1. Overloud Gem COMP670
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Gem COMP670 from Overloud will give you an emulation of three studio units and many useful features.
The developers from Overloud did a great job here because they combined the emulation of three studio units in one plugin. Yes, they are all FairChild. But the point is that they differ in sound because some compressors have changed components. As a result, you will have the opportunity to play with three different flavors.
In addition, the creators have added many digital realm features, making this plugin a really powerful tool. For example, you will have a Sidechain Filter, the ability to influence the amount of harmonic content, parallel compression and more. Let’s now try to understand all this in more detail.
Key Features:
- Input Gain And Threshold
The large Input Gain and Threshold controls will be your main ones when working with this plugin. Thanks to the first one, you can send the required amount of signal to the compressor, and thanks to the second one, you can adjust the threshold of the compression. In addition, most knobs are mirrored, so you can make separate settings for the right and left channels or mid/side processing. - Choose Time Constant
As for the attack and release settings, the Time Constant switches will be responsible for this. In general, they have six positions: the first will have the fastest attack and release, and the last two have a slow attack and program-dependent release, so they are suitable for mastering or bus processing. - Three Compressor Modes
The developers created this plugin based on three FairChild compressors from different cities. Therefore, you will see a switcher with options for London, Los Angeles, and Milan. The first one is the warmest and most authentic. As for the other two, you will be able to get from them some more sheen in the high frequencies. - DC Threshold And Harmonic Controls
Looking at the bottom left corner of the plugin window, you will see two small DC Thres and Harm controls. The first one will be responsible for setting hard or soft knee. As for the second one, you can add more harmonic distortion with it and get more analog grit. - Add a Sidechain Filter
An extremely useful feature of this plugin is the Sidechain Filter. Thanks to it, you can tell the compressor not to consider low information. In particular, this function works in the range of up to 500 hertz. - Parallel Compression
And, of course, you also get a Parallel control, which is the balance setting of Dry and Wet signals. In this case, you can apply quite extreme parameters and mix them with the original signal, a well-known parallel compression technique.
Compatibility:
Overloud Gem COMP670 is available for Windows Vista or higher (both 32 and 64-bit) and macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST, AU, and AAX formats.
Summary:
Gem COMP670 by Overloud is an extremely powerful compressor that will give you an authentic analog sound and a lot of modern features. You can influence the flavors of compression, add harmonics, apply sidechain and run compression in parallel. This plugin is suitable for many scenarios, including processing individual instruments or work as a great mastering compressor.
2. Overloud Gem Comp76 V2
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Double the compressor for double the control with Overloud’s take on the Urei 1176.
When you first open the Comp76 v2, you will see one of the compressors matching the functionalities of the hardware unit, including the famous All ratio mode. However, there is a section below the compressors that adds several more drastic features to the plugin.
First, let’s talk about the mid/side mode toggle switch, which adds another compressor in the GUI for convenience. This feature, which wasn’t available in the original hardware, lets you add compression to the mono and the stereo information of your audio separately. Although, we would have loved to see a dedicated left and right channel compression mode as well. Second, we have the Parallel knob, which is essentially a mix knob to get a parallel compression effect. And the third idiosyncrasy is the LF Sens knob, which controls the low-frequency sensitivity of the compressor. Let’s talk about the rest below.
Key Features:
- Multiple Revisions
The Urei 1176 saw several revisions, each improving on the sound quality of the hardware. And so, in Comp76 v2, the first knob on the lower section labeled “REV.” lets you select various revisions of the hardware unit. The first one, ‘A,’ is the original version and has the warmest sound with a high noise floor. The one labeled ‘D(LN)’ is the newer black version with a cleaner sound. Similarly, the third one, called ‘F,’ is the newest revision of the hardware with the most transparent and cleanest sound. - Harmonics Control
The Harmonics knob lets you control how much distortion the compressor should introduce in your audio. The saturation results from the emulation of the transformers in the original hardware, so a little bit of it makes your audio sound warmer. - Quick Reaction
Just like the hardware unit, Comp76 also offers super-fast attack times ranging from 20 to 800 microseconds. This ability makes the compressor capable of catching the quickest transients in your audio. However, it doesn’t limit the usage of this plugin to only percussive sounds — 1176 has been used on just about anything, even for its subtle saturation, if not the compression itself.
Compatibility:
This plugin is available for Windows Vista or higher 32-bit or 64-bit and macOS 10.9 or higher 64-bit. It comes in VST 2, AU, and AAX (only AAX64 for both OSes).
Summary:
There isn’t any FET compressor plugin that gives you the option to select from three hardware revisions. So, we think that is a huge advantage the Comp76 has over the competition. Furthermore, its CPU usage is also relatively low, making this plugin a considerable candidate for your use.
