Audio compressors compressors, limiters, and gates offer reliable dynamic controls for your critical recordings. Comp 160 compressor fat channel plugin simple, yet effective vca compressor factory refurbished this item has been 100% tested for proper operation and carries the full manufacturers limited warranty. Different variations of the vca bus compressor, software and hardware alike, have slightly different internal levels and settings at the same knob positions. Finally, the vc 160 is a selfstyled bold and dirty compressor thats based on the vca dbx 160, and is best used for adding extra punch to kicks and snares. To start with, the mastering compressor sports stereo and dualmono modes to fit any application, and separate optical and discrete compression sections for twostage compression techniques. You will notice in the photo that the attack is set to the slowest 30ms setting and the dual setting for release. Dtc 1 is perfect for trackingmixing and very useable for transparent compression during mastering. This unit is found in many mastering studios throughout the world because of its ability. Almost a must for smooth and rich vocals, these effects can ensure driving dynamics with bass guitar, kick and snare drums, and other instruments.
Best vca compressor plugins and goto settings on 2bus youtube. Yet it always maintains its own pleasant and characteristic tone. Tk audio bc1s stereo vca compressor mastering mixbus otb with stepped knobs ssl. Vintage kings guide to vca compressors vintage king blog. To sum everything up it would be safe to say that, of all of their analogue equivalents, solidstate voltage controlled amplifiers are providing the most precise and controllable gain manipulation. More compression can be achieved by increasing the input gain. Stereo vca compressors are masterful at controlling dynamics on many sources, but they have become widely known for their magic touch on stereo mixes. Stereo vca compressors are masterful at controlling dynamics on many sources, but they have become widely known for. Choose from optical compression, vca compression, or both in series, for unprecedented dynamic control with a masteringgrade signal path optical section provides smooth, program dependent leveling, just like a classic audio leveler from the late60s. Maserati beyonce, jay z applies an ssl gmaster buss compressor to a hihat loop. Considered to be a classic bus compressor, the api 2500 is a vca style.
Fggrey, the vertigo vsc2 compressor by brainworx is also a vca type compressor. Vcatype compressors voltage controlled amplifier based in my experience, can be tuned to sound like optos, fets, etc. Jun 15, 2017 as with equalization, the less compression you apply during mastering, the better the result. The best vocal compressor for voice, bass, drums, and any other audio signal is the topmost studioquality one you can afford. The blackface sc5 is a feedback compressor design, thus feeding an external sidechain input into the existing feedback loop circuit would result in feedforward topology, which would result in different compression behaviour. This makes it applicable to almost anything, from mastering tasks to taming down exaggerated transients. The fg401 is a hybrid emulation that draws its sound and character from several vca compressors such as the ssl 4000 channel compressor, empirical labs distressor, dbx 160a, and others. In cooperation with the code experts from brainworx, our ultimate flagship was made available as a software plugin version. Vca compressor utilize a voltage controlled amplifier in their compressor circuit. What are the differences between various types of compressor. The portico ii mbp master buss processor continues this tradition of quality in this multifeature vca compressor. Tegeler audio magnetismus 2 vca compressor vintage king.
Rough rider is the best for adding pump to rhythmic tracks. Mar 24, 2015 vca compressor plugins comparison the third and final in a series of parallel tests of compressor plugins is a comparison of vca compressors. C165a vca compressor with saturating limiter punch. Compression can do many things like add punchiness, increase detail, and make things sound fuller, but in mastering a compressor is primarily used to increase loudness. Sporting two channels of compression, limiting, and a stereo field editor, this unit looks to be a multifaceted tool for improving upon your sound. This beast of a plugin is based on a beast of a hardware unit that carries the same name.
For the most part it was derived from voxengo glisseq dynamic parametric equalizer and reproduces its spectrum analysis functionality. Vca, fet, optical, variablemu and digital compressor plugins. The best vocal compressors for studioquality audio. C165a vca compressor with saturating limiter punch, sustain, drive. Compressing the entire master output of your mixing desk or daw is an ageold trick of mixing engineers to achieve a more compact and lively. In this video davids favorites vca compressors plugins for 2019. The ultimate rhythm section compressor, comp vca65 is a perfectly recreated vca compressor with a modern twist. The second stage is our discrete classa vca compressor.
In this guide, well level out which compressors are which. There are no electrolytic caps or ic chips in the audio. The result is a fat sound, which is similar to a tape recording, but integrates better into the mix due to the highly developed analog circuitry. The warm audio buscomp is an allanalog, 2 channel, stereo vca compressor based on classic circuitry that has provided silky smooth tone for decades. Grab them for either mac or pc and install them on any daw. The api 2500 stereo bus compressor allows adjustment of sonic qualities to alter the punch and tone of the stereo mix. Accurately modeled after the original 70s blueface version of a classic and soughtafter vca compressor the sc5 audio plugin opens up a whole world of versatility. This is arguably the most commonly used compressor phenotype in the corporeal universe.
