Slate Digital Virtual Buss Compressors Plugin Review - TheRecordingRevolution.com

[@MarkHolland3]

things that stood out to me immediately: Grey (SSL) - thicker bass added, MU - cymbals and treb. Big difference. I own this plugin and love it, but it was really handy to hear it on someone else's mix because by the time I'm normally using this my ears are messed up from hearing my own material for so long! Shame you didn't show us the Red though :(

[@make_wave]

I agree. There's a noticable level boost when you activate the compressors. Especially the grey one.

[@sh0rty1231]

guys if you dont have proper studio monitors you probably wont hear anything there^^ I can hear a rly big difference and I have "only got" krk rokit 5s (third generation). these plugins are extremely amazing. right now I am demoing them and I will buy it 100%

[@MiroslawSienkiewiczBattleAngel]

I hear the difference even on my hd419 sennheiser headphones :-) It's hudge difference

[@kick4273]

Miroslaw Sienkiewicz i hear on basic sennheiser earbuds...i must get this one...

[@Powhart]

I hear the difference but... Huge difference? Really? :/

[@bbuteo6066]

ya he normally dont push too much the plugins, ya there is not a huge difference even in louder environments, just a touch, thats just right when the mix is good.. dont fu*** the sound with your stupidity

[@jacksonueland]

Thats a pretty huge difference for just passing through

[@Liesaward]

Very very very good video, sound great in order to show the real job from every unit. Thanks.

[@spazimdam]

I want one! Can't afford tens of thousands of dollars for the hardware and this VCC sounds sweet. Just what my mixes need. Another great informative review Graham!

[@BookofIsaiah]

This is AMAZING!!!! Graham, I also like the way you demo it. I've seen demos for this on other channels and it was harder to hear the differences because the settings on each might be different so you really couldn't hear what was actually happening. The way you demo, I could INSTANTLY hear the sonic differences!!! Thanks Bro!!!!!!

[@SomebodyPickaName]

What I like to do is to turn all three on, and just pass audio through them without touching any knobs. Use the rack plugin as demonstrated in this video to do so. If I do use the compression, I flip the switch to mid side and process mid and side separately. Works well.

[@KernRamsdell]

A fat, cool sounding, and amazing plugin!!!! I love all Slate Digital stuff. They are true "sound shaping tools". They all bring great tone to the party!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I just picked this up last week and I LOVE the Bus Compressor. I alos have all the Slate plugs and in my opinion they are all worth every penny and I used them on EVERY mix! The FG Grey I compared to my UA SSL bus comp and they sound almost identical to my ears so I really didn't need that one but I love the MU

[@southsoundsound]

I bought this compressor, best thing out there in my opinion for anything with drums! as well as gluing mixes together to get the big album sound. Highly recommend.

[@thepianoman007]

Awesome stuff as always Graham!! I do have the whole bundle and still learning how to use the whole shebang properly but didn't get to this one yet and I must say, ooooh maan ! the difference even without compressing is soo noticeable and the first thing I will do now is slapping it on the master chain for my next mix. Cheers !

[@TheBDD65]

Hiya Graham... great review.... I own this as well and think it makes a great difference on my mixes. Been using the FG-Grey on my 2-buss in concert with VCC on the Brit4K setting, all in Reaper. Loving these compressors! Steven says that mono versions are on the way for use as well!

[@IntheDAW]

yes i notice that to when you turn it on it gains up the level that's why i turn it down on the knob to not get that trick in level boost but it does actually do what it sounds like it is its really a great compressor bundle

[@briansuicide]

Let me ask you this, just your opinion, I totally get and dig, it's technique not the plugin, and it's each their own taste and ears, but for fun, would you rather have SD VBC & VTM or VCC & VTM? I love all 3, but we were having a debate about it on another forum and I just had to get your opinion. Love the series of videos you have. Love how you take the time to talk about everything and don't just go right to playing the plugin toggling the bypass off and on. Thanks!!

[@TheCarymiller]

Brian actually the one I need the most is FX-G...I was so happy when it finally got ported over to AAX, and now they're going to release a new version of it soon. I own everything Slate Digital has put out...and it's all great stuff...but FX-G is the one I need at the end of the day for mastering / glue. SSD 4 is also insanely valuable to me but more so for pre-production / production work.

