The Concept
DeEdger introduces a new way of reducing the hardness of audio signals without negatively altering the original signal qualities.
The plugin operates in a threshold free manner, thus can comfortably handle any input signal level, type, and dynamic range. Where other plugins might under or over process, DeEdger only applies processing if any hardness is detected. Once detected, the hardness will be smoothed with remarkable elegance. After initial setup, DeEdger can be left in a “set and forget” configuration without further attention.
Intricate time and frequency dependent mechanisms allow DeEdger to provide a very transparent process throughout. Developed and fine tuned by a professional mastering engineer, the initial concept focused on the demands of modern audio mastering and has also turned out to be equally useful for mixing.
Key Features
- Control the hardness of audio material while preserving dynamic impact and musicality.
- Suitable for complex stereo material, including individual tracks and subgroups.
- Low CPU load.
- Intuitive user interface.
- Set and forget.
Controls
Main Controls
 | Active: When active, applies edge reduction to the target frequency band. This is not a full bypass – it only toggles the processing while maintaining signal flow. Tip: Use with Focus Listen to A/B the processing effect on the target frequency. |
 | FREQ: Determines the center frequency where edge reduction is applied. The Q parameter below controls the bandwidth around this frequency. |
 | Q: Determines how wide or narrow the frequency range around the target frequency is affected. Higher Q values create narrower, more focused processing. |
 | DEPTH: Sets how strongly the DeEdger reduces harsh edges in the target frequency band. Higher values result in more reduction. |
Channel Mode
 | These three buttons are used to setup the channel mode that DeEdger operates in. The modes are as follows: L+R: When active, both left and right channels receive identical edge reduction, maintaining stereo balance in the target frequency range. L/R: When active, left and right channels are processed independently, allowing different amounts of edge reduction in each channel. M/S: Allows targeting edges in the Mid (center) or Side (stereo) components of your signal: • Blue + Purple: Process both Mid and Side • Blue only: Process Mid channel only • Purple only: Process Side channel only |
Compensate & Focus Listen
 | Compensate: When active, dynamically compensates for loudness changes caused by the edge reduction in the target frequency band, maintaining perceived level. Focus Listen: Solos only the frequency range being processed, allowing you to hear exactly what the DeEdger is affecting. Toggle the Active button to compare processed vs. unprocessed in this focused range. |
Reduction Meter
 | Reduction Meter: Shows in real-time how much the DeEdger is affecting your signal, measured in dB. The meter responds dynamically to show the actual processing applied. |
Toolbar
Undo/Redo
 | Use the Undo/Redo buttons to navigate previous control states. The exact event is shown in a tool-tip. Note: Certain controls are not tracked by this function (e.g. “Bypass”). |
Preset Management
The preset drop-down list offers quick access to factory settings and user presets.
 | The next/previous buttons allow you to cycle through the presets. |
Advanced preset management options are available from the context menu (Right-click).
Reset to Original state resets the currently active preset to its original state.
Save As New Global User Preset opens a dialog used to create User Presets. Note that these presets persist across sessions and DAWs (presets are saved on your machine). The total amount of user presets is limited to 20.
Overwrite/Rename Selected User-Preset allows to overwrite or rename presets.
Delete Selected User Preset allows to delete the current user preset.
Save As Default State replaces the plugins’ default preset with the current parameter state.
Revert Default State To Factory Setting deletes an overwritten default state.
Copy State (Ctrl+C) copies the current control states to the clipboard. This allows for applying control states (i.e. “presets”) across plugin instances and plugin hosts by using the Paste State command.
Paste State (Ctrl+V) pastes the control states from the clipboard.
Share State opens a dialog with additional preset sharing options via e-mail or internet forums.
A/B Control
 | A/B allows comparing between two alternative control settings. |
 | A>B or B<A copies one state to the other. |
Theme
 | Opens the color theme selector. Choose from different visual themes to customize the plugin’s appearance. Each theme offers a unique color scheme for interface elements and curves. The selected theme is automatically synchronized across all open instances of the plugin and saved with your preferences. |
Help
 | The online help mode offers detailed information about the different elements of the user-interface. Click the “?” button to activate the online help mode and move the mouse-cursor above the control of interest. A mouse-click closes the help-mode again. |
Settings
 | The settings button opens a dialog which gives control over additional plugin options. |
Sliders allows for changing the behavior of knobs and control points in response to the mouse. Under Continuous Drag,knob and controller movement relies on mouse speed when Velocity is enabled. When Linear is enabled, knob and controller movement is proportional to mouse movement. Drag Sensitivity sets the linear sensitivity of the knob and controller movement further.
