BlueAsh SC-5 compressor plugin interface by Black Rooster Audio

BlueAsh SC-5: 70s-Style VCA Compressor by Black Rooster Audio

Rated 4.6/5 on Plugin Boutique (5 ratings)

BlueAsh SC-5 is a VCA compressor plugin by Black Rooster Audio, modeled after a 1970s blue-faced classic. It is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

The BlueAsh SC-5 is a compressor plugin built around the sound of a classic 1970s VCA unit. Black Rooster Audio says the plugin covers a wide range of jobs, from very gentle compression on a master bus to heavier, distorted squashing on drums. Its full set of parameters lets you tailor the behavior to the material, while the developer notes it keeps a consistent, characterful tone throughout.

Best for

Master bus glue
Drum bus compression
Gentle dynamic control
Distorted drum smashing
Taming dynamic vocals

Developer: Black Rooster Audio
Category: Compressors
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

VCA compressor modeled on a 1970s blue-faced classic
Auto gain compensation via right-click input gain drag
Circuit emulation with dual time-constant detector
Feedback compressor loop and custom VCA design modeled
Auto-adjusted oversampling tied to session sample rate
Low-latency linear-phase Dolph-Chebyshev oversampling filter
SSE2-optimized DSP for efficient processing
HighDPI and Retina display support

03In depth

Sound and Circuit Character

Black Rooster Audio describes the SC-5 as a close model of the original hardware, including its custom VCA design, dual time-constant detector circuit and feedback compressor loop. The developer says the circuit was simulated in real time using a SPICE-type component-based approach, which it credits with capturing the analog unit's feel.

The plugin behaves as a fixed-threshold compressor. To increase compression, you raise the input gain, which also raises the signal level. Holding the right mouse button while dragging the input gain knob adjusts the output gain so the perceived level stays roughly the same, making it easier to compare settings.

Processing Quality and Performance

Oversampling is handled automatically based on your session's sample rate, which the developer says reduces CPU load while limiting aliasing. Aliasing is reduced with a low-latency, linear-phase Dolph-Chebyshev poly-phase design.

The DSP runs on the SSE2 instruction set, which Black Rooster Audio says keeps performance high despite the complexity of the circuit model. The plugin also supports high pixel density displays on macOS and Windows. On Windows, check your DAW's HighDPI support in its manual.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Black Rooster Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Compressor
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is the BlueAsh SC-5?

The BlueAsh SC-5 is a VCA compressor plugin from Black Rooster Audio, modeled on a 1970s blue-faced compressor. It runs as a 64-bit plugin.

Which plugin formats does the SC-5 support?

The SC-5 is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS.

What are the system requirements for the SC-5?

On macOS, it requires OS X 10.9 or newer, an Intel Core or Apple Silicon M1/M2 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 1280x1024 or higher display. On Windows, it requires Windows 7 or newer, an SSE2-compatible processor (Intel Core recommended), 1GB of RAM and a 1280x1024 or higher display. A VST, VST3, AU or AAX compatible 64-bit host is needed.