[@briankeller1849]

+Cary Miller FG-X isn't a miracle, but it's god damned close, especially if you check out how far you can zoom in the meters if you're into that sort of thing. It can and WILL overload the later versions are better but if you're not a level freak and just want it hot, it's pretty ultimate and I wish I knew how to run compressors just a little bit better cause the one in there sounds/works amazing

[@FullMetalHippiecom]

You can get this one, the mastering plugin, and a combo of Virtual Desks and Tape emulation for ~ $700.00 or less. Far less expensive than studio time. This is on my holiday gift list!

[@dmv_p]

Long live Slate Digital and Fab.

[@adamr8878]

People here complaining that this review wasn't long enough. It doesn't need to be any longer there is clearly a huge change in the sound and if you can't hear it, then you need some more experience because i can hear a big difference with both compressors here.

[@mymathmind]

Picked it up as part of the sale. Loving it so far. What song are using on this review Graham? Sounds great.

[@SWANbeats1]

When he turns it on and off the main effect is a level increase...that is the big effect 'making it sound better'-plus some noise in Mu and the EQ curve...and a little saturation...but Slate set it up for a level bump-on purpose...Soundonsound commented on this in their review...

[@rickspyder6159]

Fantastic review, Good bang for your buck and lots of creative potential for creating your own compression style...All great mixers have their own comp style, don't cha think...

[@tannerroman7396]

Some gear is purposely designed to add color to the audio. They build the gear with extra capacitors and resistors just so it can boost certain frequencies they want boosted. Even different eq's with the same settings can sound much different. The digidesign compressor is transparent when threshold is high, but they wanted this compressor to change the sound slightly when just turned on. It's how certain studios are known for "their sound". They use gear that has a distinguishable sound/color.

[@constantinaliferis7026]

I think you are just hearing the volume gain. Care to volume compensate? If there are added harmonics, show a spectrogram? Show what the compressors do when...compressing? They are not harmonic exciters after all....

[@constantinNYC]

You are right. In addition the fairchild emu in vbc adds a wide bump in midrange (also noted by sos). The whole rack also messes with the stereo image (makes it wider) and this is pleasing for many styles of music. However all of the above amount to tricks that are mostly irrelevant to the main purposes of these compressors...

[@therealmcscriptures]

I'd love to see more reviews/tutorials on anything from the Waves Mercury Bundle! I appreciate all your videos regardless! But a few more on Waves would be awesome :)

[@D1rtyraver]

most pro studios usually wait for a few releases before upgrading their software, such as Pro Tools. It means they don't always have the latest version but they know they can depend on their system not crashing and/or losing data due to software conflicts.

[@jlazelle1]

Everything is EQ. The room, the mic position, etc has a different frequency response. A compressor can affect the "EQ" because of the way it's components interact with the incoming audio. A cheap processor can have a negative effect like creating boxiness or distortion. It's like playing the same guitar through different amps. A VOX will sound totally different from a Marshall for the same reason.

[@GuRuGeorge03]

when turning the compressors on the track gets louder too... wouldn't you recommend to adjust the gain so that when you compare the mix with bypassed compressors to the mix with activated compressors that you dont get fooled by your brain ? I think when you adjust the gain properly you can only hear the sonic material that is added and not the loudness too that way you can hear the results in a more neutral way and have a better mix in the end ...sorry for my english if there are mistakes

[@weinbergler]

Great video Graham! Did you say that you throw this on the Master buss from the beginning of recording? If you are a dance music producer working mostly in the box with a few hardware synths, would you recommend putting this on the master b4 you begin working?

[@ImbaSoulDC]

Hey Graham, sorry that this is quite unrelated to the video, but have you tried PT 11, had any thoughts about it and why it might or might not be worth to upgrade to it? I see you're still using 10, is that because of the plug ins you have, or is the PT 11 upgrade not needed for your usage, or are you waiting? Just curious. And btw, that's crazy how it changes the sound just by turning it on. For a digital plug in, that's really excellent!

[@footnotedrummer]

Hi Graham. Is there a reason that you didn't run anything through the Focusrite RED?

[@larrytate1657]

It's all about slate, this one. Be cool to see some comparisons between the two.

[@mrmorpheus9707]

No red?

[@MrTheMoondog]

Just level increasing. You must firstly compensate the level difference with make-up gain knob and only then we can hear what this plagin do

[@DavieDave96]

I'm glad someone finally pointed this out. Thank you.

[@michaelrempel9025]

Nice. The hybrid is tough to figure out, but SSL gear has about a 1:1.1 compression on every channel. It is the way the preamp is built. I always laugh when so called analog, no compression purists tell me they mix on SSL. They will spend days playing with mic positions which is great discipline, but then avoid even small bits of comp. But routing the audio through 2 or 3 loops of SSL console is great. When asked none of them seem to realize that comp is what they are hearing.

