Thrillseeker VBL
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.
Downloads
Eel Oct 22 2022
(5 / 5)
Oct 22 2022
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!
C_Pete Apr 08 2021
(5 / 5)
Apr 08 2021
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.
Rocker Dec 18 2020
(5 / 5)
Dec 18 2020
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.
Steve Jul 28 2020
(5 / 5)
Jul 28 2020
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.
Athan Aug 24 2019
Aug 24 2019
The Grandfather of LA2A !!!!!!
Brian Pigment Apr 25 2019
(5 / 5)
Apr 25 2019
My fave compressor, and I have several Waves and other paid compressors. Lends classic, tube vibe.
Robin Jan 07 2019
(5 / 5)
Jan 07 2019
I love it!
Pete Nov 02 2017
Nov 02 2017
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.
Gwugluud Dec 20 2020
Dec 20 2020
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.
kvisionHOMErecs May 17 2017
(5 / 5)
May 17 2017
Another GORGEOUS mastering tool (well, it can be used anyway you like, but check the "curves") <3 <3 <3 <3
Dangenoir May 15 2017
(5 / 5)
May 15 2017
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 !
Sunda Aug 02 2016
(5 / 5)
Aug 02 2016
Great plugin, love all the vst's that Variety Of Sound provide us for FREE!!! :)
Viper ITB Mar 07 2016
(4 / 5)
Mar 07 2016
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.
johan Jan 16 2016
(5 / 5)
Jan 16 2016
This sound is what I found the best. It is a good plugin for streaming with winamp in cobination with breakaway broadcaster. Thxxxxx
Acialist Dec 06 2015
(4 / 5)
Dec 06 2015
This is great. Very warm.
DJ Kindd Jun 27 2015
(5 / 5)
Jun 27 2015
BEST SOUND!!! Thanks dude :)
Toby May 11 2015
(5 / 5)
May 11 2015
Works amazingly on almost everything I have used it on. It's just magical.
Chris Apr 02 2014
(5 / 5)
Apr 02 2014
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!
the way it is Mar 28 2014
Mar 28 2014
This is the top if you are into vintage processors. AMAZING
Earl Mar 08 2014
Mar 08 2014
Very good distortion, appears to do some interesting phase shifts that affect timbre.
Anonymous Sept 02 2013
Sept 02 2013
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.
Phoonck Aug 26 2013
(5 / 5)
Aug 26 2013
Oh my Plugin! Wow... this thing is another holy grail... makes everthing perfect even better. Keep on pushing:)