KIIVE XTRESSOR

1. Introduction

Inspired by a modern classic compressor found in almost every studio, Xtressor is the new ultimate multitool of compressors! With each ratio acting as its own compressor, Xtressor gives you the versatility of numerous compressors in one plugin! From crushing drums, to taming harsh vocals, Xtressor has it all. Add punch to your mixes using British mode or play with your second & third order harmonics using TYPE mode. Xtressor will give you a mixing advantage with its multitude of compression and saturation options!

System Requirements / Formats:

• Mac 64bit / M1 Native: VST3, AU, AAX
• Windows 64bit: VST3, AAX
• 1 GHz Intel Dual Core Processor or AMD equivalent (PC)
• 4GB of RAM
• Mac OS X 10.7 or higher, 10.14 or higher recommended
• Windows 7 & Above
• Screen res: 1024 x 768 or higher
• 64 bit DAW support only

The Xtressor unit is depicted as a dual-channel audio processing device with a front panel featuring numerous knobs, buttons, and displays for controlling its various functions. Each channel has controls for Input, Attack, Release, Output, Gain Reduction, Clipping, THD, Ratio, Mode, Saturation, and Warmth, along with power buttons.

2. Plugin Alliance Licensing System

Xtressor uses Plugin Alliance's proprietary licensing system, which is entirely software-based. No hardware license dongle, special drivers, or serial numbers are required. All licenses are stored in a single file on your computer or USB flash drive and must be updated when purchasing or starting a trial. Both online and offline activation are offered, with online activation being the recommended, fastest, and easiest process. An active Plugin Alliance account is required for activation; new accounts can be created for free on the Plugin Alliance website.

License Types

• Full License: Unlocks the plugin for unlimited use. Can be activated on up to 3 devices. Additional licenses can be purchased to extend device activation by 3 per license.
• Trial License: Allows a 14-day free trial of all plugin features. Can be activated on up to 99 devices, but remains active for only 14 days after the first activation.
• Lease Licenses: Valid for a specific period, often displayed as a countdown in the plugin's toolbar. Subscription licenses are a type of lease license, with payments handled automatically. Re-activation may be needed to refresh the license file.
• NFR (Not For Resale) License: Issued through promotions, these may have expiration dates or be unlimited and are non-transferable.

Installation

Xtressor can be installed via standalone installers or the Plugin Alliance Installation Manager.

Standalone Installers

Standalone installers are available on the Kiive Audio or Plugin Alliance websites, or via the Manage Registered Plugins page in your Plugin Alliance account. The same installer can be used for trials or full licenses. Separate installers are provided for Windows and MacOS. After downloading, run the installer and select the desired plugin formats (VST3, AAX, AU), which depend on your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

Plugin Alliance Installation Manager

Xtressor is available through the Plugin Alliance Installation Manager. This manager allows you to select Xtressor and its formats, installing it directly onto your DAW or transferring it to an offline machine.

To begin, download the Installation Manager for your system (MacOS or Windows) from the Plugin Alliance website. Extract the zip file and move the application to your Applications folder (MacOS) or Program Files folder (Windows).

Online Installation

If your DAW computer has an internet connection, use the Plugin Alliance Installation Manager on that computer. Select "Download/Install" in the sidebar. Search for "Xtressor" and filter by desired formats (64-bit VST2, VST3, AAX, or AU). Click "Download & Install". Once downloaded, click "Install" to make Xtressor available in compatible DAWs.

Offline Installation on a Computer

For offline installation, you first need an internet-connected computer to create an installation package.

1. On the online computer, run the Plugin Alliance Installation Manager and select "Download/Export". Choose the platform (Mac or Windows 64-bit) for your offline device.
2. Search for "Xtressor" and filter by desired formats.
3. Click "Download & Export". After download, click "Save As" to choose a removable drive for the install package (named Installer.pabundle by default). Also copy the Plugin Alliance Installation Manager app to the removable drive.
4. Transfer the removable drive to your offline computer. Copy the Installation Manager to the appropriate folder (Applications or Program Files) and run it.
5. Select "Import/Install" in the sidebar, click "Import", and select the install package. The manager will verify the package, and an "Install" button will appear. Click it to install Xtressor.