Plug-in controls, knobs, and control points can be adjusted using Left-click & drag (Continuous) and Right-click & drag (Stepped) by default. Mouse Configuration swaps the Continuous and Stepped behaviors between the left and right mouse buttons when selecting Invert Left/Right Buttons. Note that the default stepped values can be customized via the product configuration file. See “Local data” below for instructions on how to access this file.
Graphics allows for changing the interface size to a fixed percentage value between 100%, 125% and 150%.
Processing shows the plug-in latency and sample rate details.
Registration offers access to offline and online product registration options. See the “Product Registration” chapter for more information.
Local Data allows for exporting and importing user preferences, presets, and keys, to and from other systems. Local data can also be deleted for all Tokyo Dawn Labs plug-ins using the Trash Can button.
In addition, the Folder button opens the Tokyo Dawn Labs local data folder containing all configuration files and keys. Note that these operations affect all TDR plug-ins, and not just OD DeEdger.
Updates allows to Check for updates and to Download latest version. Automatic Lookups can be enabled to Check for updates (once per day).
Help contains Documentation and Support links.
About shows the version number, build date, format, credits, and other information.
Context Menu
Standard Context Menu
Additional options can be accessed using the standard context menu. This can be opened by Right-clicking on a blank area anywhere in the UI. A click outside of the menu closes it.
User Interface Scale sets the on-screen interface size to a fixed percentage value of 100%, 125%, or 150%.
Instance allows for renaming the specific plug-in instance.
Copy State (Ctrl+C) copies the current control states to the clipboard. This allows for applying control states (i.e. “presets”) across plugin instances and plugin hosts by using the Paste State command.
Paste State (Ctrl+V) pastes the control states from the clipboard.
Share State opens a dialog with additional preset sharing options via e-mail or internet forums.
Mouse Control Behavior
All controls within the plugin feature acceleration. Fast movements of the mouse make large changes and slow, small movements allow for fine tuning of settings. Alternatively, it is possible to revert the knob behavior back to a linear mode. Open the settings dialog to access these options.
Press either Alt-click or Double-click a control to reset to its default value.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
| Alt-click or Double-click (Win) Option-click or Double-click (Mac) | Resets controls to default values |
| Ctrl-click and drag or Right-click and drag on a control or its corresponding text box (Win) Command-click and drag or Right-click and drag on a control or its corresponding text box (Mac) | Stepped resolution adjustments on control and control points (according to the snap point defined in the plugin configuration file) |
| Control+C (Win) Command+C (Mac) | Copy plugin state |
| Control+V (Win) Command+V (Mac) | Paste plugin state |
Appendix: Adaptive Load
Adaptive Load is a mechanism that constantly monitors the audio signal and corresponding states (such as filter memory) and frees up resources whenever possible – without any impact on processing quality. When DeEdger is inserted on a guitar track where the guitar only plays during certain parts of the song, the adaptive load mechanism detects when the guitar is not playing and bypasses all of DeEdger’s filters and other processing, resulting in almost 0% CPU usage. This typically happens within several milliseconds. As soon as the guitar starts playing again, Finesse re-enables its processing. The entire process is fully transparent without any drawbacks. With Adaptive Load, resources are freed when not needed, which means you can use more plugins in your project and/or you will have lower export rendering times.
Copyright and Acknowledgements
OD DeEdger was conceived and developed by Jan Ohlhorst.
Documentation by Shane Johnson.
Software evaluation by:
Ady Connor
Aleksi Vuolevi
Andrew Boult
Audiobomber | Castlemastering
Bob Olhsson
Cyril Meysson
Dan Suter | echochamber
Dan Worrall
Dax Liniere | Puzzle Factory
Dean
Dennis J Wilkins | Studio 12 Below
Diogo C. Borges
Eric Recourt
EvilDragon
Greg Reierson
Gregg Janman | Hermetech Mastering
Helmut Erler | mastering.heyrec.org
Ilya Orlov
Janne Hatula
Jean Dante
Jeffrey Rippe
Jerry Anthony Mateo
Joe Caithness Mastering
Joseph Lyons
Justin Perkins
Laurent Sevestre
Michael Wynne
Miro Pajic
Murray Campbell | Beatworld
Niklas Silen
Nil Hartman
Pete Grandison
Resoundsound Mastering
Rich Prewett
Richard Pentrose
Robi Bulesic
Roland Löhlbach
Ruairi O’Flaherty
Sean Diggins
Sergey Makeev
Thaddeus Moore | Liquid Mastering
Titanio Studios
Valentin Zvukofor
Vitaly Zolotarev
© 2025 Ohlhorst Digital / Tokyo Dawn Records. All rights reserved.
All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.