The vbcs are unofficially sourced from three classic designs. Digital processors, either in hardware or software plugin format, can also be used for mixbus compression. The alpha compressor plugin is the software version of our famous analog mastering compressor. Hornet vca offer a toolkit for controlling the track level, it can work as a simple voltage controlled amplifier using a control signal in its sidechain input. Span is a free realtime fast fourier transform audio spectrum analyzer aax, audiounit and mastering vst plugin for professional sound and music production applications. Vca stands for voltage controlled amplifier, a type of mechanism found in many musical applications. Superior performance and an incredible tone makes the provla ii and indispensable tool for tracking, mixing, mastering, dynamic control of live sound sources or for use in broadcast audio. Some vca compressors, like the api 2500 and the master buss. Super gentle compression to smashedup live drums the blueface sc5 handles it all. Here are the best free mastering vst plugins online that can be used with fl studio, reason, ableton live, and other vst supported software. Vca fast, peak based compression that offers you snap and punch. The attack and release times are not continuously variable but discrete on most units and thus easier to reproduce, but threshold and makeup gain require a bit more attention to set the. Even more importantly, with just a couple of exceptions, most of the compressors on our list have been modelled and emulated by software developers over recent years.
Hiend analog mastering compressors are usually very expensive. Shadow hills industries highly coveted and equally highly priced shado hills mastering compressor is the latest addition to the long list of classic studio hardware offered in software. Pro vla ii two channel vactrolbased compressor art. Best compressor settings for vocals, guitars, drums and more. It tends to sport all the controls youre used to seeing attack, release, threshold, ratio, and sometimes knee.
The tegeler audio magnetismus 2 vca compressor was developed for the processing of drums and other transient rich signals such as acoustic guitars. The best vocal compressors for studioquality audio ledgernote. The waves ssl gmaster bus compressor is a classic plugin, modeled after a classic compressor. Dangerous master analog mastering console with ms processing. Most mastering engineers use high thresholds and low ratios typically 1.
Masteringgrade compressorlimiter with optical and discrete. Four different types of analogue compressor are widely used for mixbus compression. The blackface sc5 adds an external sidechain input that can be engaged by depressing the ext sc button. The 7 best free vst compressor plugins available today.
Which compressor plugin should i choose for my mix. Learn about the best compressors for general use, multiband processing, vocals, drums, and your master buss. Starting from there you can add functionality like an envelope follower on the control signal, with attack and release ranging from 1ms to. A stereo optical compressor followed by a discrete stereo vca compressor so that you can truly tackle any task from recording any source to making your mix buss snap with this single machine. Saves space in the 500 series and gets you a taste of what the big boy can do without having to sell your car.
You cannot achieve a recording or a mix that matches what you hear on professional releases without a compressor. For your convenience, dual hoyt meters provide signal status at a glance, and stepped attenuators make it easy to recall specific session settings. One of the 2500s notable qualities is its use of apis patented thrust circuit for a chesthitting, punchy bottom end. Click each link below and look around each website for the download link or button. Waves ssl gmaster buss compressor best bus comrpessor plugins. However, in the parlance of audio, the term vca compressor usually refers to a compressor using an integratedcircuit vca for gain control. Add them to your toolkit today and compress your way to success. The input stage is transformer balanced, followed by our fully discrete optical compressor. It changes character with each ratio, and is capable of mimicking punchy vca compressors, fat tube. Rather than the more traditional vacuum tube, it used a solidstate vca to create its compression effect, and cuttingedge rms dynamics detection. Mastering compressor offers the cleanest compression weve heard to date, and its capable of extreme punch when required. A simplified and more accessible version of the mastering compressor s vca section. Shadow hills industries highly coveted and equally highly priced shado hills mastering compressor is the latest addition to the long list of classic studio hardware offered in software form by universal audio. Blueface sc5 70s vca compressor black rooster audio.
Many claim vca compressors are the most universal compressors, fit for any and all purposes an engineer might need in. To accomplish this, i chose the vca compressor section. These names are for different circuit designs, for the part that actually follows and reacts to your signal level, and the way in which it. Span is a free realtime fast fourier transform audio. When it was released, the original dbx 165a was a compressor unlike any other. As with equalization, the less compression you apply during mastering, the better the result. Likewise, almost all compressor plugins take direct inspiration from the sound and features of hardware from the 60s and 70s. Warm audio buscomp analog 2channel stereo vca compressor. Knif soma eq knif varimu 2 compressor bettermaker 232p mk2 equalizer hendyamps michelangelo equalizer rupert neve designs master bus processor overstayer stereo vca compressor eq avalon design 747sp compressor eq sknote ms4 stereo pwm compressor mammoth cave audio wooly mammoth deluxe. Virtually every compressor technically uses a vca, whether it is based on fets, variablemu tubes, or optical elements. Although mastering engineers use limiters to make mixes louder, solely relying on a limiter to do all of the legwork will produce unwanted effects such as pumping and distortion. Shadow hills industries mastering compressor features.