Activation

After installation, start your DAW. Most DAWs initiate the activation process when the plugin is first instantiated. Pro Tools may show the activation window during its startup scan.

Activation Process

Click on the "Activation Required" text within the Xtressor window to open the activation dialog. You can choose which device to activate (your computer or a connected USB drive). Selecting "Activate all my licenses" will activate all available, valid licenses from your Plugin Alliance account. Any activation issues will be displayed with a descriptive message.

All Plugin Alliance plugins share a single license file, meaning activating Xtressor in one DAW (e.g., Pro Tools) makes it active in others (e.g., Logic) on the same computer, provided you are logged into the same user account or using the same USB drive. Logging into a different Plugin Alliance account during activation will replace your current license file.

Online Activation

Choose "I'm online" in the activation window. Enter your Plugin Alliance account email and password to connect to the server and automatically download your license file. You can opt to save your login details for future activations. Xtressor will activate if a valid license exists; otherwise, a 14-day trial can be started.

Offline Activation

For computers without internet access, activation must be done manually using another computer with internet.

First-time Offline Activation:

1. On the online computer, log into your Plugin Alliance account. Start a trial or purchase a license for Xtressor.
2. In the Xtressor activation window on the offline computer, choose "I'm offline". Select "Save to file" and save the text file (named machine_id.txt) to a removable drive.
3. Take the drive to your online computer. Go to Plugin Alliance's "Create Offline License" page, select Xtressor, and click "Create License".
4. Visit Plugin Alliance's "Manage Devices" page, upload the machine_id.txt file in the "Activate New Device" section, and click "Activate".
5. Download the license file from the "Download License File" section to your removable drive.
6. Take the drive back to your offline computer. In the Xtressor activation window, click "Open license", select the pa.license file, and click "Activate".

Offline Activation for Existing Devices:

If a device is already registered in your Plugin Alliance account, you can activate Xtressor without needing the machine_id.txt file.

1. On the online computer, go to Plugin Alliance's "Manage Registered Plugins" page.
2. Select Xtressor and your computer from the dropdown menu under "Activate Existing Device", then click "Activate".
3. Download the license file from the "Download License File" section to a removable drive.
4. Take the drive to your offline computer. In the Xtressor activation window, click "I'm offline", "Open license", select the pa.license file, and click "Activate".

USB Activation

Xtressor can be activated on a USB flash drive for portability. This allows you to run Xtressor on any computer without needing to activate the computer itself, which is useful for touring engineers. It is recommended to activate the USB drive via an online computer.

1. Insert the USB flash drive and ensure it's mounted.
2. On an online computer with Xtressor installed, open it in your DAW. Open the activation window (click the ? icon).
3. Select your flash drive from the "Select the device" dropdown and click "I'm online".
4. Enter your Plugin Alliance account credentials. Click "Activate" to save the license file to the flash drive.

Note: Some older USB drives may not be supported.

Deactivation

Full licenses can be active on 3 devices simultaneously. Licenses can be moved to new machines or reclaimed from lost/broken devices. License data is stored remotely on Plugin Alliance's servers.

To deactivate: Log into your Plugin Alliance account, go to "Manage Devices", find the device, and click "Deactivate". Trial licenses cannot be reclaimed but offer 99 available machines.

Reformatting a computer or drive does not require deactivation, as the system recognizes the machine ID. However, significant hardware changes on Windows might alter the machine ID, requiring re-activation. USB Activation is an alternative if this occurs frequently.

A single plugin license cannot be reclaimed from more than seven different machines. Deactivating the same machine multiple times does not count against this limit.

Plugin Toolbar

The Plugin Alliance toolbar appears below the Xtressor interface, providing access to plugin information.

