Analog Obsession BUSTERse v1.1 VST VST3 AU WiN MAC [FREE]

Uploaded

I have GSSL hardware. Turbo button does not affect MID freq. (as misspelled in the plugin explanation) but stereo summing. Original GSSL merges the internal LR channels into a mid channel and the turbo board mod corrects this, so the compressor works as SSL, it also compresses the side channel. Anyone who has done this plugin obviously doesn't know what the original compressor looks like at all.

Ok, first note that none sounds like real but can be close and sound good. Even the SSL Native Bus comp doesn't sound like the real. People have done side by side comparison and concluded that not one picked the actual ssl hardware!!

Now let's just make it easy for us to understand the issue. SSL buss compressor is famous for gluing the mix and is vastly used for this purpose. So this characteristic will be our benchmark in further discussion. In case of Buster, I immediately deleted it and if I recall, it distorts the mid frequencies in a very unpleasant way, sounds thin and squashed. Frankly, the developer tried to emulate the real thing and somewhat succeeded. When the real unit is pushed hard, it monoizes the mix a lot as the focus is more in the middle then starts to distort. The hardware does a great job at keeping the middle and most SSL plugins don't. Buster goes to the extent of monoizing the sound and distortion but destroys the mix with harsh frequencies.

That's why I said earlier that don't think about ssl, just use it if you find some use of it. But remember what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. You like Buster, great!

There are loads of emulations available that do the "alright gluing" job, I don't even remember all. Regarding Sand. yes I do have Sand. Sand is very usable but not forgiving. When works, the panoramic image of the sound is astounding and the mix will sound fuller. Watch for pumping and adjust the volume sliders. I bought many Acustica plugins on impulse. Their El Rey and Ultramarine are awesome for smoothing too. They all work well but I regret investing so much money in them.

Back to the topic, The Glue is another good one. People on Gearslutz rave about DMG Audio Trackcomp which also emulates other compressors like Mu and API 2500 apart from ssl. I demoed it and it also does the job very very well but like all plugins it also inherited the harsh highs. TimP L-Bus for Nebula sounds GREAT and so close that you will probably stop looking elsewhere. I don't have Waves but used UAD's which was awesome too however their old version was pretty underwhelming. Some say good thing about Hornet's MultiComp. I don't own it as well. But my ssl plugin journey is over after I found PA Townhouse. This is one of the best plugin even though it is not the direct emulation of ssl but one of it's clone's. It's lighter on resources too. PA Townhouse really did a great job capturing the feel and grabbiness and saturation of the Townhouse unit. Lastly, please note you don't have to agree with me on anything though but I would suggest to demo PA Townhouse. Like always YMMV. Hope you find my observations useful.