Torus is a harmonic exciter and saturation processor. Audio runs through its modules in a fixed order — Harmonics, Saturator, Dynamics, Clip — and this manual follows the same path, ending with Global, where you set the mix and output level and the settings that affect the whole plugin.
Every module except Global has its own bypass, so you can hear what each one contributes.
Harmonics
The first stage. It generates harmonics of the incoming signal and blends them with it: One is the original fundamental, Two through Eight are the second- to eighth-order harmonics. A crossover can confine the effect to the frequencies above or below a chosen point.
Bypass
Bypasses the harmonic exciter section when enabled.
| Options | Off, On |
|---|---|
| Default | Off |
Crossover
Selects whether harmonic excitation is applied above or below the crossover frequency.
| Options | None, Low, High |
|---|---|
| Default | None |
Crossover frequency
The frequency above or below which harmonic excitation is applied.
| Range | 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz |
|---|---|
| Default | 632.5 Hz |
Levels (One to Eight)
One sets how much of the original fundamental is in the module's output. Two through Eight add the second- to eighth-order harmonics.
| Range | −∞ dB to 0 dB |
|---|
| Control | Default |
|---|---|
| One | 0 dB |
| Two | −∞ dB |
| Three | −∞ dB |
| Four | −∞ dB |
| Five | −∞ dB |
| Six | −∞ dB |
| Seven | −∞ dB |
| Eight | −∞ dB |
Response
How harmonic amplitude scales with input level. Higher values create more dynamic response.
| Range | 0% to 100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 0% |
Threshold
The level at which maximum excitation is applied.
| Range | −60 dB to 0 dB |
|---|---|
| Default | 0 dB |
Normalize
Scales the exciter output to match the input level, preventing volume increases.
| Range | 0% to 100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 0% |
Brightness
Tonal balance of the exciter. Positive values emphasize higher harmonics, negative values attenuate them.
| Range | −100% to +100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 0% |
Phase
Phase offset applied to the generated harmonics relative to the input signal.
| Range | −100% to +100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 0% |
Saturator
Drives the signal from Harmonics into saturation. Bias shifts the balance towards even harmonics, and Leveling adds more saturation to quieter passages.
Bypass
Bypasses the saturator section when enabled.
| Options | Off, On |
|---|---|
| Default | Off |
Bias
DC offset applied before saturation. Non-zero values produce more even harmonics.
| Range | −100% to +100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 0% |
DC Offset
When enabled, applies a DC blocking filter to remove the DC offset introduced by the bias control.
| Options | Off, On |
|---|---|
| Default | On |
Drive
Gain applied to the signal before the saturation stage. Higher values increase distortion.
| Range | 0 dB to 60 dB |
|---|---|
| Default | 0 dB |
Auto
When enabled, automatically attenuates the saturator output inversely to the drive amount to prevent loud level jumps.
| Options | Off, On |
|---|---|
| Default | On |
Leveling
Increases saturation of quieter passages.
| Range | 0% to 100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 0% |
Release
Release time of the envelope follower used for leveling.
| Range | 0.1 ms to 1,000 ms |
|---|---|
| Default | 100 ms |
Dynamics
A compressor/expander that shapes the level of the saturated signal.
Bypass
Bypasses the dynamics processor section when enabled.
| Options | Off, On |
|---|---|
| Default | Off |
Amount
How much compression to apply. At zero, the signal passes through unchanged.
| Range | 0% to 100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 0% |
Release
How quickly the dynamics processor returns to unity gain.
| Range | 0.1 ms to 1,000 ms |
|---|---|
| Default | 100 ms |
Threshold
Signal level below which dynamics processing begins to take effect.
| Range | −120 dB to 0 dB |
|---|---|
| Default | −60 dB |
Knee
How gradually compression transitions around the threshold. Higher values are softer.
| Range | 0% to 100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 10% |
Link
How much the left and right channels are linked for stereo processing.
Not on the plugin panel: set it from your DAW's automation or parameter list.
| Range | 0% to 100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 100% |
Clip
An anti-aliased clipper: the last processing stage, catching peaks before Global.
Bypass
Bypasses the clipper section when enabled.
| Options | Off, On |
|---|---|
| Default | Off |
Gain
Gain applied to the signal before the clipping stage.
| Range | 0 dB to 60 dB |
|---|---|
| Default | 0 dB |
Hardness
Sharpness of the clipping curve. Zero is soft clipping, full is hard clipping.
| Range | 0% to 100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 50% |
Global
Mix and Output sit on the Global panel. The rest of this section applies to the whole plugin too: the power button at the top, and Oversampling, Phase Mode and Lookahead in the settings menu.
Mix
Blend between the original dry signal and the fully processed wet signal.
| Range | 0% to 100% |
|---|---|
| Default | 100% |
Output
Gain applied to the signal after all processing stages.
| Range | −60 dB to +60 dB |
|---|---|
| Default | 0 dB |
Bypass
Bypasses all processing when enabled, passing the input signal through unchanged.
The power button at the top of the plugin.
| Options | Off, On |
|---|---|
| Default | Off |
Oversampling
Multiplier for the sample rate at which the signal is processed internally.
In the settings menu (gear icon), under Audio Settings.
| Options | 1X, 2X, 4X |
|---|---|
| Default | 2X |
Phase Mode
Selects between natural-phase processing and linear-phase processing, which costs latency.
In the settings menu (gear icon), under Audio Settings.
| Options | Natural Phase, Linear Phase (45 ms) |
|---|---|
| Default | Natural Phase |
Lookahead
How far ahead the dynamics and leveling stages look before they react. Longer follows peaks more accurately and costs latency.
In the settings menu (gear icon), under Audio Settings.
| Options | 0.6 ms, 5.3 ms, 10.6 ms |
|---|---|
| Default | 0.6 ms |