[@darkmaer]

This has easily been my favorite plugin investment.

[@20DrummerMan]

When you watch the video, close your eyes/minimize window/ etc. This will allow you to really listen to what is going on rather than looking for when he turns it on/off. If you watch him do it, you will be expecting a change.

[@dontrobthemachina3774]

Blown away by this once I started dialling it in!

[@IntheDAW]

also i have and use everything you said and honestly yes you can get similar results but guess what why spent time getting similar results when time is money you can easily get one tool to do that job and do it right the first time and move on instead of spending extra needless time making something emulate what you already can do with something else.

[@hrzjr]

Graham, Would this be used in conjunction with, or instead of the Slate VCC? Have the VCC and love it.

[@BetoLarski]

Certainly not everyone can perceives the nuances this tool add. Indeed, is kind of subtle but still great!

[@pawelkuczynski1731]

i think that subtle touch is THAT thing, what you cant get of any other plugins. I personally think that Slate is -making a revolution in digital audio. I got it and it works great as well as the rest of SD plugs. \m/

[@BetoLarski]

Other somewhat similar effect can be achieved thru the UAD's Shadow Hills Compressor. But's still, each has it's own character.

[@pawelkuczynski1731]

yeah. i think its all personal taste thing.

[@larrytate1657]

A touch here and a touch there starts adding up though on a whole mix.

[@BigMuff75]

I own a couple of Slate plugs (VMR, FG-X, VTM) and consider to get some more, probably the VCC and maybe this one. Although, this video made me a bit reluctant because those plugs color as hell. And I am not 100% sure if I really want that amount of color in a comp. I guess you pbly get sick of the sound after a while.

[@briankeller1849]

+BigMuff75 "That sound" is what brings in customers...a signature sound. When they were both on it was too much. With either one by itself, I think that would def. give you an edge the SSL is way more spacious than my waves ssl cla and the Mu, man that would save me slapping puigtec eqp's on everything. To me, it gives it the 'record' sound and I trust that one way more than like T-RackS. I'm a color guy though. Good comment, man!!

[@larrytate1657]

How are the T-Racks plugs? Good for mastering I've heard.

[@customgtrs]

Hey. It is a cool plug in. Demoing now.The Red is pretty dang cool too. Wish you would have hit the button on that one. Thank you for all you do.

[@TheWorldTeacher]

My ears really opened when the "grey" and "FG-MU" were switched on!

[@profoundisstereotactic835]

Sick!!! Next one for sure ;-)

[@TomNuorivaara]

Thanks for the review Graham!

[@YoungBlaze]

do you put this on on your master channel or on each individual channel?

[@XavierEvensen]

+YoungBlaze Of Chitown the buss is kinda like a master so yes, I'd put this on my master channel

[@larrytate1657]

Yes the bus. They have a channel one for individual tracks.

[@YoungBlaze]

Larry Tate whats the name of that one you know?

[@HiredGoonage]

As these guys have said, the master bus, but you could use it also on a sub-mix group like a drum bus

[@samiegfunk1]

I want to know what its doing to the signal when I'm "passing audio" through the software. I don't understand what you're trying to convey when you say its "magical". It doesn't let us know if its limiting, boosting 180hz, or dynamic equalizing to create that "magic". I think its just analyzing the mix then applying a suitable master like preset a step too soon. Id rather learn what it takes to create those dynamics conventionally. The actual compression algorithm I'm sure is great. I think Steven is just Wooing all these gurus with his handsome good looks and muskulls. CHEERS!

[@larrytate1657]

It's giving that warm, air effect it seems that the hardware units circuitry used to supposedly give.

[@BreauxBobby]

Thanks, Graham. Just got it for $149. Can't live without Slate VCC and use Slate VTM a lot. VCC has been my best plugin. Ben NCM - find something else to do besides being a pest.

[@tekis0]

Hi: First off, I really love RR! The information about how to set up master faders was invaluable. It's changed the way I work! But for this demonstration, were the compressors "set up"? That is, was a tone run thru them to make sure they were at unity gain? Because maybe we are hearing a "loudness difference"? I know that when I first got VTM, I would just engage the plugin and thought, "This sounds great!" Only later to find out that the VTM plugin was adding just about a dB in gain. So when I engaged the VTM the audio I was processing got a little louder. Thanks.

