Overview
The Plugin Strip sits at the bottom of the main window and shows every plugin on the selected track as a card. Each card displays a scaled-down preview of the plugin’s interface alongside controls for bypass, level metering, mix, and loudness compensation.
Adding & Reordering Plugins
Drag a plugin from the Effects sidebar onto the strip. An insertion indicator shows where it will land. You can also add plugins via ⌥E or the Command Palette.
To reorder, drag a card left or right — adjacent cards shift out of the way in real time.
Right-click a card for quick access to Open Full View, Bypass, and Remove.
Card Layout
Each card has three areas:
| Area | Contents |
|---|
| Left sidebar | Plugin name (rotated) and bypass toggle |
| Center | Scaled-down preview of the plugin interface |
| Right sidebar | ALC button, Dry/Wet Mix button, and level meter |
Full-View Window
Double-click a card (or right-click → Open Full View) to open the plugin at its native size in a floating window. The strip shows a placeholder with parameter controls and sidechain settings while the full view is open.
Bypass
Click the power icon on the left sidebar of any card to bypass it. The icon turns red when bypassed. Bypassed plugins are removed from the signal path — no CPU load.
Level Meters
Each card shows a stereo level meter on the right sidebar with:
- RMS bars for perceived loudness
- Peak bars for transient levels
- Peak hold marker that decays after a short hold
Dry/Wet Mix
Click the Mix button to open a popover with two vertical faders:
- Dry — unprocessed signal (default 0%)
- Wet — processed signal (default 100%)
The button turns orange when the mix is set to anything other than the default. Useful for parallel compression or blending reverb.
Automatic Loudness Compensation (ALC)
Click the A button to open the ALC popover. When enabled, Kern measures the loudness before and after the plugin and applies compensating gain so the perceived volume stays consistent. The popover shows live values for:
- Input LUFS — loudness entering the plugin
- Output LUFS — loudness leaving the plugin
- Delta — the difference in dB
- Gain — the compensation applied
This makes it easy to judge a plugin by its effect on the sound rather than its effect on the volume.
Parameter Controls
For plugins without a custom interface, the strip shows a scrollable list of parameter sliders with names and values — no need to open a separate window.Last modified on March 19, 2026
