Many "modeled" compressors are nothing more than futile attempts to get an off-the-shelf algorithm to match its hardware counterpart by tweaking a few parameters like the knee and attack/release times. But anyone who has worked with hardware compressors knows that there must be more to it. And there is.

The heritage of analog compressors very much showcases the history of electronics in the previous century. It's the deficiencies of the different designs and components that give each unit its unique character, and what started out as technical limitations have now become sought-after sounds. Simply approximating the most apparent features is not enough to capture this uniqueness. It takes a model of great complexity and accuracy to make a digital replica sound like the original with all settings and inputs.

When creating FET Compressor, Softube set out to make the most accurate emulation of the most famous solid state compressor. Instead of modeling individual features and putting them together digitally we have modeled the unit in its entirety: input and output stages, gain reduction feedback loops, bias differences of different transistors, etc. It's been by far the hardest project we have taken on, but we feel that the result speaks for itself. And hopefully it will be easier to do it the next time (yeah right).

Features

• Modeled analog compressor, input and output stages. Modeled everything.
• Modeled "All buttons in" mode
• Continuous ratio (even between 20:1 and ALL.)
• Super fast attack time (just like the original)
• Sweet input and output stage distortion.
• Parallel compression.
• Detector low and high cut filters
• External side chain
• Lookahead
• Stereo with synchronized gain reduction
• Very CPU friendly
   

Controls

Continuous Ratio Unlike its hardware predecessor, the FET Compressor has a fully variable ratio. But if you prefer the old standard way (with fixed ratios), just click the labels and you're ready to go. And yeah, we didn't forget the "All Buttons In" mode. Parallel Compression Work with parallel compression from within the plug-in. And since the "Dry" signal also spent some time inside the algos, it's of course influenced by all that analog modeling mojo - like the subtle distortion from the input and output stages.

Super Fast Attack Faster than you can think of. Even faster than a single sample. And if that's not fast enough, use the look-ahead to make it super duper fast. Attack: 20 microsecs - 0.8 ms Release: 50 ms - about a second

Detector Controls In addition to its hardware counterpart, we added a couple of certainly useful features: External Side Chain support. Low and High cut filters for the detector. Detector lookahead If you don't want extra features, just leave them in their off position.

Enhanced Metering Two modeled (and beautifully rendered) VU meters dance with the music, and a stereo peak meter lets you control the output signal.

"...an impressive emulation. The FET Compressor is very musical [...] it's just fun to use."
Glenn Rosenstein, producer/engineer

"I love it! It's very musical and sits into the mix nicely."
Andy Hunt
Wide Studios, Nashville

"The FET is Amazing!!!!!!!!"
Ron Harris, Producer (Christina Aguilera)

System Requirements

Native version

• Fully compatible with 64-bit DAW's!
• Mac OS X 10.5 or higher, Windows XP (32-bit only), Windows Vista, Windows 7
• Mac: Intel processor
• Windows: CPU that supports SSE2 instruction set including DAZ flag (most Intel and AMD processors since 2003 supports this)
• 1 GB RAM
• Minimum screen resolution: 1024x768 pixels
• Any VST, VST3, AudioUnits, AAX, or RTAS compatible host application
• Pro Tools: version higher than 7.0
• iLok USB key and the latest Pace Interlok drivers

A/B Comparisons by Dan Lumbye

Here are a couple of Apple loops that Dan ran through a Universal Audio 6176 and through the plug-in for comparison. The mp3's are compressed at 320 kbps but if you want to listen to the uncompressed versions you can  get them here (ZIP 24MB).

Sound Demo by Scott Fritz

Manual