Baby Audio IHNY-2 Hard-Hitting Compressor Plugin

Description

Slaps So Good

We set out to make the hardest hitting compressor in the industry. The kind that makes your tracks slam and sing. To achieve that extra edge, IHNY-2 works in parallel. This allows you to compress more while retaining the dynamics of your dry track.

• Engineered for a modern and ultra-aggressive compression sound
• Perfect for adding power to your tracks.
• Hosts parallel signal chain internally for a fast and obstacle-free parallel compression workflow.
• Majorly upgraded V2 of our first ever plugin (I Heart NY) – offering surgical control and a range of new features.

Mix Harder

Contemporary mixes need punch. And to achieve maximum impact, without killing a track’s dynamics, engineers turn to parallel compression (a technique that blends a dry track with a heavily compressed duplicate). IHNY-2 hosts a plug-and-play parallel configuration so you don’t have to set up any extra routing in your DAW.

The plugin is purpose-designed for slamming your tracks in parallel and it will hit harder than your typical go-to compressors. It is not subtle, but a dedicated tool for adding energy and “slap’ to drums, mix busses or even the master bus (if you dare!).

IHNY-2 is an evolution of our very first plugin, I Heart NY. The original was a favorite with many users and was picked for the SOS Awards by Sound On Sound Magazine. V2 ships with new features, surgical control – and improvements in sound.

It’s All About The Sound

IHNY-2 comes with a range of new features to surgically tweak the compression behavior. But a compressor should not be judged on its features (or ability to run in parallel) as much as it should be judged on its sound. Let’s get into that.

Just like its predecessor, IHNY-2 offers its own, unique sonic signature: Its style of compression is clinical and aggressive, combining the precision of a digital algorithm with a touch of analog-inspired non-linearity. It can even go into full-on saturation mode as you apply the ‘Harmonics’ control.

The plugin is designed especially with modern genres in mind – i.e. optimized for loudness and impact, without a loss of clarity.

However, some of our inspiration actually goes back in time as well. Particularly to the affordable DBX units of the 80s and 90s. You can call them basic, but these compressors had a brutal and hard hitting nature that their most sophisticated counterparts just couldn’t muster. They are loved and used for that to this day.

With IHNY-2 we had an ambition to take the “slammy” and “squashy” behavior of our favorite old hardware compressors even further – and make it an intentional feature rather than a byproduct of design limitations. At the same time we wanted an algorithm that didn’t destroy the signal, even at high compression levels (unlike cheaper hardware compressors).

We’re sure you’ll find that IHNY-2 sounds like none of your other plugins. It’s not designed for “smooth” work. But when you need some power, you’ll have a hard time finding a better companion. IHNY-2 is everything I Heart NY was – and so much more!

Preset Creators

IHNY-2 comes loaded with 156 presets created by BABY Audio and friends of the house – including:

• Delbert Bowers (Lizzo, Icona Pop, Shawn Mendes)
• Matt Sim (Nicki Minaj, The Chainsmokers, Gucci Mane)
• M-Phazes (Eminem, Madonna, Demi Lovato)
• Preston “Prizzie” Reid (Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Muni Long)
• Rob Kleiner (Cee Lo, SIA, David Guetta, Britney Spears)

Top Features

Parallel Compression Workflow – Dedicated parallel processing with an intuitive interface for easy control over compression intensity.

Smart XY Pad Control – Adjust punch, warmth, and balance in real-time with a unique XY pad that makes compression adjustments effortless.

Tilt EQ & Harmonic Saturation – Shape the compressed signal with frequency tilt and subtle saturation for added color and character.

Adaptive Compression Algorithm – Automatically adjusts attack and release based on input material for transparent and musical dynamics.

Optimized for Modern Production – Designed to enhance drums, vocals, synths, and full mixes with minimal tweaking.

Additional Features

CONFIGURATION – IHNY-2 splits the incoming audio into two duplicates. One remains untouched by the plugin (Dry track)

the other is subjected to all the goodness IHNY-2 has to offer (Wet track). You balance the two signals on the vertical axis of the XY pad

while setting the compression amount of the Wet track on the horizontal axis. This allows you to operate the most important controls of the plugin in just one motion and find the sweet spot fast. IHNY-2 has an autogain algorithm working unde

TWEAK PANEL – IHNY-2 is meant to be as fast and intuitive as its predecessor. But if you need to go deeper, the Tweak Panel gives you full control over the compressor. Here you’ll find a number of new features that weren’t included in V1.

