DarkStype

DarkStype

A clean VCA bus compressor in the SSL-style “S-Type” lineage — built on a THAT-VCA core for tight, punchy “glue” on mix buses, drum buses, and full mixes. DarkStype is the streamlined version: just the essential bus-compressor controls with a fully transformerless, transparent signal path.

Main panel — compression

THRESHOLD (−60…0 dB) — Sets where compression begins. Lower = more gain reduction.

RATIO (2:1 / 4:1 / 10:1) — Stepped, the classic S-Type/G-series ratios.

ATTACK (0.1…30 ms) — Continuously variable, log-skewed. Default 1 ms.

RELEASE (0.05…1.5 s) — Continuously variable, log-skewed. Default 0.6 s.

AUTO REL — When on, ignores the release knob and uses a program-dependent dual-time-constant envelope (the classic S-Type AUTO release).

MAKEUP (0…30 dB) — Output makeup gain.

AUTO MU — Auto makeup gain, compensating automatically for the gain reduction.

MIX (0…100%) — Parallel compression, blends dry with compressed.

SC HPF (OFF / 1…500 Hz) — Sidechain high-pass so kick/bass fundamentals don’t over-trigger compression. Default 80 Hz.

IN — Compression in/bypass.

Metering

VU — Gain reduction metering.

Oversampling

x2 / x4 / x8 — Anti-aliasing. Default x4.