The Black Clamp

The Black Clamp: Fully Independent Dual-channel FET compression. Fast, punchy, forward.

The Black Clamp is a dual-channel FET compressor built on the JFET gain-reduction topology - the circuit character behind some of the most recognizable compression sounds in recorded music. Two fully independent channel strips with complete per-channel control over every parameter. Link them for stereo, run them independently for dual mono, or flip to M/S mode for bus and mastering work without any external routing.

Two Complete Channel Strips. Nothing Shared.

Every parameter is fully independent on each channel: Input, Output, Attack, Release, Auto Release, Ratio, SC HPF, and Mix. Link mode mirrors the left channel to the right in real time for fast stereo setup but is not a lock - adjust the right channel after linking and it holds. Mix is never affected by Link.

Attack runs from 20µs to 800µs continuous. Release runs from 50ms to 1100ms. Double-click either knob to snap to classic hardware positions. Auto Release is a per-channel toggle - when engaged, release time adapts continuously to signal content, pulling back fast when the compressor is working hard and settling slow as gain reduction lightens.

ALL Mode

The Ratio knob has six positions: 2, 4, 8, 12, 20, and ALL. The first five follow standard gain computer curves. ALL engages a modified gain computer with a fixed 12:1 effective ratio, a 3 dB soft knee, and additional 2nd harmonic injection. It is the most aggressive setting on the dial - it pumps, it saturates, and it does things to a drum bus that no other ratio position can replicate. This is the approach behind the classic all-buttons hardware technique.

Sidechain HPF and Parallel Blend

The SC HPF rolls off low-frequency content from the sidechain detector only - the audio signal is unaffected. Four positions per channel: Off, 60 Hz, 100 Hz, 200 Hz. Use 100 Hz for most bus work to keep kick and bass from driving excessive gain reduction across the full mix. Use 200 Hz when the low end is particularly dense.

The Mix knob provides built-in parallel compression per channel. Blend compressed and dry signal without any DAW routing. Link never affects Mix - each channel's blend is always independent.

Stereo / Dual Mono / M/S

Three routing modes. Stereo uses a shared sidechain (sum of L+R) for identical gain reduction on both channels - natural stereo image preservation. Dual Mono gives each channel a fully independent detector and gain computer. M/S converts input to Mid and Side, processes each independently, then converts back - left strip handles Mid, right strip handles Side. Built-in M/S compression for bus and mastering work with no external routing required.

FET Character

A JFET-modeled saturation stage runs after gain reduction on each channel. It is driven by the Input control - higher input levels produce more 2nd and 3rd harmonic content, with 2nd harmonic dominant due to the asymmetric clipping character of JFET circuits. At conservative input levels it adds subtle color. Push the Input and it adds density, grit, and presence.

Metering

Two VU meters - one per channel - display gain reduction (0 at top, reads downward). 11-segment LED input bars per channel strip show peak levels in real time.

Features

• Dual-channel FET compressor - two fully independent channel strips.
• Input: -12 to +12 dB per channel.
• Output: -12 to +12 dB per channel.
• Attack: 20µs to 800µs continuous - double-click snaps to classic positions.
• Release: 50ms to 1100ms continuous - double-click snaps to classic positions.
• Auto Release toggle per channel - program-dependent, adapts to signal content.
• Ratio: 2, 4, 8, 12, 20, ALL - detented 6-position knob.
• ALL mode: 12:1 effective, 3 dB soft knee, 2nd harmonic injection.
• SC HPF per channel: Off / 60 / 100 / 200 Hz - sidechain only, audio unaffected.
• Mix: 0-100% parallel blend per channel, always independent of Link.
• Link mode: mirrors left channel to right, never affects Mix.
• Stereo / Dual Mono / M/S routing modes.
• VU meters per channel: gain reduction.
• 11-segment LED input meters per channel strip.
• JFET-modeled saturation stage - 2nd harmonic dominant, driven by Input.
• VST3 (Windows, macOS, Linux) + AU (macOS).
• Perpetual license - 3 simultaneous activations.
• Full-featured demo mode - every control active, silence every 30 seconds.