Zip redefines dynamic processing by combining compression and downward expansion with an innovative approach that tackles complex audio challenges effortlessly. It offers six distinct Analysis modes—Amplitude, Quietness, Brightness, Darkness, Noisiness, and Tonalness—that adapt compression or expansion based on signal level, frequency content, or noise characteristics. This flexibility enables precise control, such as taming low-end frequencies on bass guitar tracks or selectively compressing overdriven guitar chords while preserving palm mutes. Switching between compressor and expander functions is seamless, allowing users to address a wide range of mixing scenarios with ease.

The plugin features four envelope styles—Classic, Goopy, Quick, and Extreme—that shape the attack and release curves to suit different production needs. Whether tightening drum room ambience with the lightning-fast Extreme style or adding vintage character using Goopy, Zip adapts to various sonic textures. Its unique modulation system supports up to six simultaneous modulators, including LFOs, step sequencers, and input followers, which can be routed via drag-and-drop to multiple parameters. This enables creative rhythmic effects, tempo-synced gating, dynamic staccato patterns, and expressive filter sweeps without complicated routing setups.

To enhance tonal shaping, Zip includes a Color control offering warm saturation, phase-modulated distortion, bitcrushing, and four 2-pole filters, some modulated by its Analysis modes for dynamic timbral shifts. This allows producers to fatten vocals, emphasize drums, or create pulsating textures on synth and guitar tracks. Comprehensive features such as high-pass and low-pass filtering on sidechains, wet/dry mix, lookahead, and real-time graphical feedback make Zip a powerful tool for both dynamic and tonal sculpting. Its capabilities range from energizing drums and vocals to transforming simple pads into engaging, rhythmic soundscapes.