Softube FET Compressor
Software emulation
When creating the Softube FET Compressor, they 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, they 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 Softube have taken on, but the result speaks for itself.
Softube FET Compressor 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
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.
Unlike its hardware predecessor, the Softube 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, they didn't forget the "All Buttons In" mode. 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 is 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, Softube added a couple of certainly useful features. If you don't want extra features, just leave them in their off position.
-External Side Chain support.
-Low and High cut filters for the detector
-Detector lookahead
Two modeled (and beautifully rendered) VU meters dance with the music, and a stereo peak meter lets you control the output signal
Softube FET Compressor System Requirements:
-iLok USB key and the latest Pace Interlok drivers
-Mac OS X (10.4 or higher), Windows XP or higher
-Mac: Intel or PowerPC processor (G3 or higher), Windows: PIII or higher
-512 MB RAM
-Any VST, AudioUnits or RTAS compatible host application
-Known Issues: Side chaining is problematic on some VST hosts.
*Please note: Downloads are not instant. Once we process your order, we then request the registration info from Softube. Once we receive the registration info, we will then email it to you, along with authorization and download instructions.