Attack + Release – Sets how fast the compressor engages and disengages.

Ratio – Sets the compression intensity from mild to aggressive.

Punch – Heavy compression tends to suck the transients out of a signal. The Punch control works to emphasize attack transients in the compressed track, helping it cut through even at very high compression levels.

Harmonics – Imagine a saturator that behaves like a compressor – that’s Harmonics. This feature introduces harmonic saturation controlled by the gain-reduction, meaning more compressed parts get saturated harder.

Shape – Adds our custom ‘smiley EQ curve’ to bring out the lows and highs and make the compressed signal more present. (The smiley EQ curve is what sets “New York Compression” apart from regular parallel compression. IHNY-2 can do both).

Tilt – Makes the compressor work harder on either the low or high end of your signal – which can be useful for controlling bass heavy material and letting the high end breathe (or vice versa).

Lo + Hi Preserve – Prevents the low and high frequencies from being compressed above/below the cutoff points. This is a great way to preserve the kick while squashing the rest of your drum bus.

Oversampling: Run the plugin in 1x

2x or 4x oversampling modes. (We recommend 1x for better CPU performance).

Solo: Monitor the wet signal in solo. Useful for finetuning – or for using IHNY-2 as a regular insert compressor.

Tooltips: Turn on to get explanations of each parameter as you use the plugin.

Save As Default: Save your own default preset, which will load whenever you open a new instance of IHNY-2.

Reset To Default: Reset the plugin to your default preset.

Baby Audio Logo: Bypass the plugin.

Resize Icon: Resize the plugin.

Why You Need Baby Audio IHNY-2

The Baby Audio IHNY-2 was designed to provide music producers and engineers with a high-performance tool for parallel compression, enhancing the dynamic presence and punch of their tracks. Unlike traditional compressors, the IHNY-2 allows users to blend heavily compressed audio with the dry signal for greater impact, making it ideal for a variety of applications such as drums, vocals, synths, and entire mixes. Its intuitive interface and advanced features help users achieve professional, polished results with minimal effort, making it accessible even for those who may be new to parallel compression.

Who This is For

The target market for the Baby Audio IHNY-2 spans a variety of users within the music and audio production industries. It is ideal for music producers and mix engineers who are looking to enhance their mixes with controlled, punchy dynamics, making it a valuable tool for professionals seeking high-quality parallel compression with minimal effort. The plugin is particularly beneficial for electronic and hip-hop producers, who often require aggressive and punchy sounds for beats, synths, and basslines. Additionally, it caters to home studio enthusiasts, offering an accessible yet powerful tool that allows for professional-grade compression without the need for complex setups. The IHNY-2 also appeals to film and game sound designers, as it provides the ability to add impact and energy to sound effects and cinematic elements. Finally, live sound engineers can take advantage of the plugin’s ability to maintain punch and clarity in live mixing situations, ensuring a well-balanced sound in real time.

What This Package Competes With

When compared to other popular compression tools like Waves RComp, FabFilter Pro-C 2, Soundtoys Devil-Loc Deluxe, and UAD 1176 Classic Limiter, the IHNY-2 stands out due to its dedicated parallel compression workflow. While other compressors may offer solid performance, they often lack the intuitive parallel compression features or require complex manual setups. For instance, the FabFilter Pro-C 2 offers versatile compression but lacks an integrated parallel path, while Soundtoys Devil-Loc Deluxe focuses more on saturation rather than controlled compression. The UAD 1176 requires specific hardware for use and isn’t optimized for full mixes. In contrast, IHNY-2 combines ease of use, real-time adjustments, and dynamic tonal shaping, making it more efficient for modern production workflows.

Baby Audio IHNY-2 System Requirements

Mac

Version: MacOS 10.7 and up (including Native M1 Compatibility)
Internet_required: No
Plugins: VST-2, VST-3, AU, AAX

Windows

Version: Windows 7 and up
Internet_required: No
Plugins: VST-2, VST-3, AAX

Baby Audio IHNY-2 Demo Video