+10db is a channel strip plugin meticulously modeled after one of the industry's most iconic hardware compressors. Unless you refuse to listen to music after Beethoven, you've surely heard this unit in action. Better yet, this is the first time this hardware unit is available in plugin format.

+10db is the first channel strip plugin of its kind. This plugin is based on a highly sought-after hardware compressor unit. We didn't just use the hardware unit as inspiration, we delved deep and made sure it sounded like the original.

Why did we model this unit?

Here's the deal. It seems like everyone is modeling hardware these days, but we wanted to do something a little different. We didn't want to model any hardware unit that has been done a million times. We wanted to do something that had never been done before but has been an icon in the recording industry, and the only way to do it was to partner with producer/mixer David Bendeth. It just so happened that he had a few of these on his rack, so he sent us one for us to study closely.

Unless you stopped listening to music after "Johnny B Goode", you've definitely heard this hardware unit many times. Think of Led Zeppelin's drums.

To get this same compressor in hardware, you would not only have to pay over $2,000 to get one, but you would also have to deal with all the other hassles of using analog hardware. For a tiny fraction of the price, you can get the same sound in a much more convenient software format. There really are no hassles (unless you live in Alaska and need a room heater).

Some additional features

Since we were not limited by the limitations of analog hardware, we took the liberty of adding a couple of features that make it even more powerful than the original hardware. On one hand, we added a "Dry Passthrough" knob that makes parallel compression very easy, without having to set up additional buses.

3 plugins in 1

When you buy the +10db bundle, you actually get three separate plugins: +10db Compressor, +10db Equalizer, and +10db Channel Strip.

 +10db Compressor

+10db Compressor is meticulously modeled after one of the industry's most iconic hardware compressors. Unless you refuse to listen to music after Beethoven, you've surely heard this unit in action. Better yet, this is the first time this hardware unit is available in plugin format.

+10db Compressor is the first channel plugin of its kind. This plugin is based on a highly sought-after hardware compressor unit. We didn't just use the hardware unit as inspiration, we delved deep and made sure it sounded like the original.

+10db Equalizer

The +10db equalizer is meticulously modeled after the EQ section of a highly sought-after hardware channel.

+10db Equalizer takes the EQ section from our +10db Channel Strip plugin and puts it in a dedicated plugin. This plugin faithfully recreates the curves and subtleties of this hardware EQ unit.

What makes this equalizer special?

This equalizer takes a different approach to EQ than your standard digital equalizer. Instead of the standard series configuration, this equalizer uses a parallel configuration, which creates some very interesting effects, especially for bands that are very close together. You'll notice that you can use more extreme boost and cut settings without entering that harsh realm.

And, of course, to preserve the spectral integrity of the analog filters, we don't do any of the digital pre-distortion tricks. Instead, each filter has a good symmetrical frequency response up to the Nyquist frequency, which gives it a much more natural and musical response in the high frequencies.

The design of this equalizer makes you work with a different part of your brain than the standard parametric equalizer. Don't get us wrong, we love parametric equalizers too, but working with this equalizer definitely opens up the creative side of our brain, which can open up completely new creative possibilities.

System requirements

Available formats:

• Windows (32/64): VST2, VST3, RTAS, Native AAX
• Mac (32/64): AU, VST2, VST3, RTAS, Native AAX