V-Comp vari-mu compressor plugin interface by Kiive Audio

V-Comp: Vari-Mu Compressor Plugin by Kiive Audio

V-Comp is a vari-mu compressor plugin developed by Kiive Audio in collaboration with AudioScape Engineering. It is a plugin version of the AudioScape Vari-Mu Compressor, aiming to reproduce the sound of the original hardware.

VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

V-Comp brings the vari-mu compressor from AudioScape Engineering into plugin form. Kiive Audio worked directly with AudioScape to keep the sound close to the original hardware, and the developer describes the result as nearly a doppelganger of the hardware offering. The plugin is built around the 7 tubes and Iron transformer of the original design, which the developer says supply the weight, density and color of the compression. It is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.

Best for

Mix bus compression
Vocal compression
Drum bus saturation
Gentle source leveling
Tube color on mixes

Developer: Kiive Audio
Category: Compressors
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Vari-mu compressor modeled on the AudioScape hardware
Developed in collaboration with AudioScape Engineering
Simulated 7-tube signal path and Iron transformer
Single, Double and Triple compression modes
Bypass mode for saturation without compression
Very gentle knee for natural-sounding compression
Available in VST2, AU and AAX formats
64-bit, supports Windows and macOS

03In depth

Sound Character and Compression Modes

Kiive Audio says V-Comp carries the weight and density expected from a vari-mu design, with color coming from the simulated tube stage and transformer. The plugin offers four modes: Single, Double, Triple and Bypass.

Bypass disables the compression section while keeping the all-tube signal path and transformers in circuit. This lets you use the plugin purely for saturation and coloration. The developer notes that the compressor has a very gentle knee, which it attributes to the vari-mu design and which it says yields natural-sounding compression on most sources.

Who V-Comp Suits and System Requirements

V-Comp suits producers who want the character of a classic vari-mu compressor inside a DAW, particularly for mix bus and source processing where gentle, natural compression is the goal.

The plugin runs on macOS 10.7 or higher, with macOS 10.14 or higher recommended, and on Windows 7 and above. Both platforms need a 1 GHz dual-core processor and a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher. It is a 64-bit plugin and supports 64-bit DAWs only.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

Developer	Kiive Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Compressor
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is V-Comp based on?

V-Comp is based on the Vari-Mu Compressor from AudioScape Engineering. Kiive Audio developed the plugin in collaboration with AudioScape and says it stays close to the hardware's sound.

What formats and operating systems does V-Comp support?

V-Comp is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows 7 and above and on macOS 10.7 or higher, with macOS 10.14 or higher recommended.

What is the Bypass mode for?

Bypass turns off the compression section while keeping the all-tube signal path and transformers active. It lets you add saturation and color without compressing the signal.