Kush AR-1: Fat, Old, Gritty Tube Compression… No iLok Dongle!

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Now do...Brighton

No way I'm demoing or buying another compressor right now! Under any circumstance. People gotta eat.

[reggie1979]

Now do...Brighton

No way I'm demoing or buying another compressor right now! Under any circumstance. People gotta eat.

amen.

[PapaG]

Now that people have been living with it for a couple of weeks, what's the verdict?

[GNXT]

Now that people have been living with it for a couple of weeks, what's the verdict?

I have to say i'm demoing since it was released and i'm fighting with my conscience every day to not buy another compressor, trying to make it sound bad but i can't. This thing is the best i ever heard i compared it against most of the UAD comps i have, then against plugin alliance choices, McDsp, IK.

It doesn't ever distort badly, or click like most ITB compressors, the punch i get letting through the transients is always very nicely rounded and fat. Love it distorting a bit on 808's and bass, drums bus and individual drums i get really nice warm round sound, let me even say 3D.

Also great on synths, adding nice texture and gluing everything together, post-fx really creates a nice glued sound. Very similar results on vocals.

I think i'm going to give give today

[Endor-8o8]

Now that people have been living with it for a couple of weeks, what's the verdict?

Tested it through some mixes and it's a keeper.
It's more versatile than it seems and it's truly a one of a kind compressor.
I mainly used it on rock and soul stuff but it should find its place on lot of more modern
styles. It's also very easy to find a sweet spot, seems impossible to make it sound bad. Really. Can't say enough good things about it.
$99 bucks for such a great comp is also a pretty fair pricing imo.
My demo is expiring on saturday and once I'll have gather some money I'll buy my license right away.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Now that people have been living with it for a couple of weeks, what's the verdict?

I may be biased since I've been testing it for months but it's been in constant use since the first betas. There's been no, "eh...I used it a bunch at first but then moved on" phase. Really, just a top, top compressor plugin IMO.

I have a hardware LA-2A clone (Stam) and I've been using AR-1 as a bass compressor while mixing. Slightly different vibe sure, the AR-1 is more aggressive whereas the LA-2A is smooth, but I've been preferring AR-1 in that "tube-y bass compressor" task for mixing. Note: I'll still use the 2A when tracking a smooth bass DI part to level things off going into the DAW. AR-1 can be great on guitars, vocals, and keys too.

[kpv]

Can Kush plugins be used without dongle and internet access after some sort of one time activation? Id rather keep my computer offline like with Plugin Alliance and other one time activation plugins.

[NeonNightflyer]

Can Kush plugins be used without dongle and internet access after some sort of one time activation? Id rather keep my computer offline like with Plugin Alliance and other one time activation plugins.

As far as I know, Kush requires the iLok license manager but not the dongle or iLok Cloud. I only own TWK, but I can use it offline.

[kpv]

So I should be able to use their plugins offline? Guess I will demo to find out. Thanks for confirming! Very interested in AR1 and the other compressors.

[Ploki]

So I should be able to use their plugins offline? Guess I will demo to find out. Thanks for confirming! Very interested in AR1 and the other compressors.

Yes, machine activation, works offline.
I'm selling my AR-1 license.
Bought it as a replacement for Pulsar Mu when Mu was acting up on me, but i feel like i prefer Mu and go for it more often.

AR-1 is great tho, one of better compressors I've used.