pre-activated and ready for immediate studio use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

• Q: Why doesn't the master volume change when I crank INPUT TRIM?
  A: Ester features internal automatic gain compensation; turning up INPUT TRIM pushes the tube harder into saturation and compression while automatically lowering the post-tube level to match unity gain.
• Q: How do I achieve the classic Pultec low-end trick?
  A: Set both LOW BOOST and LOW CUT to the same frequency (e.g., 60 Hz). Turn both knobs up; because the boost and cut curves have slightly different slopes and bandwidths, this creates a tight low-end lift while simultaneously scooping out the muddy lower-mids directly above it.