Cubase stock dynamics plug-in

Cubase
1

Hello everyone,
I would like a clarification on the correspondence (if any) between Cubase’s stock dynamics plug-ins and the very famous categories of VCA, FET, Opto and Vari-Mu Compressors.
Can these categories be associated with our Compressors present in Cubase? Is there a match?

2

Cubase only has 3 “character” compressors and I don’t think any of them match your list. Except, maybe, the Vintage Compressor, which has visual similarities to the VCA (1176?), but which is way slower (attack/release measured in milli- rather than micro-seconds) than an 1176. Same comments apply to the Black Valve/Opto (LA-2A?)

3

Check these videos

1 Like
4

I have the TubeCompressor categorized as “Opto”
and the Vintage Compressor as “FET”.
The standard compressor to me is a clean, digital compressor that does not fit any of the classic, analog categories.

I am only on C12 so I haven’t looked into the newly added compressors of C13 yet.

I am not quite sure if I share your point of view. The attack parameter indicates that the lowest setting is 0.1ms, which is 100µs. The original 1176 starts with 20µs, the difference is a factor of 5. Of course, that can make a difference but it still is fast.
grafik

5

My point of view is that

Plugins are dirt-cheap these days, from the like of Waves, Plugin Alliance, even UAD, now that they’ve gone native. I think you’re better off getting dedicated emulations. However, I’m not saying the Cubase compressors are not good. Just that they should be judged on their own merits.
In the end, these discussions can go on forever (and often do!) but it all comes down to personal preference. It’s like ketchup on chips: my wife loves it, I hate it.
.
For less than £50 you can get these 2 beauties:

6

Honestly I don’t use the stock compressions so much. But I am in Cubase 12.
For me the much better job - Pro-C2, Softube VCA compressor and Arturia compressors… That’s all what I have, but for me they are really good and make the job.

7

Thank you all,
taking inspiration from your comments (and from my research) it can be summarized as follows (taking into account the “similar to” relationship):

  • Compressor = VCA (transparent, clean) = SSL Bus Comp.
  • Tube Compressor: Vari-Mu (tube) = Fairchild 670
  • Tube Compressor: Optical (smooth) = LA 2A (Dom Sigalas)
  • Vintage Compressor: FET (character, color) = UREI 1176

For Tube Compressor there are 2 different thoughts… what do you think?
Cubase 12