I realize this is a difficult question to ask and to answer. Let me try to explain. In terms of EQs, it seems (to me) that many musicians / engineers who contribute to various forums support the general view that developers have gotten really close to matching their outboard equivalents. But, not so with compressors …at least not yet.

One reason that I bring this up is because of the good work that is being done regarding console and tape emulations (UAD, Toneboosters, and most recently SlateDigital's VTM). Given the more thorough analysis behind our understanding of how such real world equipment works, why our ears appreciate the qualities they impart to sound, and improvements in algorithm design, it should be no surprise that "better" plugins are the result.

Also, I realize that some of the quality differences can be appreciated only once the entire signal chain is upgraded as well - better converters, speakers, etc.

I've also noticed new developers appearing on the public scene with their take on compressors, and meeting with positive reactions. I've tried several of the latest offerings, but I'm not yet convinced. I have too many already, and I'm a bit tired of being disappointed. Let's say I'm in the market for a quality plugin compressor that "feels, behaves and sounds" like it could exist in the real world. Now, I know that I'm treading into very subjective territory, but the analogy with EQs is there and one day should work in this case.

So, are we "almost there" with compressors? One plugin that received some good feedback about a year or so ago was the Vertigo compressor. Any others? Perhaps the new version of the UAD 1176 (although I can't test it as I no longer have access to a UAD card since I'm only working with a Windows laptop)?

elysia alpha

First of all I would make a difference between compressors that claim to
- be based on hardware ones
- and those that don't.

I can put a few of Waves stuff since you forgot to mention them:

Some that I know have hardware equavalents.

CLA-76 includes both black and blue 1176 version with a switch
CLA-2A
CLA-3A
SSL E-channel
SSL G-channel
API 2500
Kramer PIE

Some from Waves that are not based on hardware

C1
C4
Renaissance Compressor

and many more.

If a software compressor does what it is supposed to do without degrading the sound I'm fine with it.

Since some of the developers now have a much better understanding of what is going on in real analogue gear + the skills to recreate these processes digitally, I'm very satisfied with the choices that are out there - especially if you think of great and sophisticated plugins that are free like VOS Thrillseeker, VOS Density, TDR Feedback Comp to just name some of them...

I had the chance to demo the Tube-Tech CL 1B by Softube and though I never had the real thing, I was retty impressed with it...

Also let's face it - most of us "bedroomproducers" wouldn't be able to buy a high quality analogue hardware compressor anyways (often they start at prizes that allow you to buy a a good used car otherwise)! So why bother whether a plugin sounds 100% identical to its 3000€ hardware equivalent when it evidently does the job in a fine way???

Elysia Alpha and Vertigo VSC-2 are about as close as it gets.

+1 These are the best I've tried. Also consider Arts Acoustic CL series. They sound very real to me.

there is still a gap between , more or less depending the units and setting used...for eq the gap is as big if not more IMO

Waves API 2500 compressor is the bee's knees. Whatever that's supposed to mean.

+1

My perfect software compressor just does what it is supposed to do - compresses the signal and does it without adding any unwanted "color".

Thanks everyone! Interesting comments. Yes, I had forgotten about the Elysia. By the way, I wasn't necessarily looking for an exact plugin replicate of a specific hardware unit, only wondering whether current advancements in the development area have allowed us to get really close to the behavior, feel and sound of real world units.

Here's another take on this. One could argue that 10-15 years ago plugins were "lacking" on a number of fronts. Developers were trying and we were happy to support their efforts. Fast forward to now and we can appreciate the improvements. Where might we be 10-15 years from now? I imagine that plugins will be doing really cool things and not necessarily copying hardware equivalents, but going off into new directions. I can hardly wait. Still, developers will also get closer to capturing the essence of hardware units for those that want those qualities.

Plug-in compressors have advanced so much that even the guys with best ears and experience have hard time guessing in pure tests which one is hw and which one is sw. Ofc, not all sw compressors sound good, but there are some golden ones. But, what still needs to be improved are sw eq's which emulate tube eq's, I personally think that's the next field which has to be and will be improved.

thats not really true.. take some 10 years old compressors like waves c1 or rcomp / rvox or a eq like the waves Q 10 ..gui are old but it would be re released today with a nice gui and a new name i bet everyone would get fooled.

what evolved the most is how good looking the ui are.
sound get better very slowly ,compare a plugin like the old sonalksis eq and equality for example , i can't really hear any difference that will really improve a mix
Last edited by Fred_Abstract on Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:22 am; edited 2 times in total

Have you tried Klanghelm's DC8C?
That thing is a bomb. And it's only 20 EUR!

"...what evolved the most is how good looking the ui are..."

Ha! That made me chuckle. Good one.

While I have several software compressors that are quite nice, in my experience, no. This is especially true when used for tracking.