Cytomic 'The Glue' Compressor

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I have not accepted any payments so far, I just want to get the trial builds working on 10.4 for everyone, so then I know the full builds will work for everyone as well.

Andrew Simper

I'm on PC, so feel free to accept my money. Besides...what's the fun of calling this beta if it's going to work perfectly for everyone?

[bmanic]

Couldn't get it to work in Reaper.. all knobs & buttons are frozen. However, I got it to work in FL Studio and Wavelab 6.

First impressions (from the perspective of a master bus compressor): Wow! and also meh.. Let me explain.

The "wow" because it really does sound/behave like a bog standard SSL compressor, the "meh.." because of the same reason. I was hoping to be able to get it a bit smoother than the rather "chunky" SSL attack. Many people like that chunk but it's also what makes the SSL not work on some material (well, a lot). Just the other day I was able to try Kingstons custom built "high-end" SSL bus compressor (high-end meaning it's components are of a MUCH higher quality than in any ordinary SSL 4000 desk) and it simply sounds so much smoother and more polished. It still has that SSL vibe but it's infinitely more useful on much more varied material.

I'm still going to buy this thing but I was, to be honest, expecting a bit more smoothness to the attack somehow. I now realize just how hard many of the demo examples were pushed. An instant "wow!" effect but not necessarily something you'd use within a track.

I did get some of the chunk out of the attack using some look ahead delay with the sidechain.

The range knob is brilliant. It's very easy to get some pleasant glue going on with attack and release set to fastest, threshold all the way down and then simply play with the range knob for the amount of compression you want. It's also easy to abuse the smack/chunk by using slowest attack, fast release and then a fine tuning of threshold vs range. Very clever stuff.

So it all comes down to this it seems; If you want that basic SSL bus compressor sound in a native and relatively cheap plugin, then this is it, there's no doubt about that. However if you dislike the basic SSL sound and was hoping for a more high-end "clone" (Danfield 726, modified SSL with better components than the original etc) then this might not be the thing.

I can't fault the thing for doing what it's supposed to do (and it does it so well) so I'll give it

Look for a more comprehensive review sometime in the future (with audio clips from Kingston's hardware "high-end" SSL thing).

Cheers!
bManic

[djanthonyw]

Ok mac people on 10.4, sorry for all the stuffing around, I'm new to all this. Please try this build and see if it fairs any better:

http://cytomic.com/downloads/Cytomic_Th ... Mac_Au.zip

Andrew Simper

Working great now Andy! It is also showing up on every track now instead of just busses (Leopard). You're making these fixes extremely fast... awesome support!!! SOUNDS AMAZING!!!!

Is the boarder around the plugin supposed to be this thick?

[donkey tugger]

Compressor eh? Blimey.

Whatever it is get the f**k on with it.

Personally, I always liked the name of that shop in Chapeltown, "Lan Kompressor 2000 General Store". Never been in obviously.

[tremolounge]

Yep, thanks Andy, 1.0.4 working fine in Logic now, and just for your info, the VST is working in Peak Pro 6.1 (again, on OS 10.4.11). Back to demoing...

[andy-cytomic]

...
First impressions (from the perspective of a master bus compressor): Wow! and also meh.. Let me explain

The "wow" because it really does sound/behave like a bog standard SSL compressor, the "meh.." because of the same reason.

LOL! Excellent rundown, thanks loads for giving you take on things

...The range knob is brilliant. It's very easy to get some pleasant glue going on with attack and release set to fastest, threshold all the way down and then simply play with the range knob for the amount of compression you want. It's also easy to abuse the smack/chunk by using slowest attack, fast release and then a fine tuning of threshold vs range. Very clever stuff.

I think this is key to The Glue, so I'm glad you like it. I was so tempted to remove the Wet Mix knob since, in my opinion, using the range knob gives much better results.

Look for a more comprehensive review sometime in the future (with audio clips from Kingston's hardware "high-end" SSL thing).

Cheers!
bManic

Great, I look forward to reading it and listening to the examples, I'm sure I'll learn something Peace bManic!

Andrew Simper

[sureno]

intel mac pro 10.5.6 cant get it to show in normal tracks only buss' v1.0.4??? thought this was normal till above poster said it's visible on all tracks

btw logic 8.0.2 it does however show up in bias peak pro 6.1

Ignore, it doesnt show up on mono tracks, an instrument track is default mono

[andy-cytomic]

intel mac pro 10.5.6 cant get it to show in normal tracks only buss' v1.0.4??? thought this was normal till above poster said it's visible on all tracks

btw logic 8.0.2 it does however show up in bias peak pro 6.1

Ignore, it doesnt show up on mono tracks, an instrument track is default mono

Internally I support 1-1 2-1 2-2 4-2 configs, but I need to sort out with Magnus how to negotiate that with his excellent Symbiosis AU wrapper.

Andrew Simper

[Franzel]

Couldn't get it to work in Reaper.. all knobs & buttons are frozen. However, I got it to work in FL Studio and Wavelab 6.

bManic

No problems here in Reaper 2.57 and Cubase 4.5.

[Zero dB]

After all the hype I'm sorry to say that to me this just sounds like another software compressor. I'm not hearing anything special at all On a quick test I actually get better buss compressor-style with the ten year old Waves RenComp - sounds much more "musical".

In terms of hardware emulation, I'm running a real API 2500 here and I know The Glue is supposed to be an SSL emu - not an API - but it has none of that h/w 'sound' that you get with high end analog hardware. Not hearing any mojo whatsoever.

Analog compressor h/w manufacturers can still sleep easy I'm afraid...

[aud.io]

Couldn't get it to work in Reaper.. all knobs & buttons are frozen.

Same here, but then it worked. Have you tried switching it off and on again?

[Zero dB]

Couldn't get it to work in Reaper.. all knobs & buttons are frozen.

Same here, but then it worked. Have you tried switching it off and on again?

Yeah - ditto. Putting it offline and online solved this for me. On initial load it was frozen.

[SWAN808]

Andy - I have noticed something small - in Ableton it is not possible to bring the plugin forward (when surrounded by other plugins) by clicking on the GUI - you have to click on the thin top bar...

[djanthonyw]

Internally I support 1-1 2-1 2-2 4-2 configs, but I need to sort out with Magnus how to negotiate that with his excellent Symbiosis AU wrapper.

Ignore, it doesnt show up on mono tracks, an instrument track is default mono

[andy-cytomic]

( edit: this link is out of date please refer here http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 75#3504475 )

To everyone that has already shown their support by buying the plugin I thank you deeply. I have been up for a very long period of time, and will send out builds to everyone as a matter of priority once I have had some rest

I've got all the version numbers back in line, no changes to anything else so for mac people this is the same as the 1.0.4 build.

Trial limitations:
* No host parameters, you have to edit via the plugin gui
* No loading of presets, but you can save them
* Quiet noise
* One week trial period

http://cytomic.com/downloads/Cytomic_Th ... in_Vst.zip
http://cytomic.com/downloads/Cytomic_Th ... ac_Vst.zip
http://cytomic.com/downloads/Cytomic_Th ... Mac_Au.zip