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The Herd V2 Upgrade from V1 by Safari Audio compressor plugin interface
Safari Audio·Reverbs

The Herd V2 Upgrade from V1: Three-in-One Compressor Plugin by Safari Audio

The Herd V2 Upgrade from V1 is an upgrade plugin from Safari Audio for existing owners of The Herd, a reverb-category effect that combines three compressors in one box that can run together.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit
AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique
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01Overview

The Herd V2 Upgrade from V1 is aimed at people who already own the original The Herd and want the second version. Safari Audio positions it as three compressors in one plugin, with Opto, VCA and Devil sections that can be stacked. The upgrade adds improved algorithms, an extended tone control, Mid/Side processing and a redesigned interface with a new preset system.

Best for

  • Drum parallel compression
  • Lead vocal compression
  • Bass compression
  • Mix bus energy
Developer
Safari Audio
Category
Reverbs
Store
Plugin Boutique
02Key features

What you get

  • Three compressors: Opto, VCA and Devil, each with its own on/off switch
  • Shared Attack and Release controls for the combined sections
  • New extended tone control for shaping character going in
  • Mid/Side processing for separate center and side compression
  • Gain-reduction metering with IN, GR and OUT switching
  • Blend control for parallel mixing with the dry signal
  • Smart Gain and Link Gain for level matching
  • A/B compare, short-term LUFS readout and new oversampling algorithm
03In depth

Three Compressor Characters in One Plugin

The plugin runs Opto, VCA and Devil compressors, each with its own character and its own on/off LED. Safari Audio describes the Opto and VCA sections as a way to combine a smooth optical squeeze with a snappier VCA grab, while Devil can be engaged for more aggressive behavior.

Shared Attack and Release controls keep the three sections working together. A Tone control shapes the character of the signal going into the compressors, and an extended tone range is new in this version.

Mid/Side Control and Metering

Mid/Side processing lets you compress the center and the sides of a stereo signal by different amounts. Gain-reduction metering with IN, GR and OUT switching shows how hard the compressors are working at each stage.

A Blend control mixes the compressed signal back under the dry signal, so compression can add character while the original transients are kept. Smart Gain and Link Gain are included for level matching, and an A/B compare function and a short-term LUFS readout are added in V2.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

DeveloperSafari Audio
TypePlugin
CategoryReverb
FormatsVST3, AU, AAX
Operating systemsWindows, macOS
Architecture64-bit
05FAQ

Questions, answered

Who is The Herd V2 Upgrade from V1 for?

It is an upgrade for existing owners of The Herd. The standard version is sold separately as the base product.

What formats and operating systems does it support?

It is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS, and the listed requirements are a 64-bit system, a 2 GHz Intel dual-core or AMD equivalent processor, and 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended).

What is new compared with The Herd V1?

V2 adds improved algorithms, an extended tone control, Mid/Side processing, Smart Gain and Link Gain, A/B compare with a short-term LUFS readout, a new oversampling algorithm, and a redesigned interface with a new preset system.

What do I need to use The Herd V2 Upgrade from V1?

The plugin needs one of the listed formats in a compatible host, and Windows or macOS as the operating system. You also need an existing copy of The Herd to qualify for the upgrade.

07Developer

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