TDR Nova: What Every Control Does, When to Go Dynamic, and a Settings Chart by Job

The short answer: TDR Nova is a free dynamic EQ from Tokyo Dawn Labs: four EQ bands that can each work as a normal static EQ or turn dynamic, so they only cut (or boost) when the problem frequency gets loud, plus high-pass and low-pass filters and a wideband compressor. Use it where a static cut would make the quiet parts dull: esses, harsh notes on loud lines, one boomy bass note, cymbals that bite only in the drop. Set the band's frequency and Q, turn on its Threshold, then lower the threshold until the band only moves on the problem moments. It's not a character EQ. It's a problem solver, and it's free.

Taming esses and harsh spots without dulling the track is a job on every vocal and master I've released (Sony, Universal, Ultra, Dim Mak, 50M+ streams). The settings below are the starting points I'd give anyone opening Nova for the first time, then you adjust by ear.

What Nova actually is

A normal EQ band does the same thing all the time: cut 3 dB at 6 kHz and every word loses 3 dB at 6 kHz, the soft ones included. A dynamic band listens to its own frequency range and only applies the move when that range crosses a threshold. That's the whole idea, and it's why Nova shows up in so many of our lists: it's the free pick in the best EQ plugins, the best de-esser plugins, and the best multiband compressor plugins.

Two practical notes before you download:

• Get it from tokyodawn.net only. It's free there. Formats and supported systems are listed on the download page, so check that it supports your DAW and OS.
• There's a paid version, Nova GE. Tokyo Dawn describes it as adding more bands, more flexible dynamics, equal loudness functions and other workflow features. The free version is enough for every job in this post; check TDR's site for the current comparison.

Every control, explained

Labels and ranges can change between versions, so treat the plugin window and TDR's manual as the authority. The manual also covers band linking modes (Split and Sticky) if you want the bands to ignore the wideband compressor.

Static vs dynamic: the decision that matters

Ask one question before you touch a band: does the problem happen all the time, or only sometimes?

• All the time (a constant low-mid buildup, a resonance in a sample on every hit): a static cut does the job, and your stock EQ is just as good.
• Only sometimes (esses, a harsh note when the singer pushes, one bass note that booms, hats that spike in the loud section): go dynamic. Leave the band's Gain at 0, turn on Threshold, and let the band cut only when the frequency gets loud.

The second case is where Nova earns its reputation. A static cut big enough to fix the loud moment dulls every quiet moment too. How to fix harsh vocals walks through the same decision on a lead vocal.

TDR Nova settings chart: starting points by job

These are starting points with a dynamic band (Gain at 0, Threshold on). Exact values depend on the source and how hot it hits the plugin; set the threshold by watching the band move, not by number.

On a master, everything is smaller: 1 to 2 dB of dynamic reduction is a lot. The bass-under-kick row only works if your DAW can route a sidechain into Nova; what sidechain compression is covers the routing idea.

How to set up a dynamic band

1. Find the problem first. Solo a band (the manual lists the modifier shortcut), boost it, and sweep until the problem jumps out. Then set Gain back to 0.
2. Set the shape and Q. Bell for a specific spot. Narrower for a resonance or a single note, wider for a general harshness range.
3. Turn on the band's Threshold. The band is now dynamic.
4. Lower the threshold while the music plays. Stop when the band moves on the problem moments and rests on the rest. If it's moving all the time, the threshold is too low or the problem is static.
5. Set the timing. Fast attack for esses and spikes, slower attack and release on low end so you don't distort the waveform or hear it pump.
6. Level-match and A/B. Match the output to the bypassed level and compare. Turn on EQ Gain if you want Nova to compensate automatically.
7. Check the quiet parts. The test of a good dynamic band is that the soft lines sound untouched.

The mistakes that make it worse than a plain EQ

• Making every band dynamic. Four bands moving at once on a full mix is multiband compression with extra steps, and it can flatten the track the same way OTT used heavily does.
• Fast release on low end. Quick recovery at 80 Hz can distort the waveform or flutter. Slow it down.
• Judging it louder or quieter. A cut makes things quieter, and quieter often sounds worse at first. Match levels before you decide.
• Fixing the mix on the master. If a dynamic band on the master is cutting 4 dB, the problem belongs on one channel. How to prep a mix for mastering explains why.
• Wideband compression on by accident. If the whole track is getting quieter, check the W-Band section.

Nova vs the paid options

Nova covers most dynamic EQ jobs for free. What you pay for elsewhere is mostly speed and workflow: a bigger analyzer, more bands, quicker band creation. That's the trade in the FabFilter alternatives breakdown, where Nova stands in for Pro-Q and Pro-DS on most jobs. For a dedicated de-esser with a simpler interface, the best de-esser plugins has the field. For broad band control on a master, the best multiband compressor plugins sorts the options by job. And if you only need a static cut, your DAW's stock EQ is as clean as anything in the best EQ plugins.

If Nova is your first free download, the rest of the essential free kit (OTT, Valhalla Supermassive, Vital and more) is in the best free plugins for music production.

Where I land (and the disclosure)

On a lead vocal, a dynamic band on the esses is one of a dozen decisions that make a voice sound finished, and it only works when the compression and EQ around it are right. The Ultimate Vocal Chain builds that whole system into one Waves StudioVerse file, with de-essing and multiband control already in the chain (it uses Waves plugins, not Nova). The product page has a loudness-matched before/after player, so you can hear it on a real vocal before you buy. I'm biased; Nova is the free tool I'd point anyone to either way.

Quick answers

Is TDR Nova free? Yes. Tokyo Dawn Labs gives Nova away free on tokyodawn.net. Nova GE is the paid edition with more bands and features. Download it from the developer's site and nowhere else.

What does TDR Nova do? It's a dynamic EQ: four bands that work as a normal EQ or only react when their frequency range crosses a threshold, plus high-pass and low-pass filters and a wideband compressor.

How do I use TDR Nova as a de-esser? Set a Bell or High-shelf band around 5 to 9 kHz on the esses, leave Gain at 0, turn on Threshold, use a fast attack and a 50 to 100 ms release, and lower the threshold until the band cuts 3 to 6 dB on the esses only.

What are the best TDR Nova settings for mastering? Small ones. One or two dynamic bands catching 1 to 2 dB on specific problems, such as harsh cymbals or a boomy note, with the wideband compressor off. Bigger moves belong in the mix.