• PA Logo: Clicking this logo redirects to the Plugin Alliance website via your web browser if online.
• License Type: Displays the current license type and, if applicable, the number of days until expiration.
• $ Icon: For trial or financed licenses, this icon links to the Plugin Alliance website for purchasing a full license or making payments.
• ? Key Icon: Opens the activation window to refresh license files, activate new purchases/trials, or activate a connected flash drive.
• ? Icon: Opens a context menu linking to the product page and downloads section on the Plugin Alliance website.

For assistance with installation or activation issues, contact Plugin Alliance Tech Support.

3. Top Bar Controls

The top bar of the Xtressor interface contains several utility controls:

• PRESETS: Selects from presets created by Kiive Audio, featured artists, or user-saved presets. (Icon: ▶️)
• GAIN LINK: Compensates for input level changes by adjusting output level, ensuring consistent volume. It is enabled by default.
• OVSMP (Oversampling): Sets the oversampling rate, defaulting to Off but adjustable up to 16x. Higher oversampling increases CPU usage but can reduce aliasing. (Value shown: 4X)
• UNDO/REDO: Allows moving back and forth through the history of changes made to the plugin's controls. (Icon: ↩️↪️)
• A B: Switches between two saved states of the plugin, useful for comparing different settings.
• Settings: Accesses GUI resize controls (75% to 150%, defaults to 100%) and displays the plugin version and information. (Icon: ⚙️)
• WIDTH: Adjusts the stereo image of the entire plugin. (Value shown: 50%)

4. Main Controls

The main section of the Xtressor interface features controls for compression and saturation.

Channel Controls (Left/Mid and Right/Side)

The plugin has two identical channel strips, labeled Left/Mid and Right/Side, each with the following controls:

• INPUT: Controls the input gain of the signal before it enters the compression stage.
• OUTPUT: Controls the output gain of the signal after it exits the compression stage. This control is set automatically when auto gain is enabled; changing it disables auto gain.
• RATIOS: Toggles between 8 distinct ratios. Each ratio functions as a separate compressor, offering significant versatility. The available ratios are: 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1, 10:1, 20:1, and NUKE.
• ATTACK: Controls the attack time of the compressor. The range is from 0 to 10, with the exact ms time response varying with each ratio.
• RELEASE: Controls the release time of the compressor. The range is from 0 to 10, with the exact ms time response varying with each ratio.
• STEREO IMAGE LINK: Links the left and right channel controls when engaged, and sums the detector path for stereo compression.
• BRITISH MODE: Engages an "all buttons in" effect, usable with any ratio. A recommended starting point is a 1:1 ratio with an attack time under 4.
• SC MODES (Sidechain Modes):
  • HP: Engages a high-pass filter in the detector circuit.
  • BELL: Engages a wide bell boost around 6kHz to tame harsh mid-range frequencies.
  • LINK: Can be used to drive the internal compression signal for a greater boost.
• TYPE MODES:
  • HP: Engages a high-pass filter to cut frequencies below 80Hz.
  • DS2: Emphasizes 2nd harmonic distortion.
  • DS3: Emphasizes 3rd harmonic distortion.
• SATURATION: Generates musical 2nd order harmonic content.
• WARMTH: Adjusts a high-frequency (HF) gain control circuit/limiter to attenuate harsh frequencies, providing a warm sound that mimics tape saturation.
• COMP MIX: Blends between the dry and wet signals of the compressor circuit.
• SAT MIX: Blends between the dry and wet signals of the saturation circuit.
• XTRESSOR MODE: Switches between mono, stereo, and mid/side versions of the plugin.
• POWER: Engages or disengages the respective channel. (Icon: ?)

The main controls are visually represented by a detailed front panel of the Xtressor unit, showing two identical channel strips with numerous labeled knobs and buttons, mirroring the descriptions above.

5. Troubleshooting

1. Re-read the "Setup" section of this manual.
2. Check the Kiive Audio FAQ for existing solutions to your issue.
3. If your issue is not listed, contact support@kiiveaudio.com. Provide your plugin version, a detailed description of the issue, and the steps required to reproduce it.