Softube offers the VCA Compressor ($149 value) plugin as a FREE download until March 31st, 2024.
We have already seen several fantastic limited-time freebies in the past couple of months, but this has to be the best freebie so far in 2024.
VCA Compressor is Softube’s dbx 160-inspired compressor plugin. It typically costs $149 and is part of the Icons: The Compressor Collection. However, you can get it for free until the end of this month.
It’s funny how we have so many compressor plugins at our disposal, both free and paid, yet compression remains the hardest aspect of mixing to get right. When using a compressor, so much depends on your taste, skill, and attention to detail, that the plugin itself isn’t so important.
This is different from, say, a reverb, where a bad-sounding reverb plugin can absolutely destroy an otherwise excellent mix. Also, it’s much harder to find a good reverb plugin for free than a compressor.
Even so, using a high-quality compressor plugin can still help you get a better-sounding mix, so it makes sense to add Softube’s latest limited-time freebie to your arsenal, even if you already own a fair share of compressor plugins.
VCA Compressor isn’t a groundbreaking compressor plugin. You’ll still have to put in the work to get great-sounding results with it. However, coming from Softube, it’s certainly one of the better analog-style compressors on the market.
Modeled after the legendary dbx 160, VCA Compressor has all the basic controls, along with several useful additions such as the Punch knob (excellent for adding a bit of smack to drums) and the handy Output Drive knob (for added saturation).
If you’re looking for a dependable compressor for use on the drum bus, I would highly recommend downloading the Softube VCA Compressor. It works particularly well on drums, bass, and vocals. I also used it on the master bus in a recent mix, only for some very slight coloration and gentle compression.
To claim your free copy, visit the official product page linked below, log in to your Softube user account, and click the GET FREE button. Please note that an active Softube account is required to get the free license (registration is free).
VCA Compressor is available in VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats for digital audio workstations on Windows and macOS.
Download: VCA Compressor (FREE until March 31st)
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