Advanced Controls
VCME has 3 pages of advanced controls. Click on the images below to see the advanced pages in detail. You can also read about the advanced pages in the plugin manual.
Of all the things we’ve engineered at Goodhertz over the past decade, Vulf Compressor remains one of our most wonderful & unusual algorithms.
It has that sound.
As Vulfpeck’s Jack Stratton put it during our first email exchange on the prototype: “NICE! that special sauce. the way it snaps that snare is the $$$!”
Since its release in 2014, Vulf Compressor has been everywhere: lofi beat tapes to Hollywood film scores — even on Dua Lipa’s vocal chain. Surely, you’ve heard it on some music somewhere. But for all its raw power, Vulf Compressor’s iconic three-main-control design — central to Stratton’s original vision — can be limiting in situations that demand a lighter touch.
As legendary mixer Michael Brauer once said of Vulf Comp: “On the outside, it may look like a Volvo, but under the hood, it’s a monster truck.”
Indeed. But you won’t win the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a monster truck.
That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the official release of Vulf Compressor Mastering Edition (VCME), a new kind of Vulf Compressor — a Vulf Compressor purpose-built for mastering & bus processing.
VCME is cut from the same cloth as the original, yet it unlocks a range of compression that is inaccessible in its predecessor: familiar, yet distinctly refined. It’s not for everyone, and… that’s kind of the point.
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Classic Compression Controls
Ratio, threshold, makeup gain, sidechain HPF. VCME retains the vari-mu characteristics of Vulf Compressor but in a way that is easier to dial in if you’re used to a classic compressor control-set.
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Release “Style” Control
Choose your own release character: opto, FET, or anywhere in between.
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Soft Clip
A very special analog soft clipping / saturation section follows the compression stage. Use it to prevent digital overs, add subtle clipping, or apply all-out fuzz and saturation. It has four different modes, each with their own vibe.
- Chino: Hifi, classic tube sound, notes of Hendrix
- Rødovre: Round, tube-y, smooth
- Detroit: Grungy, warm, notes of Jamerson
- Melbourn: Punchy, British, transformer saturation
In fact, the Soft Clip section is so cool we turned it into a standalone plugin: VCME Soft Clip — a plugin you get for free when you purchase VCME.
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Sidechain Tilt
The first of its kind: a completely linear spectral tilt on the sidechain, allowing one to control precisely how the compressor reacts to the frequency spectrum, often eliminating the need for a de-esser or multiband compressor.
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Extensive Stereo / Surround Linking
Support for M/S & surround modes.
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Transparent Frequency Response
No matter the settings, Vulf Compressor imparts a certain color on everything; here we’ve ensured the frequency spectrum remains completely untouched.
What if I already own Vulf Compressor?
Vulf Compressor and VCME are very different plugins built for very different purposes. If you’ve always wanted Vulf-style compression, but with more flexibility and versatility, VCME has got you covered.
VCME is 25% off for owners of any version of Vulf Compressor. Make sure you are logged into your Goodhertz account with an existing Vulf Compressor license before making a VCME purchase.
Is VCME Soft Clip included with a purchase of VCME?
Yes! Every purchase of VCME includes a separate VCME Soft Clip plugin free of charge.
What if I just want VCME Soft Clip?
If you are sure you only want VCME Soft Clip, we’ve now made it possible to buy it as a standalone purchase with a reduced price. More info is available on the VCME Soft Clip page.
VCME in use
Sean Kiely - I Ain’t Got No Home In This World
Sean Kiely uses VCME to spice up a Bluetooth mic recording.
Zoom Meeting with Jack Stratton
Zoom Meeting with Jack Stratton regarding the final release of Vulf Compressor Mastering Edition (VCME) — though Jack was the idea man behind the original Vulf Compressor plugin, for VCME he was happy to put Devin from @goodhertz in the driver’s seat, to see what Devin would come up with if he had free rein to build the mastering compressor of his dreams.
The final result: quite possibly “the only compressor you’ll ever need” (and a soft clipper you didn’t know you wanted).