Fabfilter Pro-Q 3: Upward compression for stereo width

Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 Try it →Watch full video →FabFilter · Jan 2026

Demo summary

The demo shows how to use the new Upward compression style on a pad sound's side channel to increase stereo width, while explaining the importance of the Range limit and lookahead.

Step-by-step

Open the sidechain panel
Switch the mode to side channel only
Turn the Ratio all the way down
Switch to the Upward compression style
Dial back the Range limit to a sensible value (less than 60dB)
Set the Attack to the fastest setting
Increase the Ratio
Adjust the Threshold so the widest parts of the signal reach it while the rest rides the upward curve

Options

Select the 1ms lookahead option to minimize extra latency
Use parallel downwards compression instead of upward compression to shape attack transients

Watch out for

Settings used for other compression styles will not work for the Upward style
A Range limit is essential to prevent silence from resulting in infinite gain boost
Quiet sections or silence before a song starts will be boosted by the maximum range setting
Increasing the Attack will trigger automatic negative gain compensation even if Auto Gain is disabled

Tips

Turn the Ratio all the way down before switching to Upward style to avoid unexpected volume jumps
True upwards compression is most effective with the fastest attack and a touch of lookahead
Avoid the maximum 60dB Range setting; dial it back before making other adjustments

Highlights

“notice how impressively wide this makes the pad sound”

All demos from “Introduction to FabFilter Pro-C 3”

0:221:34Host-synced sidechain ducking in Pro-C 3The narrator demonstrates how to use the new Host Sync feature to create rhythmic ducking on a pad sound without an external trigger, adjusting threshold, ratio, and the new curvy Range slider.Fabfilter Pro-Q 3· AI Audio Editor
2:311:39MIDI triggering and Character saturation modesThe demo shows routing MIDI from a kick drum to trigger compression on a bass part, followed by a walkthrough of the new Tube and Diode saturation flavors in the Character tab.Fabfilter Pro-Q 3· AI Audio Editor
4:101:20Multiband processing with TTM style and Sidechain EQThe narrator applies the new TTM (To The Max) style to a drum bus and demonstrates the improved sidechain EQ with up to six bands to control frequency-specific compression thresholds.Fabfilter Pro-Q 3· AI Mastering
5:551:06Using Auto Threshold on guitar transientsThe demo shows the new Auto Threshold feature which allows the compressor to catch peaks relative to average levels, demonstrated on a guitar DI signal with Diode character saturation.Fabfilter Pro-Q 3· AI Audio Editor
7:462:16Multichannel linking and surround sidechain EQThe narrator demonstrates the new multichannel linking knob on an 8-channel drum setup, showing how to link or unlink specific channels and apply sidechain EQ to specific surround speakers.Fabfilter Pro-Q 3· AI Audio Editor
10:531:46Comparing Smooth, TTM, and Op-El stylesA side-by-side demonstration of the Smooth, TTM, and vintage Op-El compression styles on a drum bus to show different sonic textures and distortion levels.Fabfilter Pro-Q 3· AI Mastering
12:392:21Mix bus compression and Mid/Side sidechain EQThe narrator demonstrates transparent glue using Smooth style and vintage character using Vari-Mu on a mix bus, including a technique to unlink stereo compression using a side-channel notch filter.Fabfilter Pro-Q 3· AI Mastering
15:052:41Upward compression for stereo widthCurrentThe demo shows how to use the new Upward compression style on a pad sound's side channel to increase stereo width, while explaining the importance of the Range limit and lookahead.Fabfilter Pro-Q 3· AI Mastering
Watch “Introduction to FabFilter Pro-C 3” →

AI Mastering

4:101:20Multiband processing with TTM style and Sidechain EQThe narrator applies the new TTM (To The Max) style to a drum bus and demonstrates the improved sidechain EQ with up to six bands to control frequency-specific compression thresholds.FabFilter
10:531:46Comparing Smooth, TTM, and Op-El stylesA side-by-side demonstration of the Smooth, TTM, and vintage Op-El compression styles on a drum bus to show different sonic textures and distortion levels.FabFilter
12:392:21Mix bus compression and Mid/Side sidechain EQThe narrator demonstrates transparent glue using Smooth style and vintage character using Vari-Mu on a mix bus, including a technique to unlink stereo compression using a side-channel notch filter.FabFilter
15:052:41Upward compression for stereo widthCurrentThe demo shows how to use the new Upward compression style on a pad sound's side channel to increase stereo width, while explaining the importance of the Range limit and lookahead.FabFilter
5:050:51Widening guitars with Dynamic High ShelvesThe presenter applies a dynamic high shelf boost to the side channels at 16kHz to add movement and width to the guitars.Streaky
2:430:53Using EQ Match in the Instance ListThe demo shows how to access the EQ Match feature within the Instance List to match the frequency profile of a rhythm guitar track to a reference track.FabFilter