[@SimonKang1]

Totally agree! It's definitely a great plugin, but I've never used a plugin that doesn't add a few dBs on the "non processed state".

[@shotgunsugarmusic]

sounds great thanks for the demo

[@osxlanda]

For all the people asking what the FG MU is modelling I'm pretty sure it's the famous Fairchild 670 compressor. MEERCATS.

[@robshaw845]

the unit adds 1.5db of gain when you turn it on... didn't mention that. That's part of the reason it sounds better when you turn it on?

[@coolchib15]

Great work Graham!

[@songwriterscove4515]

Love how he calls him 'Steven' like he's his best friend

[@FollowFunk]

Yeah but if he had called him "Mr. Slate" that would have been even weirder.

[@PeteWojMusic]

i think its great that you have PT11 and are running PT10 : ) Super frustrating waiting on UAD, Waves, etc. to get on with the porting. #FirstWorldProblems ;)

[@jinxypoes1]

i work from the beginning with vcc and it makes for sure a difference in the global mix,this one makes me curious :)

[@freshness601]

I see you're saying use this for the bus tracks during mixing, would you recommend this plugin for mastering too?

[@SaintJones]

Absolutely amazing

[@RyanClasse]

Hey Graham! What software are you using to record your computer screen and audio with it? Thanks!

[@heyphoosh6371]

Use obs it's also free and very powerful

[@homerobaroni1655]

Amazing song! The vibe is pretty visceral. Where can i find it?

[@datamasked623]

That is freakin' OUTSTANDING.

[@mistik2595]

what its the song name? i really like the guitar part really killed it, amazing

[@jamesbullard8033]

dig your reviews...very helpful...trolls be gone!

[@matrixate]

I wouldn't say it sounds better, rather it changes the tone. I think a better demo should have been to show how to use them with a some stems and make a comparison.

[@ahmetbaykara.mp3]

What is the song name? I like it brooooo 😯🤩

[@matrixate]

Red?

[@larrytate1657]

The red series are ok but if you're going to have to buy them I'd spend an extra hundred and go for the slate vmr. I got the red 2 Eq and red 3 compressor and their not bad but the slate ones are a step up. Love the UA plugs too but they'd drain too much cpu power unless you have one of their Apollo interfaces that has the chip that takes the load off the cpu

[@carlosazocar3722]

Nice video!! Thanks!!

[@GweeGwee]

how did you learn so much? Thanks for the free ebook I downloaded it and wanna start reading asap

[@medievalsessions]

Keep it up Graham. Not sure why all the negative comments, I appreciated the review and how you presented it. Looks like a great plugin and for 99$ why not...

[@youmilkpack]

Also the UAD SSL, Neve, API channels. Insane! Again Waves lacking big in compare. I made the "mistake" of checking the new Neve Preamp 1073 tutorial on drums vs Waves Schepps... Night and day. The open sound is from heaven. UADs and Slate together is my go to until I get the hardware. Still use waves other plugs though. Check it out.. and thank me later man hehe :)

[@briankeller1849]

+Christian Angelo Nilsén waves Schoepps? Is that new? Man I'm really behind...f(ck

[@larrytate1657]

The neve 1073 hardware is not sold anymore right?

[@youmilkpack]

+Larry Tate Correct. Only used gear. But there are pretty good clones out there today.

[@MrTomwestie24602]

What about a studio tour??

[@gonza412]

good review ...congrats n thanks

[@GoatSoundsStudio]

It' impossible to hear what the plug-in does when it goes 0.5dB or more with it on.

[@FollowFunk]

I am very skeptical about what's actually happening to make the sound change just by turning the plugin on. I would be willing to bet, the designers just have it add a little gain and/or a little high end when you turn it on, fooling you into thinking it's doing something magical, when really it's just doing what any EQ could do. P.S. Why did he not test out the compression in this "review"?

[@adampege7824]

Its hard to tell the different because it makes the volume louder.

[@SWANbeats1]

Its decent if you like rock music which those processors suit - but IMO its a bit over rated. Klanghelm DC8C for €20, NI Vari Comp among others are just as good IMO...Slate stuff is hyped thru the roof but when it dies down there is usually other stuff that is as good or better. Eg with VTM now there is U-he Satin.

[@petefaders]

Why do compressors affect EQ?

