The Elysia Xmax is a professional audio tool designed for your masterbus. You can hear for yourself what the Elysia Xmax can do to your mix by choosing from a range of audio examples covering both mixing and mastering applications. Use good-quality headphones or loudspeakers, press Play and compare the bypassed and active sounds.
Multiband Compression – The Elysia Xmax features a highly flexible and musical multiband compression system that delivers smooth dynamic control along with punchy impact where it is needed. It offers two distinct compression ratio settings for each of the three bands, low, mid and side, so it adapts effortlessly to a wide variety of source material. All three bands use a fixed attack time of ten milliseconds, selected to preserve the natural transients of your signal while still providing effective compression.
When the gain reduction in any band reaches eight decibels or more, the Auto Fast function automatically reduces the attack time to catch fast, loud transients. This prevents distortion and keeps clarity intact even under the most demanding dynamic passages. Auto Fast means you do not have to worry about setting the attack time yourself whenever your material becomes more aggressive.
Variable Crossover Frequency – With the adjustable crossover control between the low and mid bands, you can shape your low-end dynamics with precision. The crossover frequency can be set anywhere between forty hertz and four hundred and seventy hertz, defining exactly which frequencies are handled by the low band and which are sent to the mid band. A lower crossover setting directs more of the deepest bass content, such as sub-bass and kick drum fundamentals, into the low band for tight, authoritative control. A higher setting shifts more of the low-mid content, such as bass guitar body and kick transients, into the low band, altering how the Elysia Xmax manages the groove and weight of your mix.
Global Release Control – The global release control determines the time it takes for all three compressor bands to return to unity gain once the signal falls below the threshold. A shorter release time produces a more energetic and rhythmic compression effect, ideal for drums or percussive synthesiser parts. A longer release time delivers smoother, more transparent compression, preserving the natural envelope of sustained sources such as vocals, pads or bass lines. By adjusting the release time to match your material, you can enhance punch, retain detail and avoid unwanted pumping.
Vari Link Function – Vari Link lets you choose how the three compression bands interact. At one extreme, all bands operate independently with their own thresholds. At the other, they are fully linked so that the band with the most energy controls the compression response of the others, emulating the behaviour of a classic stereo voltage-controlled amplifier compressor. You can even select which band leads the group simply by adjusting individual thresholds—for example, lowering the threshold of the low band if you want it to drive the overall compression behaviour. This flexibility allows you to guide your dynamics processing according to musical context rather than technical default.
Soft Clip Limiter – Because digital converters have no headroom above zero decibels full scale to catch brief peaks, digitally overdriven signals suffer irreversible clipping and unwanted harmonic content. The Elysia Xmax soft clip limiter addresses this by using a discrete-transistor circuit that mimics the natural saturation of analogue tape. Instead of cutting peaks off abruptly, it rounds them gently, catching short transients without introducing the harsh artefacts of brick-wall limiting. This results in a natural-sounding peak control that protects your converters and preserves musical character.
Punch Mode – Punch Mode offers two selectable compression ratios: one to one point four five for gentle, transparent gain control and one to two point five five for more aggressive impact. Use the default one to one point four five ratio for full mixes without obvious pumping. Engage the one to two point five five ratio when you want greater intensity, perfect for drums, bass or any material that needs an extra sense of drive.
Tone Control – The Tone control is a high-shelf filter that lets you boost or cut high frequencies across the full-range signal path. It ranges from minus eight decibels to plus eight decibels and is optimised for natural-sounding adjustments. This simple yet effective filter adds air or tames harsh top-end content so you can enhance presence in vocals, guitars or full mixes without reaching for an external equaliser.
Analogue Metering – A precise, real-time analogue metering display shows gain reduction for each of the three compressor bands, low, mid and side, as well as peak reduction from the soft clip limiter. Each meter is calibrated in decibels, giving you immediate visual feedback on how your settings are affecting dynamics. This optical companion to your ears makes it easy to correlate what you see with what you hear, improving decision making whether you are applying subtle glue or pushing for maximum loudness.
Made for Your Masterbus – No matter which stereo bus you choose, masterbus, drum bus or subgroup, you retain full control over your dynamics with the Xmax. The focused low band tightens bass, the mid band delivers punch on snares and vocals, and the side band can widen stereo information for guitars or room ambience. In just a few seconds, you can achieve professional-quality analog mix glue.
Perfect for Studio and Live – The ultraportable qube version of the Elysia Xmax offers identical professional-level sound quality to the nineteen-inch rack version and the 500 Series module. Its compact aluminium enclosure is ideal for session studios, mobile rigs or live performances, bringing the Elysia Xmax’s signature dynamic control everywhere you go.
