Stage Focus Pro

Overview

Stage Focus Pro expands the Stage Focus Core processor into a deeper mix-shaping tool. The Core engine still provides dynamic clarity and masking reduction, but Pro adds targeted spectral processing, external detection, harmonic range saturation, and a proprietary spatial tilt system.

The goal is not to turn Stage Focus into a traditional EQ, compressor, exciter, or stereo widener. Stage Focus Pro listens to the source, reacts musically, and lets you decide where and how that intelligence is applied.

Quick Start

1. Insert Stage Focus Pro on a track or bus.
2. Start in Balanced mode with Guide, Follow, and Auto Gain enabled.
3. Raise the main Focus dial until the source clears up without feeling disconnected from the mix.
4. Enable Focus Range when you want to target a specific part of the spectrum.
5. Use Solo to audition the selected range, then choose Inside or Outside.
6. Try R.Comp for narrow ranges, then add Warm, Drive, or Edge if the selected range needs weight or attitude.
7. Enable Spatial Tilt when you want the stereo field to react differently above and below a pivot frequency.

Core Controls

Focus Range

Focus Range lets you decide where the Stage Focus engine listens and where it applies processing. In Internal mode, the selected range is both the detection range and the processing range.

Range Selection

• Drag the Low and High handles at the top of the display to set the range.
• The handles cannot cross, so the range will not invert accidentally.
• Drag inside the selected range to move the whole band while preserving its width relationship.
• Double-click the Low or High readout to type a specific frequency.

Inside / Outside

Inside processes the selected range. Outside processes everything outside the selected range. This makes it easy to either focus a problem area or leave a chosen area untouched while the rest of the spectrum is shaped.

External Detection

Detection Source chooses whether the Stage Focus engine listens to the track itself or to the DAW sidechain input.

Processed / Detection Views

External mode unlocks separate views for the Focus Range display:

• Processed view shows and edits the range being affected on the inserted track. This range is shown in green.
• Detection view shows and edits the range being listened to from the sidechain source. This range is shown in blue.

Link keeps the processed and detection ranges matched. Turn Link off when you want one frequency range to trigger processing in a different frequency range.

R.Comp & Saturation

Range Compensation

R.Comp estimates the selected range width in octaves and adds intelligent intensity compensation. Narrow ranges naturally reduce the amount of material Stage Focus can act on, so R.Comp helps the result remain useful.

If the movement becomes too obvious, especially in Strong mode with a very narrow range, turn R.Comp off, widen the range, or lower the main Focus amount.

Saturation

The Saturation button cycles through four states and affects only the selected processed range.

• Warm adds gentle harmonic weight.
• Drive adds stronger density and push.
• Edge is the most aggressive setting and can add real bite when pushed.

Auto Gain includes the saturation path in its level management, helping you judge the tone rather than just the volume change.

Spatial Tilt

Spatial Tilt is a Pro-only spatial processor that changes width differently across the spectrum. It is controlled by mode, amount, pivot point, and slope.

Slope

The Slope button cycles through 6, 12, and 18 dB/oct. Steeper slopes create a more defined split around the pivot point.

Mono Check

Mono Check lets you monitor mono compatibility while setting spatial movement. It is unavailable when the Spatial Tilt section is bypassed.

Displays & Soloing

The Pro interface includes two spectrum displays. The Focus Range display is used to set and audition spectral targeting. The Spatial Tilt display shows the pivot point, FFT trace, and spatial guide lines.

• The Focus Range Solo auditions the active range for the current view.
• In External mode, Solo follows the selected view: Detection or Processed.
• The Low and High solo buttons in Spatial Tilt let you hear each side of the pivot split.
• Solo buttons turn yellow when active.
• When a section is bypassed, its related solo controls are disabled.

Guide Mode

Click the G button in the lower-left corner to open Guide Mode. The interface dims and information points appear over the available controls.

Hover an information point to read a short explanation. Only one information box appears at a time. Click G again to close Guide Mode.

Stage Focus Pro includes guide points for the Core controls and the Pro additions: Detection Source, Focus Range, R.Comp, Saturation, Inside/Outside, Solo, Processed/Detection view, Link, Anchor/Tilt, Low/High solo, Slope, and Mono Check.

Backplate & Licensing

Click the top-left icon to flip to the backplate. The backplate shows license status, website, model information, version information, and credits.

The licensing overlay handles trial status, activation, and license management. The backplate also shows the current license state, website, model information, version information, and credits.

Eco Mode

Eco Mode reduces workload for larger sessions while trying to keep the character of the plugin intact.

• Display and analysis updates are lighter.
• FFT updates can pause when the GUI is closed or when a section is bypassed.
• The saturation path uses a lower-cost behavior.
• Spatial Tilt slope is limited to 6 dB/oct while Eco Mode is active.

When Eco Mode is turned off, the plugin can return to the previous slope setting where possible. If it remains at 6 dB/oct, simply cycle the slope button back to the desired value.

Practical Workflows

Natural Clarity

Use Balanced mode, keep Focus between roughly 30 and 65, leave Focus Range off or set it wide, and let Auto Gain keep the comparison honest.

Targeted Cleanup

Enable Focus Range, Solo the range, choose Inside, then adjust the Low and High handles until the busy or cloudy area is isolated. Add R.Comp if the selected band is narrow.

Adding Teeth

Use Saturation on the selected processed range. Warm is subtle, Drive is more obvious, and Edge can make a selected range more aggressive.

Creative External Detection

Set Detection Source to External, route a sidechain from another track, switch to Detection view to choose what the engine listens to, then switch to Processed view to choose what the inserted track actually changes.

Spatial Control

Use Anchor to keep the low end grounded while changing upper width. Use Tilt when you want a more obvious spectral width tradeoff around the pivot point.

Installation

Installation files are likely to be located at the paths below after running the installer. If your DAW does not find Stage Focus Pro automatically, rescan plugins from your DAW plugin manager.

Troubleshooting

I do not hear sidechain behavior

Make sure the DAW is routing audio into the plugin sidechain, set Detection Source to External, and switch to Detection view to confirm the sidechain signal appears in the display.

R.Comp or Saturation is unavailable

In External mode, switch back to Processed view. These controls are intentionally disabled in Detection view.

The processing sounds too animated

Lower the main Focus amount, switch from Strong to Balanced or Soft, widen the Focus Range, or turn R.Comp off.

CPU load is high

Enable Eco Mode, close plugin windows when not editing, bypass unused Pro sections, use 6 dB/oct Spatial Tilt slope, and freeze or render heavy virtual instrument tracks when needed.

Solo buttons will not engage

Check that the related section is enabled. Section bypass disables the related solo behavior.

Support

For updates, downloads, and support, visit truestageaudio.com.

This manual documents the release version of Stage Focus Pro.