Devil-Loc Deluxe by Soundtoys compressor plugin interface

Devil-Loc Deluxe: Extreme Compressor Plugin by Soundtoys

Rated 4.7/5 on Plugin Boutique (531 ratings)

Devil-Loc Deluxe is an extreme compression plugin from Soundtoys, built to create huge, gritty drum sounds. It expands the original Devil-Loc with a darkness tone control, a mix knob and selectable fast or slow release times.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

Devil-Loc Deluxe is an effects plugin in the limiter subcategory. Soundtoys based it on the Devil-Loc and added controls the original did not offer. The developer describes the aim as taking the hardware's character further and giving producers more creative flexibility. The result is a compressor meant for aggressive processing, where the extra controls shape how far the sound is pushed and how much of the dry signal returns.

Best for

Huge drum sounds
Room mic crushing
Lo-fi loop processing
Dark, thundering drums
Aggressive parallel compression
Adding grit to vocals

Developer: Soundtoys
Category: Limiters
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Extreme compression for huge, aggressive drum sounds
Mix knob to blend in dry signal and add grit or ambience
Darkness control to shape tone and roll off crunchy highs
Selectable fast and slow release times
Mix control can be automated on the front panel
Available as VST3, VST2, AU and AAX plugin formats
64-bit only, for macOS and Windows

03In depth

Sound and Character of the Compressor

Devil-Loc Deluxe is built around extreme compression. Its sound is loud, dense and gritty, which suits drums and room microphones where you want a large, pounding result.

The Darkness control shapes the tone and rolls off crunchy highs for a warmer sound. Soundtoys positions this control as a way to move from harsh and bright to darker and thicker results.

Soundtoys notes that the original hardware was a brick wall limiter designed for public address systems, and that its gritty character later drew attention from engineers and producers who wanted unusual compression.

Controls and Workflow

The Mix knob lets you blend the dry signal back in directly on the front panel. This removes the need for parallel routing, and it can be automated so the amount of grit and ambience changes over time.

Release is selectable between fast and slow settings. Switching between them gives you a way to change how the compressor recovers, which adds variety across different material.

The plugin has a simple layout, so the main decisions come down to the Darkness, Mix and release choices.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

Developer	Soundtoys
Type	Plugin
Category	Limiter
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is Devil-Loc Deluxe used for?

Devil-Loc Deluxe is an extreme compressor for creating huge, gritty sounds, most often with drums and room microphones. Soundtoys also notes that small amounts can add sizzle to sources such as vocals or acoustic guitar.

What formats and operating systems does Devil-Loc Deluxe support?

Devil-Loc Deluxe is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS and is 64-bit only, so it is not compatible with 32-bit systems.

What do I need to use Devil-Loc Deluxe?

You need a free account at ilok.com to authorize the plugin. A physical USB iLok is not required. The plugin supports sample rates from 44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz.