DarkStypePro

DarkStypePro

A faithful emulation of the SSL-style “S-Type” bus compressor — the modern VCA bus compressor known for tight, punchy “glue” on mix buses, drum buses, and full mixes. DarkStypePro nails that fast, controlled VCA character along with classic auto-release behavior, and adds a sidechain EQ, output EQ, parallel mix, and transformer color on top.

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 (fast detail in the lower half). 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/G-Series AUTO release).

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

AUTO MU — Auto makeup gain, compensates 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.

ADV panel

INPUT (−18…+18 dB) — Pre-compressor input gain (with auto-compensation after, so level stays neutral).

KNEE (−10…+10):

• negative = harder knee — compression kicks in more abruptly at threshold, snappier/more aggressive.
• 0 = stock — the compressor’s natural knee.
• positive = softer knee — compression eases in more gradually, smoother and more musical.

OUTPUT (−12…+12 dB) — Final post-everything output trim.

EQ display + EQ MODE (SC / OUT) — One 6-band parametric EQ display that toggles between two destinations:

• SC — Sidechain EQ: shapes what the detector hears, so the compressor reacts more or less to certain frequencies.
• OUT — Output EQ: post-compression tone shaping on the audio itself.

Drag bands on the display; per band On, Type (Bell/LShelf/HShelf/LCut/HCut), Freq/Gain/Q.

Transformer (combobox) — Output transformer emulation, 17 options (None, Carnhill, Sowter, Cinemag, Marinair, Haufe V72, Triad HS-30, Reichenbach, EA Edcor, Neve 1272, API 2520, UTC A-20, Peerless S-415, St Ives, Lundahl LL1538, Jensen JT-11, Tamura TKS-27). Default None preserves the authentic transformerless S-Type sound.

Oversampling

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