IHNY-2 splits the incoming audio into two streams and the joystick allows you to mix between the compressor's output called "Wet" with the "Dry" or original audio input. The horizontal axis has the extremes of Minimum and Maximum compression amounts. So rather than trying to decode a compressor's gain reduction and output meters, you'll dial in a great compressor sound quickly.

IHNY-2 has both an algorithmic auto-gain feature to keep the level under control plus a separate Output fader. This new version has seven internal parameters available in a retractable, show/hide panel labeled Tweak. These parameters are graphically represented and are adjustable and saved with all presets.

The Tweak parameters are: Attack Release, Compression Ratio, Punch emphasizes attack transients that are lost with deep compression, Harmonics is the level of additional saturation, Shape is a kind of "smiley EQ", Tilt is a "see-saw" EQ that has a center pivot point for carefully dialing in the ratio of brightness to bottom end, finally Lo + Hi Preserve keeps the low and high frequencies from being compressed above or below set cutoff points.

First job in a Pro Tools mix: stereo bus compression/limiting for achieving an aggressive power to a stereo mix. There are loads of clever presets in the factory folder to get you started and I picked one called "hip hop punchy" for a modern dance track. For first-timers like me, I would recommend turning on Tool-Tips so when mousing over anything you can know what your doing and changing!

Hip Hop punchy comes up extreme but it was easy to dial it back to fit this song. Another good preset is "bussin-skyler"--it was more natural sounding with little to tweak. But there are lots of presets for individual instruments and vocals. All are worthwhile to check out, there is an intro price of $39 and IHNY-2 is Mac M1 compatible and comes in all the popular plugin formats!

babyaud.io/ihny-2.