Arturia Comp VCA-65

When it was released, the original DBX 165A® was a compressor unlike any other.
Rather than the more traditional vacuum tube, it used a solid-state VCA to create its compression effect, and cutting-edge RMS dynamics detection. It also sounded great, which is the important thing!

These days, it’s getting harder and harder to find working originals, but their legendary sound-shaping power is still highly sought-after. Now, thanks to Arturia’s advanced TAE® modelling, you can enjoy using this fabled compressor in your DAW, on as many channels as you want, and with advanced features only possible through software.

Unlike the more common DBX 160, the 165A® sported several unique features that made it a “must have” for studios looking for tight, punchy percussive sounds. Known as the “Over Easy” compressor, its auto attack-decay detection made great compression simple, its harsh peakstop limiter added a touch of vintage filth when things really hit hard, and its unique compression sound gives even extreme settings a natural feel.

Features

• Virtual recreation of famed classic VCA compressor
• Original electronic path accurately modeled, including VCA and transistors, using Arturia’s state-of-the-art TAE® analog modeling
• Original fast attack & release parameters with Auto mode
• Original Peakstop limiter
• Original variable ratio form 1:1 to 1:oo
• Additional Arturia’s creative side-chain features:
  • External side-chain source to trigger the compressor to an external source
  • Playful manual pad to manually trigger the compression
  • 7 creative detection mode, including M/S processing
  • Time warp function with look ahead or delay added to your side-chain path
  • Advanced Side-chain EQ
  • Compression range parameter to limit the amount of gain reduction applied, with 0dB position for FET-76 with no compression/distorsion only sound
  • Monitor Side-chain signal directly
• Dry/wet Mix knob for parallel compression
• Switchable Analog VU meter with 3 calibrations mode (-18dBFs, -12dBS, -8 dBFs)
• Analog clipping LED indicator
• Comprehensive set of presets
• A/B comparison setting
• Integrated tutorials and unique dynamic preset tips
• Resizable window
• State-of-the-art TAE® analog modeling

Spice up your loop
Lifeless loops getting you down? Let this reborn iconic hardware VCA energize and fatten up your beats!

Tame those guitar amps!
Clean and subtle compression from Arturia’s Advanced side chain EQ will let you tame the attack of this electric guitar while retaining its body.

Your drum’s best friend
Comp VCA-65 is a real prizefighter for drums, adding life and toasty crunch to your drum bus.

Add vintage distortion when limiting
Add some analog dirt with the mighty VCA-65 Peakstop limiter, and blend in with the original track using included parallel compression.

Beauty and the Grit
The Comp VCA-65 characteristic grit, pushed to the extreme, combined with the power of M/S processing, adds strong character to this airy piano track.

Sounds great on drums, percussion, and bass
“Over easy compressor” by name and by nature! Hear a simple snare through the gentle hands of Comp VCA-65.

Every nuance, and quirk that made the original DBX compressor so sought-after has been perfectly recreated in software.
Through careful analysis and painstaking research everything from the biting “crunch” of the peakstop to the fluid “over easy” knee is here. It’s just like having the original compressor in your DAW, but revamped with some powerful new abilities.

Vintage tone, modern features
As incredible as the original compressor was, music production has moved on since the 70s.

Just because the technology has changed, it doesn’t mean we have to leave these classics behind. When recreated this compressor, we included several contemporary features with modern producers in mind.

The top panel of the interface gives you access to all of the original controls. You can click to expand the plugin to and access its advanced, new features.