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Spark Rider

Ride vocal gain toward a target level before compression. Control the range and response, hold the ride through quiet gaps, or follow an instrumental on the Music sidechain.

€6.99one-time

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Windows 10 and 11
64-bit
VST3

Actual Spark Rider editor with a graphite faceplate, neutral controls and a light matte display — Actual Spark Rider 0.1.4 interface.

Automatic vocal gain riding
Optional Music sidechain
Boost, Cut or Both modes
Switchable lookahead
8 factory presets

Steady phrases.
A vocal that sits.

Keep vocal phrases steady with level riding, floor control and an optional music sidechain.

Target and Range

Set the phrase-level target from -40 to -6 dB. Range limits how far the rider can boost or cut, up to 12 dB each way.

Speed

Choose a slower, gradual ride or a faster response. Boosts move more slowly than cuts.

Floor

Hold the ride below the chosen floor instead of chasing pauses or noise. After a long pause, the held gain moves back toward zero.

Music sidechain

Route the instrumental to the optional Music input and set an offset. With no sidechain signal, Rider returns to the fixed Target.

Lookahead

Enable 20 ms lookahead to act ahead of a phrase. The latency is reported to the DAW; turn it off for zero-lookahead operation.

Write automation

Write the live gain ride to the host's Ride parameter lane. This lane is for inspection or copying to volume automation: its playback does not control Rider's audio.

A place to start.

Make small adjustments while listening in your session.

Start before compression, set Target near the desired vocal level and keep Range modest. Set Floor above the noise between phrases. Try the Music sidechain only after the fixed-target ride is working well.

Specs

Automatic vocal level riding for mono and stereo tracks.

Go to support

Format: VST3 and optional standalone app, 64-bit
System: Windows 10 and 11, 64-bitNo macOS version yet.
Processing: Vocal phrase-level detection and smoothed gain riding
Latency: 20 ms with lookahead; 0 ms without
Availability: Version 0.1.430-day free trial. Account activation required.

Spark Rider.
Automatic vocal level riding.

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