Henchman Usage Manual
1. Introduction
Henchman is here and it's ready to put some muscle in your mix. It's a multiband FX tool designed to make everything sound huge.
With three bands to work with. The mid and high bands come loaded with fifteen different exciter, saturation, and distortion modes. Each band has mid/side processing and its own compressor, so you can shape width, tone, and punch exactly where you want it.
The low band is all about weight. Harmonic saturation to give your bass the richness and depth that survives tiny speakers, phone playback and sounds monstrous on club systems.
Then, all roads lead to our brick-wall limiter designed to push the whole signal as far as it'll go without wrecking your mix. It's the final word that makes things feel big without falling apart.
You also get visual feedback where it really matters. Henchman shows pre- and post-compression waveforms, so you can see exactly what you're hitting and properly dial in the compression instead of guessing.
Lastly to speed things up, there are five snapshots. Use them to A/B different settings, compare ideas, or even load entirely different presets into each slot. It's the best way to explore extremes without losing where you started.
So, are you ready to get Hench?
2. Installation
🍎 macOS Installation
System Requirements
- •macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later
- •Universal Binary - Works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
- •Plugin Formats - VST3, AU
- •Compatible DAWs - Logic Pro, Cubase, Studio One, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Reaper, and most modern hosts
Installation Process
- Run the installer package
Henchman_v1.0.0_macOS.pkg - Choose which formats to install:
- • VST3: For most modern DAWs (Cubase, Studio One, Reaper, Ableton Live, etc.)
- • AU: For Logic Pro, GarageBand, and AU-compatible hosts
- • Factory Presets: Always installed (you'll want these)
- Restart your DAW and rescan plugins if necessary
Installation Locations (macOS)
VST3 → /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
AU → /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
Presets → /Library/Audio/Presets/Rankin Audio/Henchman/
🪟 Windows Installation
System Requirements
- •Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
- •Processor - Intel or AMD 64-bit processor
- •Plugin Format - VST3
- •Compatible DAWs - Cubase, Studio One, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Reaper, Bitwig, and most modern VST3 hosts
Installation Process
- Run the installer
Henchman_v1.0.0_Windows.exe - If prompted by Windows Defender or SmartScreen, click "More info" then "Run anyway"
- Choose which components to install:
- • VST3 Plugin: Required for DAW use
- • Factory Presets: Always installed (you'll want these)
- Choose custom install location if needed (default is recommended)
- Restart your DAW and rescan plugins if necessary
Installation Locations (Windows)
VST3 → C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
Presets → C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\Rankin Audio\Henchman\Presets\
Note: If Henchman doesn't appear in your plugin list after installation, check the FAQ section below for troubleshooting steps.
3. Interface Overview
Henchman's interface is organized into three main frequency bands, each with its own set of controls:
Three-Band Layout
Low Band
Handles bass frequencies with compression and harmonic enhancement.
Mid Band
The workhorse - compression, exciters, and stereo processing.
High Band
Top-end clarity with exciters and stereo width.
Each Band Features
- •Compressor controls: Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Makeup Gain
- •Band-specific processing: Harmonics (low), Exciters (mid/high), Stereo controls
- •Mute/Solo/Bypass buttons: For surgical mixing and A/B testing
Additional Features
- •Crossover Points: Adjustable frequency splits between bands (drag the handles)
- •Output Limiter: Safety net to prevent digital overs
- •Input/Output Meters: Keep an eye on levels
- •Visualizers: Waveform display and spectrum analyzer
- •Snapshot System: Five slots (A/B/C/D/E) for instant comparisons
4. Multiband Compression
Each band has independent compressor controls:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Threshold | When compression kicks in (lower = more compression) |
| Ratio | How much compression (1:1 = none, 10:1 = aggressive) |
| Attack | How fast it responds (fast = transient control, slow = punch preservation) |
| Release | How fast it recovers (fast = pumping, slow = smooth) |
| Makeup Gain | Compensate for level loss (because compression makes things quieter) |
5. Exciters (Mid & High Bands)
Fifteen exciter modes add harmonic character and presence. Use the arrow buttons to cycle through modes:
Different modes work better for different sources - experiment or check the presets for guidance.
6. Low Band Harmonics
The low band features harmonic enhancement with three modes:
Odd Harmonics
Adds grit and character (think tube distortion)
Even Harmonics
Adds warmth and body (think tape)
Mixed
A blend of both
Combine with the harmonics amount knob and drive control for everything from subtle warmth to aggressive saturation. The filter frequency control shapes which harmonics get emphasized.
7. Stereo Processing
Mid and high bands include stereo manipulation tools:
- •Side/Mid Control: Blend between side and mid signals for width control
- •Haas Delay: Classic stereo widening technique (use sparingly)
- •Stereo Width: Direct width control (1.0x = normal, 2.5x = very wide)
Warning: Extreme stereo processing can cause mono compatibility issues. Check your mix in mono before committing to that “epic width” setting.
8. Crossover Points
Two adjustable crossover frequencies split your audio:
| Crossover | Typical Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Low/Mid | 100-500 Hz | 200 Hz |
| Mid/High | 1-5 kHz | 2 kHz |
Drag the crossover handles to adjust. Lower crossovers put more content in the low band (good for bass-heavy material). Higher crossovers isolate more high frequencies (good for vocals and leads).
