DC8C

advanced compressor


Introducing DC8C

DC8C is one of the most flexible compressors around.
While making a lot of different compression styles possible, it's general nature may be described as: clear, smooth, open, distinct.
The main goal while designing DC8C was to get a very clean compressor action without unwanted and often almost inevitable artifacts/distortion. This way you can achieve almost invisible compression for your most demanding mastering sessions, when you want to avoid coloration.
If you aim for color you can choose between two saturation models.
From opto-style, peak compression, external side-chaining, RMS compression, Feedback, Feedforward compression (and everything in-between) to negative ratios, zero latency brick-wall limiting, from snappy transient treatment to smooth transient rounding - everything is possible.

DC8C is available in the following formats (all included in a single license):

Windows (64bit): VST, VST3, AAX Native for ProTools® 11 or higher
macOS: AU, VST, VST3, AAX Native for ProTools® 11 or higher

  • detector network and gain reduction smoothing for extra smooth operation
  • choose between two different attack and two release curves
  • four different operational modes: NORMAL, CLEAN (100% clean compression with no intermodulation, no distortion, no aliasing), SMASH (ultrafast compression characteristics, almost clipper territory), LIMIT (use DC8C as a zero latency limiter)
  • optional soft-clipper at the output
  • up to 8x oversampling
  • side-chain filter with high pass and low pass filter plus tilt control, which let's you shift the frequency response of the detector
  • the saturation stage can be put freely into the signal chain: pre compression, post compression and side-chain only
  • three different compression curves selectable
  • customize the program dependency of the compressor separately for Attack and Release
  • GR-smoothing control to determine, how sensitive the compressor reacts to changes in the computed gain reduction, great to emulate opto-style compression
  • hold control, great for heavy pumping compression effects
  • pre-attack control to delay the start of the attack to leave transients completely alone or radically shape the attack
  • VU and peak metering
  • calibration control not only to set the reference level for the VU-meter and the saturation
  • unique Feedback-Mix-Control, which lets you determine, how much of the compressor's output is fed back into the detector. This way it is possible to morph between Feedback and Feedforward Compression topologies
  • true zero attack (0.0 ms)
  • negative ratios possible
  • parallel compression, peak-compression, RMS-compression
  • external side-chain
  • side-chain listen
  • Easy Mode which features 4 distinct compression styles
  • AGC (automatic gain compensation)
  • GUI resizing
  • comprehensive preset-browser with lots of presets to keep you started
  • and more ...

Here are various examples of DC8C 3 in use.
First unprocessed/dry - then compressed by DC8C 3.

Downloads

Download the manual for more information

French version of the manual 
(kindly translated by TATOO MANDARINE studios)

Download the free DC1A
DC1A the free little two-knob version of its bigger brother DC8C and is based on the PUNCH mode in DC8C.