SUCCESSOR diode bridge compressor plugin interface by Heritage Audio

SUCCESSOR: Diode Bridge Compressor Plugin by Heritage Audio

SUCCESSOR is a diode bridge compressor plugin from Heritage Audio, modeled on the company's hardware stereo mix bus compressor. It is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

SUCCESSOR brings Heritage Audio's diode bridge compression to a software plugin. The developer says the hardware original was the first compressor of its kind and was built to add warm, colorful, fat compression where clean VCA designs felt too transparent. The plugin adds features beyond the hardware, including a Blend control for parallel compression and a NUKE mode for extreme compression reactions.

Best for

Mix bus compression
Drum bus processing
Parallel vocal compression
Extreme compression effects
Mastering compression

Developer: Heritage Audio
Category: Compressors
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Diode bridge compression with 2nd order harmonic distortion
Ultra-fast attack and release for FET-like compression
Sidechain high-pass, mid-band peak and high-frequency compression filters
Built-in Blend control for parallel compression
Dedicated Blend ON/OFF button for A/B comparison
NUKE mode adds +20dB before compression
Full output control in NUKE mode

03In depth

Diode Bridge Tone and Compression Character

The core of SUCCESSOR is its diode bridge compression. Heritage Audio says this design introduces 2nd order harmonic distortion, which it describes as true vintage tone, while avoiding the unpleasant odd harmonic content associated with some other designs.

The ultra-fast attack and release range goes beyond vintage designs. Heritage Audio says it allows FET-like compression and volume maximization without transient artifacts, which gives you more room to push levels than a classic circuit would normally allow.

Sidechain Filtering, Blend and NUKE Mode

For bus work, SUCCESSOR includes high-pass filters, mid-band peak filters and high-frequency compression in the sidechain, so you can shape what the compressor responds to.

The Blend control adds parallel compression without external gear, and its dedicated ON/OFF button makes instant A/B comparisons easy. NUKE mode adds an extra +20dB before compression, and you can use the output stage to compensate for some or all of that gain.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

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

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does SUCCESSOR support?

SUCCESSOR is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats, all 64-bit.

What operating systems are supported?

SUCCESSOR runs on Windows 10 and 11 and on macOS 10.15.7 and later, including both Intel and native Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3 Macs.

What do I need to install SUCCESSOR?

You need a free iLok cloud account to install and authorize the plugin. It works in all major DAWs, including Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig, Reaper and Reason.