DIVIDE
MANUAL
Divide is a multiband plugin host. It splits your audio into up to 5 independent frequency bands, lets you load any VST3 or AU plugin into each band and master slot, and sums everything back together , with per-slot M/S processing, sidechain routing, and bus outputs per band. Divide runs a full surround signal path, supporting channel layouts from mono and stereo up to 9.1.6.
INSTALLATION
Windows
macOS
ACTIVATION
When you load Divide for the first time, an activation window will appear. Enter your serial key from your dashboard or your confirmation email.
Example: A3F2-91BC-4D7E-F088
Divide can be activated on 1 machine on the free trial, and up to 2 machines on a full license. To transfer a license to a new machine, sign in to your dashboard and manage your activations.
Trial users: Your serial key is included in your welcome email and is visible in your dashboard. The trial is fully functional for 14 days , no credit card required.
SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 or later, 64-bit |
| macOS | macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later , Intel and Apple Silicon (Universal Binary) |
| Plugin Formats | VST3, AAX (Pro Tools 12+), AU (macOS only) |
| RAM | 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended |
| CPU | Multi-core processor recommended (SIMD optimised) |
INTERFACE
OVERVIEW
The Divide interface is divided into three main areas: the Spectrum Analyzer at the top, the Band Chains in the middle, and the Master Section at the bottom.
Header Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Bypass | Globally bypasses all processing. Audio passes through unaffected. |
| A/B | Toggles between two states for quick comparison. A and B are independent snapshots of your entire setup. |
| Lock | Locks all crossover handles to prevent accidental movement. |
| Reset | Resets all crossover frequencies to their default positions. |
SPECTRUM
ANALYZER
The spectrum analyzer displays a real-time FFT of your signal with each frequency band highlighted in its own colour. An input reference overlay shows the pre-processing signal for easy before/after comparison.
Band Colours
| Band | Colour |
|---|---|
| Band 1 (Low) | Orange |
| Band 2 (Low Mid) | Yellow |
| Band 3 (Mid) | Green |
| Band 4 (High Mid) | Blue |
| Band 5 (High) | Purple |
| Master | Red |
Crossover Handles
Drag the handles on the spectrum to set crossover frequencies. Handles snap to a minimum 20Hz separation to prevent overlap. Double-click a handle to enter an exact frequency numerically.
BAND SETUP
Each of the 5 bands has its own header row showing the current frequency range, and contains up to 5 plugin slots. Bands are processed in parallel and summed together before the master section.
Band Header Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Solo | Isolates this band for monitoring. Other bands are dimmed in the spectrum display. |
| Bypass | Bypasses all plugins in this band only. The band still passes audio. |
| Presets | Right-click to save or load a band chain preset. Up to 5 slots. |
| Frequency Range | Displays the current frequency range of this band, updating live as you move crossovers. |
LOADING
PLUGINS
Each band and master slot can host any VST3 or AU plugin installed on your system. Divide scans your plugin folders on first launch and presents them in the built-in plugin browser.
First time? Press the Scan Plugins button in the plugin browser to search your computer for all installed VST3 and AU plugins. This only needs to be done once, or whenever you install new plugins.
Slot Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Wet/Dry Knob | Controls the wet/dry mix for this slot. Coloured to match the band. Value displays above the knob. |
| M/S | Sets the M/S processing mode for this slot: Stereo, Mid, or Side. Assignable independently per slot. See M/S Mode. |
| Drag Handle | Drag a slot to reorder it within the band chain. |
| Right-click | Opens the slot context menu: Copy, Paste, Clear. |
| Copy / Paste | Copies a plugin and its state to a clipboard shared across all bands and master. Paste into any slot. |
| Favourite | Mark a loaded plugin as a favourite to pin it for fast access later, so your most-used effects are quick to find and reload. |
Note: Plugin GUIs open as always-on-top floating windows. Close them before saving your DAW session to avoid layout issues on reload.
MASTER
SECTION
The master section sits after all 5 bands are summed. It contains 3 plugin slots and processes the combined output of all bands , ideal for final compression, limiting, or stereo glue.
The output clip indicator in the master header turns red when the output exceeds 0dBFS. Click it to reset.
M/S MODE
Mid/Side processing is assigned per plugin slot, not just per band. Each individual slot can be switched between Stereo, Mid, or Side independently using the M/S button on that slot. This lets you process the centre and sides of your stereo signal independently at any point in the chain, and even mix M/S modes within a single band.
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Stereo | Standard stereo processing. The plugin in this slot receives the full stereo signal. |
| Mid | The plugin in this slot processes only the Mid (centre) signal. |
| Side | The plugin in this slot processes only the Side (stereo width) signal. |
SIDECHAIN
Any plugin slot across any band can receive a dedicated sidechain signal. This lets you trigger compression, gating, or any custom processing from an external source , at the specific frequency range you choose.
BAND BUS
OUTPUT
Each band can be routed to one of Divide's 4 stereo bus outputs. This sends the band's processed audio to a dedicated output in your DAW, where you can apply your DAW's native plugins and effects independently.
Availability: Per-band bus outputs are currently supported in Pro Tools and Reaper only, as these hosts expose the multi-output routing Divide requires. In other DAWs, all bands are summed to the main output inside Divide.
Example: Route Band 1 (low frequencies) to Bus 1, apply your DAW's native compressor on that bus, then blend it back into your mix , all while keeping the other bands processing inside Divide.
PRESETS
Divide presets capture the complete plugin state via your DAW's standard preset system — all band plugins, crossover positions, bus assignments, and master chain.
Trial users: Save/load presets requires a full license.
TECHNICAL
SPECS
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Max Bands | 5 + master section |
| Slots per Band | 5 |
| Master Slots | 3 |
| Filter Type | 512-tap linear-phase FIR crossover |
| Latency | DAW auto-compensated |
| Bit Depth | 32-bit float |
| Channel Support | Mono / stereo up to 9.1.6 surround |
| Bus Outputs | 4 × stereo (Pro Tools / Reaper) |
| Plugin Formats | VST3, AAX, AU (macOS) |
| Activations (Trial) | 1 machine |
| Activations (Full) | 2 machines |
FAQ
TROUBLE-
SHOOTING
Divide doesn't appear in Pro Tools
Clear the AAX plugin cache and relaunch Pro Tools. On Windows: C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Local\Avid\Pro Tools\AAX PlugIn Cache. On macOS: ~/Library/Caches/Avid/Pro Tools/.
Plugins don't appear in the browser
Trigger a rescan from the plugin browser menu. Make sure your plugins are installed to the standard system VST3 or AU folders , custom install paths may not be scanned automatically.
Audio is out of sync with other tracks
Divide reports its latency to the DAW for automatic compensation. If tracks are misaligned, check that plugin delay compensation (PDC) is enabled in your DAW. In Pro Tools this is on by default.
A hosted plugin crashes on load
Some older or poorly coded plugins may be unstable when hosted inside another plugin. Try loading the plugin directly in your DAW first to confirm it works. If the issue persists, contact us at support@divideplugin.com.
Still stuck? Email us at support@divideplugin.com and include your OS, DAW version, and a description of the issue.