Primary Source Expander is a source expander — a processor that works in the opposite direction to compression by increasing the dynamic range between loud and quiet material rather than reducing it. That behaviour is used to increase separation between instruments: by attenuating what is below a threshold, it reduces bleed, spill, and background content, letting a source stand forward without the level being raised. It appears in Waves' range alongside the Primary Source Expander family.

That makes it valuable on multi-mic recordings, where bleed between channels compromises clarity, and on vocals, drums, and guitars where unwanted content sits beneath the performance. It is used in both mixing and post-production, and unlike a gate it allows reduction to be applied gradually rather than abruptly, so natural decays are preserved. It runs in VST3, AU, and AAX formats on macOS and Windows, supports Intel and Apple Silicon CPUs, and is compatible with major DAWs including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, Studio One, FL Studio, and Reaper.

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