Auburn Sounds Lens Master Bus Tutorial: Gentle Glue & Control Guide

This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to apply subtle, transparent control on your master bus using Lens. The goal is glue, clarity, and balance — not heavy compression.

Step 1: Insert Lens on the Master Bus

Place Lens before your limiter in the signal chain.

Example chain:

Lens should gently shape dynamics before final loudness processing.

Step 2: Set the Selectivity (Bands)

• Set Selectivity to 24–32 bands.

This keeps the processing smooth and musical.
Avoid very high band counts (like 64) on the master unless you need very precise control.

Step 3: Dial in Gentle Compression

Compressor Settings:

• Ratio: 1.8:1 – 2.2:1

• Attack: 20–40 ms

• Release: 100–250 ms

Now slowly lower the Threshold until you see about:

✅ 1–2 dB of average gain reduction

If you see 3–4 dB or more constantly, reduce the threshold.

The goal is subtle glue — not audible pumping.

Step 4: Adjust Band Linking

Set Band Linking to Medium or High.

This makes Lens behave more like a traditional bus compressor instead of compressing each frequency independently.

Result: more cohesion, less unnatural movement.

Step 5: Use Parallel Blend (Very Important)

Lens works beautifully in parallel mode.

• Wet: 60–75%

• Dry: 25–40%

This keeps your transients punchy while adding smooth control underneath.

If the mix loses impact, increase Dry slightly.

Step 6: Optional Tone Refinements

Sidechain EQ (Cleaner Low End)

Reduce sensitivity below 40–60 Hz
→ Prevents the sub-bass from triggering too much compression.

Output EQ (Very Subtle Moves)

• +0.5 dB high shelf at 10 kHz (for brightness)

• −0.5 dB around 250–350 Hz (if muddy)

On a master bus, small moves are powerful.

What You Should Hear

✔ Tighter low end
✔ Vocals more controlled
✔ Smoother highs
✔ More cohesive mix
✔ No obvious pumping

If you clearly hear compression working, it’s probably too much.

Final Tip

Lens is for control and glue, not loudness.

Let your limiter handle final volume.
Keep Lens subtle, musical, and transparent.