TUBESESSOR optical tube compressor plugin interface by Heritage Audio

TUBESESSOR: Optical Tube Compressor Plugin by Heritage Audio

TUBESESSOR is a compressor plugin from Heritage Audio that models the company's optical tube compressor. It adds a tube saturation stage and five internal side-chain filter settings.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

Download Now

Opens the store in a new tab

01Overview

TUBESESSOR brings Heritage Audio's optical tube compressor into plugin form. The design models the tube-based amplification stage and transformer-balanced inputs and outputs of the hardware. Heritage Audio says the plugin was a two-year development effort aimed at recreating the character of optical compression on critical signals, with control that stays natural and transparent. Extra controls go beyond the original hardware.

Best for

Drum bus compression
Guitar saturation
Mix space and separation
Groove and rhythm processing
Real-time tracking

Developer: Heritage Audio
Category: Compressors
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Heritage Audio's optical tube compressor modeled as a plugin
Tube-based amplification stage modeled in the signal path
Transformer-balanced inputs and outputs modeled
Tube Saturation section from subtle edge to heavy drive
Extensive attack and release controls
Five side-chain filter settings at 80 Hz to 5 kHz
Large VU meter for compression level
DSP version included free for i73 PRO owners

03In depth

Sound, Saturation and Side-Chain Filtering

The Tube Saturation section recreates the tube stage of the hardware, which the developer describes as a creamy-sounding double triode tube. It can add anything from a subtle edge to heavy driven distortion, and Heritage Audio recommends it for drums, guitars and other instruments.

Five internal side-chain filter settings at 80 Hz, 160 Hz, 1 kHz, 3 kHz and 5 kHz let you change how the compressor responds to the signal. The developer presents this as a way to create space in a mix, unmask competing sounds and add groove.

Controls, Metering and Real-Time Use

TUBESESSOR offers extensive attack and release controls, so you can shape how quickly the compressor reacts and recovers. A large VU meter shows the compression level, and the interface is designed to be large and easy to read.

Owners of i73 PRO hardware receive a DSP version of the plugin for free. It runs in real time, so you can process signals while tracking.

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 TUBESESSOR support?

TUBESESSOR is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats, each in 64-bit versions.

Which operating systems does TUBESESSOR run on?

TUBESESSOR runs on Windows and macOS. On macOS it supports both Intel and native Apple Silicon M1, M2 and M3 processors, and requires macOS 10.15.7 or later. On Windows it supports Windows 10 and 11.

What do I need to use TUBESESSOR?

TUBESESSOR is a plugin that loads into a compatible digital audio workstation. The developer lists support for all major DAWs, including Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig, Reaper and Reason.

Do I get a free DSP version of TUBESESSOR?

Yes, if you own an i73 PRO. Heritage Audio includes a DSP version of TUBESESSOR for free to i73 PRO owners, which allows real-time processing while tracking.