Hey Plugheads,
You already know Iām always on the hunt for those small but mighty tools that can seriously level up your workflowāand today, Iāve got a gem for you. Let me introduce you to TBPA Volume by TBProAudio.
Now before you scroll away thinking, āJust another volume plugin?ā ā hold up. This oneās different. Itās not here to replace your mix console fader; itās here to do the job your console canāt ā giving you surgical volume controlinside your plugin chains, without disrupting your whole gain structure.
Why TBPA Volume is More Than Just a Fader
You know those moments when youāre automating or tweaking a chain ā maybe from a saturation plugin into a compressor ā and suddenly your levels start acting wild? You end up compensating manually, or worse, ruining the flow with messy gain staging. TBPA Volume slides right in like a studio ninja and keeps your volume clean, controllable, and click-free.
Whether youāre automating modulation curves, fine-tuning mid/side levels, or just adjusting gain transparently between inserts, this plugin stays out of the way sonically while giving you full control over dynamics.
Hereās What Iām Loving About It š§
- Click-free 64-bit internal processingĀ ā smooth as silk. No pops, no clicks, even during intense automations.
- Master + L/M and R/S fadersĀ ā precision control over stereo and mid/side balance.
- Customizable min/max volumeĀ ā great for creative modulation or strict control.
- Smart lockingĀ ā set the max to 0 dB or use min as negative infinity. So clean.
- Volume modulation displayĀ ā visually track whatās going on under the hood.
- Smooth parameter interpolationĀ ā no harsh jumps or artifacts.
- Low aliasingĀ ā perfect for high-frequency or fast gain changes.
- Sample accurate automationĀ (VST3/CLAP/AU) ā yes, you can go surgical with your envelopes.
- Free GUI scalingĀ ā looks great on any screen.
- Preset managementĀ ā handy for recalling setups across sessions.
How I Use It in My Chains šļø
Let me give you a few real-world Plughead applications:
- Post-saturation level controlĀ ā I drop TBPA Volume right after a gritty tape or tube emulation to tame the output before hitting compression. Itās cleaner than using output knobs that color the tone.
- Volume automation with zero clicksĀ ā ideal for LFO-style swells or creative stutter effects.
- Mid/Side balancingĀ ā want to subtly pull your sides down before mastering? Or push the mid just a little without affecting stereo width? This is the cleanest way Iāve found.
- Parallel processing chainsĀ ā great to use in your parallel drum bus, allowing you to blend at the perfect level without fiddling with group faders.
Final Thoughts ā Small Plugin, Big Power ā”
Look, TBPA Volume isnāt flashy ā but thatās the point. Itās a workhorse utility that fits perfectly into your rig and keeps your signal flow tidy, transparent, and flexible. Once you try it, youāll wonder how you managed without it.
Plus, itās lightweight and CPU-friendly, so Iām literally throwing it everywhere now.
DOWNLOADS:
If youāre into precise control, clean automation, and better gain staging (and I know you Plugheads are), grab this plugin and start experimenting. Sometimes the best tools are the ones that just work, and this is one of them.
Let me know in the comments how youād use it, or tag me in your setups ā Iād love to see it in action!
Until next time,
Endrin a.k.a. Sheen
 
                         
         
         
        