3. Overloud TH-U
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Overloud TH-U is a great utility for building a complete guitar chain.
The TH-U from Overloud is another amp sim that gives you everything you need to build your guitar tone. In addition to many guitar amp models, you will also be able to shape them however you want by changing the components, which will be a real paradise for those constantly looking for a new sound.
As for the interface of this plugin, it is quite clear. You can select the necessary units and drag and drop them into your chain, located in the center of the window. In general, the amount of virtual gear here is impressive. Let’s break it down in more detail.
Key Features:
- Form A Chain Or Use Presets
On the right side of the plugin window, you will have a list of virtual guitar gear divided into categories. Just select the desired components and drag them to the main panel. If you want to use presets, you will see them on the left side of the plugin. - Huge Amount Of Units
The number of virtual units here is great. For example, there are over 90 amps, 50 cabinets, 77 effects, and 18 microphones. There are also official amplifier editions, including Randall, DV Mark, Brunetti, and THD Amps. - Customize Your Amplifier
A wonderful feature here is that you can customize the components in any of the virtual amplifiers yourself. Click on the gear button, and you will see a panel where you can change the Pre-Amp and Power-Amp tubes. There is also an option to change the voltage of the amplifier. - Change Microphone Positions
As for the cabinets, you will also be able to change the positions of the microphones. Generally, you can place up to four different mics at the front or back of each cabinet and experiment with the sound. - TH-U Rig Player
Another unique feature of this plugin is the TH-U Rig Player. It allows you to reproduce sampled rig setups. So you can capture the responses of your amp, cabinet, mics, and even your room and reproduce every nuance of the guitar tone.
Compatibility:
Overloud TH-U is available for Windows Vista or higher (both 32 and 64-bit) and macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST, AU and AAX formats.
Summary:
It’s probably hard to imagine another plugin where you get a huge amount of virtual guitar equipment. The Overloud TH-U is an entire hub where you can reamp or search for your sound. You’ll have lots of guitar amps, cabinets, and effect units. Plus, you can tweak the amps as you like and capture the response of a real guitar setup.
4. Overloud – Mark Studio 2
More Info & Price (Trial Available)
Mark Studio 2 is the compilation of several classic Markbass amps, cabinets, and pedals. The emulation of the best of the best by the notorious Italian brand, developed by Overloud.
The Mar Studio 2 is very straightforward, easy to use, and intuitive. You can dial great bass tones without much effort. The versatility factor is a big one also, from quiver subs to fuzzy, distorted tones. Indeed, you’ll find the perfect fit for your sound in the wide variety of options of Markbass amps available.
Key Features:
- Six amps and nine cabinets
The bass amps available are the TA501, the Classic 300, the R500, the TTE500, the MoMark, and the Little Mark Tube. As for the cabinets, the list is long but some of them include a STD 151HR (rear-ported 1×15″), a STD 152HR (rear-ported 2×15″), a STD 104HR (rear-ported 1×15″), a STD 104HF (front-ported 4×10″), and a STD 106HF (front-ported 6×10″). - Full pedalboard equipped
Chorus is really similar to what you would expect from a BOSS chorus, such as the CS-2. You get a full pedalboard with the most practical effects a bassist can have: an Octave pedal, a game-changer tool for bass, especially soloing. An Envelope Filter, another excellent tool for getting a lead bass sound. 2. A Distortion pedal, which of course, brings out an instant metal machine. And of course, the most important tool for a bassist, a Compressor, which is really the best way to make your bass sound cut through the mix. - Ultra-flexible signal path.
You can use multiple microphones simultaneously if you want to, you can use a main (woofer) for capturing the low end, a tweeter, which is good for accentuated mids, and, if you feel the need to, you can use the third mic, you can also use a rear bass reflex (port). You can fully adjust to your liking the signal path as far as the balance between the Direct input, the Line Out, and the Mic Output levels, which gives you full autonomy for controlling your input and output levels. - Mix controls
A unique feature of it is its Mix window. You get in it four different faders for controlling four signal inputs. Respectively: Direct, for the DI signal, Tweeter for the treble speaker that is designed to produce high audio frequencies, Room, which would be your room sound, as if a mic was capturing it from a certain distance. And lastly, Rear, which is the simulation of a microphone also capturing the sound, but from behind the speaker.
Compatibility:
The Mark Studio 2 by Overloud is available for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 64 and 32 bit, and Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and above 64 bit. And it comes in VST, AAX64, AudioUnitAU, or AAX formats.
Summary:
Suppose you want something efficient where you don’t have to worry about dialing your tone right and taking too much time setting everything up. In that case, this is an excellent option, without mentioning the variety of different amps that you would end up getting with just one plugin.
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