The fullblown set of parameters allows you to dial in just the right setting for your application. This allows for full control of attack and release parameters and smooth response to the compression itself. Fet compressor designs are less commonly used over the master bus, but. This section utilizes the same t4b optical attenuator as the la2a and la3a, but is optimized for mastering. Shadow hills industries mastering compressor sweetwater.
I typically use this to create just a small amount of. The best bus compressor plugins in 2020 resoundsound. The 1176s enormous popularity has given rise to legions of impersonators, including hardware units such as universal audios re. Comp vca65, comp vca65 plugin, buy comp vca65, download. Vca compressor designs are perhaps the most widely used in mixbus applications, with popular choices including the neve 33609, ssl xlogic gseries and api 2500. So here are 7 free vst compressors plugins for you. Gmlsontec inspired distopik precision series mastering eq. Dtc1 one of most transparent vst compressor for mix and. Many claim vca compressors are the most universal compressors, fit for any and all purposes an engineer might need in her or his quest for the perfect sound. Digital processors, either in hardware or software plugin format, can also be used.
Blackface sc5 80s vca compressor black rooster audio. In fact, the quickest way to make your master sound like a demo is to overcompress it. If youve shopped for a compressor, doubtless youve seen compressors of various types including optocompressor, vca voltage controlled amplifier, fet fieldeffect transistor overeasy the ratio increases as the signal gets hotter, and variable mu, which uses the natural compression characteristics of tubes. Also known as the mercedes of compressors, the vsc2 quad discrete compressor sports four vcas designed to capture the character of the best vca based compressors of the 70s and 80s. Top 20 best compressors of all time attack magazine. This classic based sound is combined with a modern mastering grade signal path equipped with innovative features. The fg grey is modeled after the classic ssl 4000 buss compressor. Compressors are often described with category names like vca, optical, fet, feedforward, ota, and so forth. Its features have been extended including sidechain filters, a samplealigned parallel mixing control and a limiter. The tegeler audio magnetismus 2 is a stereo vca compressor ideal for processing transient, rich signals like drums and acoustic guitars by combining vca compression with transient shaping for fat, tape recording style sounds.
C165a has been developed by measuring and testing a classic vca compressor with a great sound and very simple to use. Vca compressor plugins comparison the third and final in a series of parallel tests of compressor plugins is a comparison of vca compressors. A simplified and more accessible version of the mastering compressors vca section. Audio damages rough rider is a modern compressor with a vintage flavour. It is comprised of an optical compressor and a vca compressor in series. Apr 12, 2017 vca compressor utilize a voltage controlled amplifier in their compressor circuit. Best compressor settings for vocals, guitars, drums and. This bundle is guaranteed to infuse your mixes with both mojo and definition to make them perform their best. Gsonique dtc1 is modeled after analog vca based voltage controlled amplifier analog bus compressors that are known for its transparency and clear sound without lot of coloration and distortion. That being said, fetbased compresors arent always unclean. This makes it applicable to almost anything, from mastering tasks to. It gives you a painstaking emulation of the sound and features the hardware is known and loved for. This bundle is guaranteed to infuse your mixes with both mojo and definition to make them perform their best in the club, laptop or phone. Warm audio buscomp 2channel stereo vca bus compressor.
This versatile compressor provides a smooth and rich tone. Jan 19, 2020 the best vocal compressor for voice, bass, drums, and any other audio signal is the topmost studioquality one you can afford. Nov 25, 20 lets kick off with a stunning tripledecker unit, and one of the best software emulations of analogue gear that weve encountered to date. In specific applications, you can find vca compressors in almost all aspects of audio, from tracking to mixing to mastering. There is nothing wrong with it, it can be had for a great price and it works in many situations. Vca designs also have a colourful sound quality, but the colour involved is quite unlike that obtained from tube designs. The tg mastering chain has been in use in the abbey road studios ever since the early 70s. These names are for different circuit designs, for the part that actually follows and reacts to your signal level, and the way in which it reacts.
Choose from optical compression, vca compression, or both in series, for unprecedented dynamic control with a mastering grade signal path optical section provides smooth, program dependent leveling, just like a classic audio leveler from the late60s. This ssl bus compressor clone has been around for a long time but i find it still holds up nicely. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. It combines a modern flexible vca compressor with a downstream transient shaper. The 19inch, rackmountable unit boasts a dualchannel design that can be configured for stereo compression.