An efficient and great sounding 1176 emulation - Black Rooster Audio VLA-FET

[ThomC]

In this video, I go through the different settings of what turned out to be an efficient and great sounding 1176 emulation : The Black Rooster Audio VLA FET compressor.



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[Ploki]

it's just a bit slow tho. I always preferred Softube FET over it, you really need to smash the inputs on this one.

[midi_transmission]

It's great sounding and I like it, just a too slow release due to the special model they used for typical 1176 smashing sounds.

I still hope that they will model a more standard 1176 in addition to get it breathing with a fast release.

[imrae]

I agree; I like this compressor but it's really annoying that I have to switch to a different one for full-on "smashy" rather than having this fully occupy the "FET" slot.

[ThomC]

it's just a bit slow tho. I always preferred Softube FET over it, you really need to smash the inputs on this one.

Agreed with the input thing (I actually pushed it all the way to compress my 'Ekick' track).

It's great sounding and I like it, just a too slow release due to the special model they used for typical 1176 smashing sounds.

I still hope that they will model a more standard 1176 in addition to get it breathing with a fast release.

In a folk-pop genre like mine, I like the fact that this one has both a sufficient amount of control and character to offer. But yes, it's not the fastest nor the most aggressive 76 emulation.

I agree; I like this compressor but it's really annoying that I have to switch to a different one for full-on "smashy" rather than having this fully occupy the "FET" slot.

I think it can still be considered as a FET compressor but yes, for extreme levels of THD and for a very spanky sound, there are options that are more aggressive out there. Actually DMG Audio's TrackComp is pretty good in that regard, it's got 2 different 76 revisions as well and a Bias control to introduce more harmonic distortion.

[midi_transmission]

Well said, ThomC.

[ThomC]

Well said, ThomC.

Thanks mate! What are your go to 1176s? Maybe there's one I really need to check out.

[Ploki]

a while ago I did a blind of various FETs incl a hardware clone:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wep167jq030u ... 4xz3a?dl=0

i cant remember where i keep the results tho, i think it was in another VLA FET thread on this forum.

If VLA-FET had a "fast" mode it would be on top imo. Right now Softube FET is one of the most authentic.
If you need to do just smashy smashy, pulsar smasher is also great

[MogwaiBoy]

a while ago I did a blind of various FETs incl a hardware clone:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wep167jq030u ... 4xz3a?dl=0

i cant remember where i keep the results tho, i think it was in another VLA FET thread on this forum.

If VLA-FET had a "fast" mode it would be on top imo. Right now Softube FET is one of the most authentic.
If you need to do just smashy smashy, pulsar smasher is also great

That test you did was great - really opened my eyes (ears? ) to 1176 emulations. Softube was indeed closest to hardware, even though it's ancient by now they just got it pretty right. Some others weren't super accurate but had a different cool vibe of their own (PSP), but unfortunately the Black Rooster behaved like it was not even in the same 1176 family.

Has anyone checked out the Pulsar Audio 1178?

[Ploki]

I had it but ultimately sold it.
It’s very nice, but didn’t make the cut during my “i can mix everything with voxengo and fab” downsizing phase lol.

[ThomC]

I actually made a video review of the 1178 sometime ago, it's pretty versatile considering the sidechain options and the different saturation modes included

[midi_transmission]

Well said, ThomC.

Thanks mate! What are your go to 1176s? Maybe there's one I really need to check out.

Haven't found the 1176 emulation that fully satisfies me. Usually the mentioned Trackcomp or uhe Presswerk or when no fast release is needed VLA-FET, but more often than not I don't use emulations at all. VC76 (NI/Softtube) is also good, I like the release of it a lot, but the saturation and attack it sometimes not convincing me. I think Trackcomp is an fantastic concept and I like the functional look. But I have my issues with it. The sound can be superb, but sometimes I'm not getting the sound I want even after tweaking a lot. I have no idea if I imagine the sound wrongly (possible) or if trackcomp has quirks sometimes. And for me a large part of the appeal from 1176 and la2a is the fast setup without thinking. So, love hate relation with me and trackcomp - more love though.



The 1178 looks like somehing I want to try, but ilok is a stopper for me. :/

@ThomC: by the way, great voice

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I've got several 1176 clones, including one hardware clone. For my money, the best software comps are from UAD, DMG Audio, and Softube. The Brainworks (Purple), Pulsar, and Arturia are good takes too, just to my ears not quite in that first tier.

[ThomC]

Well said, ThomC.

Thanks mate! What are your go to 1176s? Maybe there's one I really need to check out.

Haven't found the 1176 emulation that fully satisfies me. Usually the mentioned Trackcomp or uhe Presswerk or when no fast release is needed VLA-FET, but more often than not I don't use emulations at all. VC76 (NI/Softtube) is also good, I like the release of it a lot, but the saturation and attack it sometimes not convincing me. I think Trackcomp is an fantastic concept and I like the functional look. But I have my issues with it. The sound can be superb, but sometimes I'm not getting the sound I want even after tweaking a lot. I have no idea if I imagine the sound wrongly (possible) or if trackcomp has quirks sometimes. And for me a large part of the appeal from 1176 and la2a is the fast setup without thinking. So, love hate relation with me and trackcomp - more love though.



The 1178 looks like somehing I want to try, but ilok is a stopper for me. :/

@ThomC: by the way, great voice

Thanks for the detailed reply! I've not tried Presswerk yet, but it sounded great from the demos I heard. I see what you mean, I think the best thing to do is to have multiple emulations and use them for specific circumstances. TrackComp can be a little tricky at times it's one of those plugins that's gonna take me more time to fully comprehend though, its behaviour is quite unique.

I don't mind Iloks to be honest, they make things quite useful when I want to get my plugins from one computer to the other. But I've seen a lot of people not liking them at all.

Thanks a lot for the compliments on my voice!

[jens]

but unfortunately the Black Rooster behaved like it was not even in the same 1176 family.

It's really odd - Ray has quite the reputation, however also the two BRA opto-emulations seem to be way off:






And it has to be said that most of the stuff which Ray emulates for FAL is so obscure that a shootout like this is rather unlikely to happen.