Thrillseeker VBL
by Variety Of Sound
by Variety Of Sound
4.7 / 5
(20 votes)
Thrillseeker VBL is an emulation of a vintage broadcast limiter following the classic Variable-Mu design principles from the early 1950's.
They were used to prevent audio overshoots by managing sudden signals changes. From today's perspective, and compared to brickwall limiters, they are rather slow and should be seen as more of a gain structure leveler, but they still are shining when it comes to perform gain riding in a very musical fashion - they have warmth and mojo written all over.
Thrillseeker VBL is a “modded” version, which not only has the classic gain reduction controls but also grants detailed access to the amount and appearance of harmonic tube amplifier distortion occurring in the analog tube circuit. Applied in subtle doses, this dials in that analog magic we often miss when working in the digital domain, but you can also overdrive the circuit to have more obvious but still musical sounding harmonic distortion (and according sideeffects) for use as a creative effect.
On top, Thrillseeker VBL offers an incredibly authentic audio transformer simulation which not only models the typical low-end harmonic distortion but also all the frequency- and load dependent subtleties occurring in a transformer coupled tube circuit, and which add up to that typical mojo we know from the analog classics. This would not have been possible with plain waveshaping techniques but has been realized with my innovative Stateful Saturation approach, making it possible to model circuits having a (short) sort of memory.
They were used to prevent audio overshoots by managing sudden signals changes. From today's perspective, and compared to brickwall limiters, they are rather slow and should be seen as more of a gain structure leveler, but they still are shining when it comes to perform gain riding in a very musical fashion - they have warmth and mojo written all over.
Thrillseeker VBL is a “modded” version, which not only has the classic gain reduction controls but also grants detailed access to the amount and appearance of harmonic tube amplifier distortion occurring in the analog tube circuit. Applied in subtle doses, this dials in that analog magic we often miss when working in the digital domain, but you can also overdrive the circuit to have more obvious but still musical sounding harmonic distortion (and according sideeffects) for use as a creative effect.
On top, Thrillseeker VBL offers an incredibly authentic audio transformer simulation which not only models the typical low-end harmonic distortion but also all the frequency- and load dependent subtleties occurring in a transformer coupled tube circuit, and which add up to that typical mojo we know from the analog classics. This would not have been possible with plain waveshaping techniques but has been realized with my innovative Stateful Saturation approach, making it possible to model circuits having a (short) sort of memory.
Downloads
Win 32 VST
(2.7 Mb)
(5 / 5)
VoS just released this as 64 bit on their website. The new one has additional features and sounds freaking amazing. It's a gem of a plugin. Thank you Herbert, the community loves you!
(5 / 5)
Been collecting plugins for over 4 years and I keep coming back to this one. It has a vibe I can't find anywhere else, it's quality sounding and easy to use. It's perfect.
(5 / 5)
My old time favorite for drums. Set input to 3/4 or more, comp and amp off and that's it. It clamps down on the drums nicely without sounding distorted or compressed. From my personal experience it can be used for mastering too but at higher levels something happens to HF. Almost like hysteresis or maybe aliasing, making the top end sound somewhat squashed.
(5 / 5)
This is an astounding compressor. It's probably the best I've used in the digital domain. It's better than Waves or Steve Slate. This gives the Drum Aux or the Master an analogue warmth missing in a SSL comp for example. You can also give a final sheen with this warmth, via the settings included.Yet applying these settings does not result in harshness, the warmth and natural aspect remains! The end result is a very warm yet shiny quality given to your track. It's free, and better than many paid for Compressors. Essential.
The Grandfather of LA2A !!!!!!
(5 / 5)
My fave compressor, and I have several Waves and other paid compressors. Lends classic, tube vibe.
(5 / 5)
I love it!
My long time favorite. It has very analog sound and behaveour to it. If you're doing 50s-60s music this is a must try. The In Gain makes a great authentic fat saturation, my main use. The comp knob is rather basic but at low settings is good to level the saturated tone.
It's great for imbuing specifically mid-60s or late 70s 1st-wave punk vibe and armhair-standing character. Pair this with a "Reels" (paid vst which sims a 60s Japanese obscure tape machine; has slow running speed, about 3.5 ips), and you've got most of what's needed if you want underground, obscure rock and roll strange on a deep level.
(5 / 5)
Another GORGEOUS mastering tool (well, it can be used anyway you like, but check the "curves") <3 <3 <3 <3
(5 / 5)
Is this the only and best FREE Vari-Mu Comp/Limiter out there ? Better than Manley Vari-Mu, Slate Fairchild-Mu and Softube NI vari-mu !
(5 / 5)
Great plugin, love all the vst's that Variety Of Sound provide us for FREE!!! :)
(4 / 5)
Besides dynamics control and great saturation, I like the way it damps hi freqs (if you leave Brilliance in default position), perfect for harsh, distorted guitars.
(5 / 5)
This sound is what I found the best. It is a good plugin for streaming with winamp in cobination with breakaway broadcaster. Thxxxxx
(4 / 5)
This is great. Very warm.
(5 / 5)
BEST SOUND!!! Thanks dude :)
(5 / 5)
Works amazingly on almost everything I have used it on. It's just magical.
(5 / 5)
You just can't stop smiling after putting this thing on the drum bus. Actually you can put it everywhere, switch it on, adjust the amp knob and enjoy the show. If you are one of those looking for a great analog, colourful vintage sound with the extra portion of mojo I gotta say this thing is it! Thank you VOS, your work is outstandingly stunning and I can`t think of music production without your plugins anymore!
This is the top if you are into vintage processors. AMAZING
Very good distortion, appears to do some interesting phase shifts that affect timbre.
Yes, another great vst, these are PRO level for mastering, even better than what the pro level are getting. Keep up the pump guy's who needs to pay for studio stuff when you can just get pro level right here.
(5 / 5)
Oh my Plugin! Wow... this thing is another holy grail... makes everthing perfect even better. Keep on pushing:)