9. Output Limiter
The final stage includes a limiter with:
- •Threshold: Maximum output level (typically -0.1 to -0.5 dB)
- •Release: Recovery time (fast = transparent, slow = pumping)
- •Input Gain: Drive into the limiter for more aggressive limiting
Use it as a safety net or for competitive loudness. Just remember: louder isn't always better. Sometimes it's just louder.
10. Workflow Tips
Starting with Presets
Henchman includes 75 factory presets across 13 categories. Start here:
- Browse presets by category (Drums, Vocals, Mastering, etc.)
- Load a preset that matches your source material
- Adjust to taste - presets are starting points, not destinations
- Save your own presets when you find something that works
Using Snapshots
The snapshot system (A/B/C/D/E buttons) lets you compare settings instantly:
- Dial in your first sound
- Click a snapshot button (A) to capture it
- Click another snapshot (B) to copy it
- Make some changes to the copied version
- Toggle between A and B to compare
Snapshots save all parameter settings, so you can compare completely different approaches. Use this to avoid the “I think it sounds better but I'm not sure” problem.
Exciter Mode Selection
| Source | Recommended Modes |
|---|---|
| Vocals | Aural Exciter, Air Shimmer, Digital Crystalline |
| Drums | Transistor Punch, Vintage Console, Tape Saturation |
| Synths | Air Shimmer, Digital Crystalline, Psychoacoustic |
| Mastering | Tube Warmth, Vintage Console, Digital Crystalline (subtle) |
When in doubt, cycle through modes while listening. Your ears will tell you what works.
11. Presets
Henchman includes 75 professionally crafted presets organized into 13 categories:
Browse presets using the preset browser in the top bar. Factory presets are read-only, but you can save your own custom presets.
Presets are stored as .henchpreset files and can be shared between projects and systems.
12. Frequently Asked Questions
Installation
Q: Henchman isn't showing up in my DAW. What's wrong?
First, make sure you installed the correct format (VST3 for most DAWs, AU for Logic). Then restart your DAW completely, rescan plugins (usually in Preferences/Settings), and check that plugins are installed to the system locations (/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/). Some DAWs need a full restart, not just a plugin rescan.
Q: Where are the presets installed?
Factory presets are installed to /Library/Audio/Presets/Rankin Audio/Henchman/. User presets are saved to ~/Music/Audio/Presets/Rankin Audio/Henchman/ (or equivalent on your system).
Q: Should I use VST3 or AU?
Use VST3 for most DAWs (Cubase, Studio One, Reaper, Ableton Live). Use AU for Logic Pro and GarageBand. Some DAWs support both - VST3 is generally preferred for better performance and features.
Q: How do I rescan plugins in my DAW?
It varies by DAW: Logic Pro → Preferences → Plug-ins → Rescan. Cubase → Studio → Plug-in Information → Rescan. Studio One → Options → Locations → VST Plug-ins → Rescan. Ableton Live → Preferences → Plug-ins → Rescan.
Usage
Q: What's the difference between the exciter modes?
Each mode uses different harmonic generation algorithms: Tube/Tape/Vintage provide analog-style saturation with different characteristics. Digital Crystalline offers clean, pristine enhancement. Psychoacoustic tricks your ears into perceiving more loudness. Air Shimmer focuses on ultra-high frequencies. Sonic Maximizer provides BBE-style bass and treble enhancement.
Q: When should I use snapshots?
Use snapshots for A/B testing different settings. Capture a "before" state, make changes, capture an "after" state, then toggle between them. Also useful for comparing different exciter modes or compression settings without losing your work.
Q: How do crossovers work?
Crossovers split your audio into frequency bands. The low/mid crossover determines where bass becomes mids. The mid/high crossover determines where mids become highs. Lower crossovers put more content in the low band (good for bass-heavy material). Higher crossovers isolate more highs (good for vocals).
Q: Is Henchman CPU-intensive?
Multiband processing requires more CPU than single-band processors, but Henchman is optimized for efficiency. If you're running low on CPU, bypass bands you're not using or reduce the number of active instances.
Q: Will my wide stereo settings work in mono?
Extreme stereo processing (especially Haas delay and high width settings) can cause phase issues in mono. Always check your mix in mono before committing. The low band can be set to mono mode for better compatibility.
Troubleshooting
Q: I'm not getting any sound from Henchman.
Check: Input gain isn't all the way down, the plugin isn't bypassed, individual bands aren't muted, your DAW's track isn't muted or soloed incorrectly, and output gain isn't all the way down.
Q: Presets aren't loading.
Make sure factory presets are installed to the correct location, you have read permissions for the preset folder, the preset files aren't corrupted (try reinstalling), and your DAW has file access permissions.
Q: The interface looks blurry or scaled incorrectly.
Henchman supports high-DPI displays. If it looks wrong, check your display scaling settings, make sure you're using the latest version, and note that some DAWs have their own scaling that can conflict.
Q: My project sounds different after reopening it.
Make sure you're saving your project with the plugin state. Some DAWs don't save plugin states by default. Also check that you're loading the same preset or that your custom settings were saved.