Stay-Levin: Tube Compressor Plugin by Antelope Audio

Antelope Audio says it studied the original circuitry of the vari-mu compressor, including the triode tubes, vintage transformer, coupling capacitors and push-pull output amplifier, and reproduced these elements in the digital domain.

The developer positions Stay-Levin as especially suited to bass and vocals, where it adds punch and natural warmth. It is also described as useful on guitar and synth leads, drums and horns, with a smooth, airy high end.

The front panel uses only two knobs and two switches. Antelope Audio describes this layout as straightforward, while still offering enough depth to shape tone across a range of input signal types.

Because the controls are few, the plugin is best approached by adjusting compression and tone to taste on the source rather than working through a large set of parameters.