[@jimijaam2591]

well obviously the bottom compressor is a Fairchild 670 emulator so it better sound good .. otherwise what would be the point? lol

[@mbbx5aw2]

The shadow hills mastering compressor plug destroys this plug. only downside is uad hardware is needed to power it. if youd call it a downside: the hardware is usually a dsp accelerator or a DSP interface. Either way, you get more power. do it!

[@jamiedavie91]

What about a sound clip of the FG-Red?

[@IntheDAW]

I have all the klanghelm stuff yea its a great comp but it is not doing the same thing and it cant do the same thing as these because that can do any style of compression but its not modeled after specific gear. the NI vari comp even though i love it i like the slate Mu better and it does not hog as much CPU. now the u-hs satin you are acting like its doing the exact same thing again its not even meant to be the same. VTM is a tape emulation its meant to just sound like tape nothing else.

[@CyrilViXP]

Wow o_O The sound becomes extremely different. It's better to be careful with this plugin.

[@PharaohLawLess1]

The VBC is a powerful tool

[@stupidusername38]

There are far cheaper alternatives out there, you can get Klanghelm DC8C v2 for 20 Euros. Sounds great and no annoying buggy dongle protection

[@mentalprogram5256]

Surprised no upsampling. Little disappointed too.

[@terrydrums]

I still find it astounding that these plugin developers can charge so much for a single plugin. I mean, $100 for this? OK, maybe. But, $250?? Logic Pro itself is $199! They're trying to convince me this is worth more than the a whole DAW? No thanks.

[@greefy95]

What is the track called graham?

[@CIVILLIANmusic]

Shadow Hills?

[@jerryk3280]

I'm drinking the koolaid and loving it!

[@youmilkpack]

Graham, you have to get the UAD 1176 and LA2a and it's versions. They beat the CLA Waves everytime! (Sorry Mr Alge I do still love you man)

[@briankeller1849]

+Christian Angelo Nilsén you have to buy hardware with those, right? I"m kinda ready to up my plugin game a little bit, been using the cla stuff for years now.

[@youmilkpack]

+Brian Keller yes, but really isn't that expensive. Also uses it's own DSP. Waves is great. I just dont use the CLA classics at all for good reason :) I just started to use Softibe TLA100A where I used La2a before and it's fantastic, one of few that sounds analogue. There's a lot out there! :)

[@travisball264]

I think most people have an iLok...

[@stupidusername38]

I think users of Sonar, Reaper, Studio One, fruity Loops, Ableton Live would disagree with you

[@brightshadow525]

Gtr Rhythm is only panned 99% to the left :x Anyone else notice this? hahah

[@stupidusername38]

Looks great BUT and it's a big BUT it's Ilok protected. Educate yourselves, go on Gearslutz and read the two threads, A message from Allen Cronce and Warning do not Install New Ilok software. You have been warned

[@LeoAr37]

Hard to judge with that snare.

[@RobKMusic]

HOLY CRAP.

[@nickpov3y]

Wow

[@nostalgiavault1526]

my gosh, insta-glue!

[@stupidusername38]

You can't demo it, you need an ilok to demo it

[@DrDutch]

are those acoustic guitars DI? c'mon graham you know better than that

[@BenNCM]

This guy is barking mad. He thinks he can hear amazing effects even when nothing has been engaged. He's either selling you something, he's nuts or he's so in love it the idea that something is happening that he is hearing it.

[@pinkpenguinpoopoo]

If you can't hear much of a difference between when he engaged it then you need to listen more deeply. I do agree though that I wish that he showed off what more extreme settings sounded like. But then again if you know how a compressor works you can demo it yourself and get more of a feel for it than you could watching his video anyway

[@ChrisProduces]

If you can't hear that difference somethings wrong with your ears man. I would look into some ear training to help you out.

[@fledsup]

Most of the top engineers will tell you less is more. Big mixing engineers, like Phil Tan/Dave Pensado will often put plugins like an eq on a track and not turn a single knob. Why because if you had discerning ears???? Anyone with a decent ear can hear the sonic change without a knob being turned. So when they do turn knobs its best to be subtle most of the time. Some of the top engineers will put plugins on and not touch them bcz the plug itself changes the timbre of the sound. I can hear the amazing effects. Plugins don't mix or transform, the humans do that part bra.

[@BenNCM]

bra? haha! why did you mention bras at the end?

[@fledsup]

its an alternative to bro.

[@papa.alfredo]

do you work for Slate Digitall? Why not 20 compressors? only 3? hahaha! your video is useless, too much blah blah!

[@LeoAr37]

Hard to judge with that snare.