PC-2
Key Features
- Psychoacoustic relevance mode uses a perceptual loudness model instead of peak or RMS detection for more natural-sounding compression
- Advanced attack and release stages modeled on human auditory nerve adaptation, minimizing pumping and breathing artifacts
- Switchable between psychoacoustic and conventional compression modes for maximum flexibility
- Transparent compression characteristic maintained even with very short attack and release settings
- Clean, compact interface with essential controls: threshold, ratio, attack, release, and gain
- Part of the JB VST Plugin Bundle alongside 16 other Jeroen Breebaart effects including Barricade limiter and Ferox tape simulator
Description
PC-2 is a psychoacoustic compressor plugin developed by Jeroen Breebaart that takes a fundamentally different approach to dynamics processing. Rather than relying on conventional peak or RMS-level estimation, it uses a perceptual loudness model to analyze the input signal in a way that mirrors how the human ear actually perceives volume.
This psychoacoustic approach is paired with advanced attack and release stages that model peripheral adaptation of the human auditory nerve. The result is exceptionally transparent compression that avoids the intermodulation distortion and pumping artifacts that plague traditional compressor designs, even at aggressive settings with very short attack and release times.
The plugin provides standard compressor controls including threshold, ratio, attack, release, and makeup gain, all organized in a clean, compact interface. A dedicated mode switch lets you toggle between the psychoacoustic relevance mode and a conventional compression algorithm, making it versatile enough for situations where either approach is preferred.
PC-2 was originally released as a standalone plugin and later included in the JB VST Plugin Bundle alongside other Breebaart tools like Barricade, Ferox, and Broadcast. Jeroen Breebaart went on to found ToneBoosters, where many of the psychoacoustic concepts pioneered in PC-2 evolved into commercial products.
Despite its age, PC-2 remains a capable tool for producers who value clean, transparent compression on individual tracks and buses.
Note that PC-2 is a legacy 32-bit plugin for Windows only. Users running modern 64-bit DAWs will need a 32-bit to 64-bit bridge such as jBridge or 32 Lives to load it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes PC-2 different from a standard compressor?
PC-2 uses a perceptual loudness model based on psychoacoustic research to determine how loud a signal actually sounds to the human ear, rather than simply measuring peak or RMS levels. This approach, combined with attack and release stages modeled on the human auditory nerve, produces noticeably more transparent compression with fewer artifacts like pumping and breathing.
Does PC-2 work in 64-bit DAWs?
PC-2 is a 32-bit VST plugin, so it requires a 32-bit to 64-bit bridge like jBridge (Windows) to run in modern 64-bit DAWs. Without a bridge, it will not appear in your plugin list on current versions of FL Studio, Ableton Live, or other 64-bit hosts.
Is Jeroen Breebaart still developing PC-2?
No, PC-2 is a legacy plugin that is no longer actively developed. Jeroen Breebaart went on to found ToneBoosters, where many of the psychoacoustic compression concepts from PC-2 have been refined and expanded into modern commercial products like TB Compressor.
Can I switch between psychoacoustic and traditional compression modes?
Yes, PC-2 includes a mode switch that lets you toggle between the psychoacoustic relevance mode and a conventional peak/RMS compression algorithm. This makes it useful for comparing both approaches on the same material and choosing whichever sounds best for the situation.
