Vertigo VSC-2
Overview
“The Mercedes of VCA Compressors”
Called “The Mercedes of VCA Compressors”, the original hardware Vertigo VSC-2 Quad Discrete Compressor built its reputation largely on the four, custom hand built, discrete “1979” VCAs used in its design. The plugin version of the VSC-2 captures every nuance of the hardware version and puts it right into your digital audio workstation.
Quad Discrete VCA Compressor
The VSC-2 is Vertigo’s first plugin release, made in close cooperation with Brainworx, and based upon Vertigo’s “Big Impact Design”. The VSC-2 plugin captures all the fine nuances of this $6,000 flagship VCA compressor.
Although the VSC-2 was developed as a Stereo Bus Compressor, each channel provides a complete set of controls that also allows the VSC-2 to function as a dual mono device in recording and mix situations. Plus you get a mono version for mixing situations, of course.
Other unique and innovative features lie beneath the bonnet, such as the ratio, which increases with amplitude in “Soft” mode. In this mode, the ratio positively corresponds to increasing input level, “tip toeing” in smoothly.
Highlights
- Threshold Adjustable within a range of 48 dB.
- Ratio Variable from “soft mode” through compression ratios of 2:1, 4:1, 8:1 and 10:1 all the way to “Brick” mode.
- Soft Mode: In soft mode the ratio starts at 1:1 and increases with input level up to 8:1. The compressor “tiptoes” into compression providing a nearly inaudible start of compression.
- Brick Mode: In Brick Mode the VSC-2 becomes an analog Limiter, effectively cutting off Signal Peaks at the set threshold.
I get a smile from ear to ear when I start tweaking the parameters of Brainworx plugins.
Dave Reitzas Madonna, Barbara Streisand, Nathalie Cole