Maximum Impact. Mid/Side Precision.
Control Real Gear. Reserve or Use On-Demand.
Control real analog gear straight from your DAW with the Analog Matrix. The Analog Matrix is not an emulation! It acts as a portal, connecting your digital audio workstation to actual physical gear in real time.
Reserve a session using the calendar below, or jump straight into the Analog Matrix plugin and use equipment on demand as it is available. Note: on-demand access requires credits or an active subscription.
Analog Matrix
Robotic Control
Overview
The Elysia xmax represents a breakthrough in analog masterbus processing, combining Class-A circuitry with innovative Mid/Side architecture to deliver unprecedented control over your mix’s dynamics and stereo image. This sophisticated processor divides your stereo signal into three distinct bands – Low, Mid, and Side – each governed by independent VCA compressors that work in perfect harmony to provide the ultimate “analog glue” that modern mixes demand.
Shaping is fast and intuitive. A variable crossover (40–470 Hz) lets you decide where the low band stops and the low-mid begins, while a Global Release sets the overall envelope feel from tight and energetic to long and silky. VariLink blends from fully independent bands to fully linked behavior, so you can glue like a classic stereo VCA or let each band work on what it hears. Clear, high-resolution analog metering shows gain reduction for each band and the soft-clip section at a glance. elysia.com
The dynamics engine is tuned for punch without wrecking transients. Each band uses a fixed 10 ms attack designed to keep the attack intact, with Auto Fast kicking in above ~8 dB of GR for loud, spiky material. Flip Punch to raise the ratio for a harder hit (from ~1:1.45 to ~1:2.55). Round off dangerous peaks with the soft-clip limiter inspired by the flagship alpha compressor, more like tape saturation than brickwall clipping, then add open top-end via the Tone high-shelf (±8 dB).
Whether you’re mixing chart-topping tracks, mastering final productions, or managing dynamics in a variety of applications, the xmax excels across every scenario. From tightening drum buses and adding punch to individual elements to providing that final masterbus treatment that makes mixes translate perfectly across all playback systems, this versatile processor delivers professional results with the musical character that only true analog processing can provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Elysia xmax?
The Elysia xmax is a Class-A analog stereo master-bus compressor with a Mid/Side, multiband design. It splits your signal into three bands (Low, Mid, and Side), each with its own VCA compressor. On top of that it adds a soft-clip limiter, a one-knob Tone EQ, and flexible band-linking, making it an all-in-one “analog glue” box for the mix bus and mastering. The result is record-ready loudness and punch while keeping transients and the stereo image intact.
What is the Elysia xmax best for?
The xmax is best for master-bus and mix-bus processing, gluing a mix together, adding punch and loudness, and controlling dynamics across the low, mid, and side bands independently. It is equally strong on drum buses and individual elements, where you can tighten low end, add snap to the mids, or widen the stereo field. Reach for it when you want modern, punchy, “finished” masters with real analog character.
What is Mid/Side compression, and how does the xmax use it?
Mid/Side processing splits a stereo signal into the center (Mid) and the stereo edges (Side) so you can treat them separately. The xmax takes this further by compressing three bands, a Low band, a Mid band, and a Side band, each with its own VCA compressor, threshold, and make-up gain. That lets you tighten the low end, control the center, and widen or tame the sides independently, all in the analog domain.
What do the Punch, VariLink, and crossover controls do?
Punch raises the compression ratio for a harder, more dramatic hit when you want more impact. VariLink blends the three bands from fully independent to fully linked, so you can glue like a classic stereo VCA or let each band react on its own. The variable crossover (around 40–470 Hz) sets where the Low band hands off to the Mid band, giving you precise control over how the low end is compressed.
What does the xmax’s soft-clip limiter do?
The soft-clip limiter rounds off dangerous peaks more like tape saturation than harsh brick-wall limiting, letting you push for loudness without clipping your converters. Derived from Elysia’s flagship alpha compressor, it adds density and a touch of analog color as you drive it harder. It is a quick way to gain extra loudness and “glue” while keeping the sound musical.
How does the xmax handle attack and release?
Each band uses a fixed 10 ms attack designed to preserve transients, with an Auto Fast mode that engages above roughly 8 dB of gain reduction to tame loud, spiky material. A single Global Release sets the overall envelope feel across all three bands, from tight and energetic to long and silky. This keeps the controls simple while still adapting intelligently to the program.
Is the Access Analog Elysia xmax real hardware or an emulation?
It is the actual Elysia xmax – a real, Class-A discrete analog processor with genuine VCA compressors, not a software model of it. Through Access Analog, the Analog Matrix plugin robotically controls the physical hardware in real time from inside your DAW, so your audio runs through the real circuit. Real Gear. No Emulations.
Can I recall and automate my xmax settings through Access Analog?
Yes. Every control on the Analog Matrix plugin is robotically linked to the physical hardware, so you can save, recall, and automate your settings inside your DAW session like any other plugin. That means your band thresholds, crossover, VariLink, soft-clip, and tone settings come back exactly as you left them, session after session, on a real analog master-bus processor.
How much does it cost to use the Elysia xmax at Access Analog?
The Elysia xmax reserves from $3.93 per hour, an affordable way to put a high-end analog master-bus processor on your mix. Reserve a session on the calendar or use it on-demand with credits or an active subscription (subscriptions start at $9.98/month), and new accounts get a free hour (about 12 credits) to try real hardware.
More Information
Select Features of the Elysia xmax
- Class-A, discrete analog path designed for the masterbus.
- Internal Mid/Side architecture with three compressors: Low (Mid-low), Mid (Mid-high), and Side.
- Variable crossover (40–470 Hz) between Low and Mid bands for precise low-end control.
- Global Release to set overall compression feel across all three bands.
- VariLink adjustable band linking—from unlinked to fully linked thresholds—for classic glue or independent control.
- Punch mode raises ratio for more impact (approx. 1:1.45 → 1:2.55).
- Fixed 10 ms attack per band with Auto Fast behavior when GR exceeds ~8 dB.
- Soft-clip limiter derived from the alpha compressor for tape-like rounding of peaks.
- Tone high-shelf EQ (±8 dB) to add or tame “air.”
- Analog metering for band GR and soft-clip activity.
- Visit elysia.com for more information.