VC A free download: Softube's Optical Compressor Emulation

If you're trying to level vocals or compress bass without constantly tweaking attack and release times, Softube's VC 2A handles that by automating the dynamics response for you. It’s an electro-optical tube compressor emulation that’s available as a free download from third-party sources, since it can only be bought as part of the VINTAGE COMPRESSORS bundle now.

You get a model based on a classic electro-optical tube compressor/limiter. The key is its automatic behavior: the attack and release are determined by the input signal itself, giving it a medium to slow response. This aims for a smooth, silky, and natural sound with subtle coloration and drive.

What It Does: Automatic Gain Reduction

The plugin simplifies compression down to two main controls: Gain and Peak Reduction. You use Peak Reduction to set the threshold and amount of compression, and Gain to make up the level. It reacts automatically to your audio, so you’re not setting timing parameters manually.

Key Controls for Shaping Tone

Low-Cut Detector This feature uses a Low-Cut dial. It tells the compressor to ignore frequencies below the set point, so your kick or bass doesn’t trigger unwanted gain reduction on other elements. Dry Control A Dry control lets you blend in your uncompressed signal. You can use this for parallel compression, mixing the processed and original sound together. Sidechain Input A sidechain input is included. You can use an external audio source to trigger the compression on the main track.

Who Should Use It

This fits a few specific studio scenarios. It’s useful if you’re working on vocal leveling and want a set-and-forget compressor that glues without pumping. It also works for bass, pads, and guitar tracks where you want smooth, musical compression without a heavy-handed effect. The dry control makes it a straightforward choice for anyone adding parallel compression to their workflow.

Final Verdict

Grab this if you need an optical-style compressor that automates timing decisions for a smooth, colored sound on vocals, bass, or guitars. You get the core emulation with useful features like a low-cut detector and dry blend. The main catch is that it requires a softube crack or similar method to run standalone, as it’s officially bundle-only now. If that setup works for you, it’s a capable tool for its specific, classic compression style.