Download Metric Halo Production Bundle for Mac

In the edit

Every mix has that one track that needs more than a basic EQ and compressor — something that lets you dig into the character without losing sight of the whole picture. Metric Halo Production Bundle puts a set of signal processing plug-ins on your Mac that are built for that kind of work.

MIOStrip — your main channel strip

A full channel strip with EQ, dynamics, and routing. It is the core of the bundle for day-to-day mixing and tracking.

ChannelStrip — the classic

Based on the original Metric Halo hardware channel strip, this plug-in gives you a familiar EQ and compressor layout that sits well on almost any source.

Precision De-Esser — sibilance control

A dedicated de-esser that targets harsh sibilants without dulling the rest of the vocal. Useful in both mixing and mastering stages.

Other plug-ins in the suite

The bundle includes additional processors for sound design and finishing, all sharing the same clean interface and low-latency performance on Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 11 or later.

Tweak these preferences to make the bundle feel like your own

After installing, open any of the plug-ins in your DAW and spend a few minutes with the preferences before you start a mix. The default settings are safe, but a couple of tweaks make the bundle feel like your own from the first session.

Set the oversampling mode if your session runs at a standard sample rate — the plug-ins handle this differently depending on the processor, and it is worth matching it to your project rather than leaving the global default. The same goes for the GUI size: on a MacBook screen, the standard layout is readable, but on an external display you might want it a little larger so you are not squinting at the EQ curve during a long editing session.

Check the sidechain routing options inside ChannelStrip early on. The bundle lets you set up sidechain filters directly from the plug-in window, which saves you from creating extra auxiliary tracks in your DAW. If you plan to use it for parallel compression or de-essing a whole bus, get the routing straight before you commit to a mix.

A workflow: cleaning up a vocal track from start to finish

Let us say you have a spoken or sung vocal that needs the usual treatment — remove rumble, tame sibilance, add a little presence, and even out the level. Here is how you might go through it with the bundle.

1. Insert MIOStrip on the vocal track. Start with the gate section to cut out any low-level noise between phrases. Set the threshold so it closes during silence but stays open on the quietest words.
2. Move to the EQ section. Roll off the low end below 80 Hz with a high-pass filter to clean up rumble from the mic stand or room. Add a small shelf boost around 8–10 kHz if the vocal needs air, but keep it subtle — you can always add more later.
3. Switch to the compressor. Set a moderate ratio, around 3:1, and adjust the threshold so you get 3–4 dB of gain reduction on the loudest phrases. The release time matters here: a faster release keeps the compression audible, a slower one smooths it out. Try both and listen for what fits the track.
4. Insert Precision De-Esser after the compressor. Set the frequency band to the area where the sibilance lives — usually around 6–8 kHz for most voices. Adjust the reduction until the esses are softer but still present.
5. If the vocal still feels thin, insert Thump on an auxiliary send and blend in a little harmonic content below 100 Hz. This adds weight without making the low end muddy.
6. Finish with HaloVerb on a send for a touch of room ambience. A short decay time and a small mix level keep the vocal forward while giving it space.

That is a full chain using four plug-ins from the bundle, and you never leave a single plug-in window for routing or sidechain setup.

Apple Silicon users get full native speed with no Rosetta overhead

This bundle is a natural fit for anyone running a DAW on a Mac with Apple Silicon — the architecture is fully supported, so there is no Rosetta translation overhead, and the plug-ins load quickly even on complex sessions. Mixing engineers working on pop, rock, or electronic music will find the channel strips cover most of their daily needs, from tracking to the final bus.

Sound designers who work with dialogue or field recordings will appreciate the Precision De-Esser and Thump for cleaning up and reinforcing audio that did not come from a controlled studio environment. Mastering engineers can use MIOStrip for subtle bus processing, though they will likely lean on the EQ section more than the dynamics.

If you record voiceovers or podcasts, the combination of gate, de-esser, and compressor in one strip means you can set up a consistent chain and leave it there for every session. It is not a one-trick plug-in set — it adapts to however much control you need.

Cycle through presets on an empty track to learn each processor fast

• Open each plug-in on an empty track and cycle through the presets. You will learn the range of each processor quickly, and some presets work as good starting points that you can tweak later.
• Use MIOStrip on a single track for a whole day before you try it on buses or the master. You get a feel for the EQ curves and compressor behaviour in a controlled setting before you apply it to a whole mix.
• Keep the Precision De-Esser in your default vocal chain from the start. It is easier to dial it in during tracking or early mixing than to fix sibilance problems in mastering.
• Try Thump on a bass track or a kick drum, even if you think it does not need it. A small amount of harmonic synthesis can make a DI bass sit better in a dense mix without pushing the fader up.
• Save your own default preset for MIOStrip after you have set the sidechain routing and oversampling. That way every new instance starts the way you like it, and you skip the setup step on every track.

Mac it needs

• macOS 11 or later
• Apple Silicon (ARM) processor
• English interface