Classic Hardware in the Digital World

Unveiling the World of Iisting VST Emulations: Classic Hardware in the Digital Realm

The world of digital audio production has seen remarkable advancements, allowing musicians and producers to access the sonic characteristics of classic hardware without the need for physical equipment. Isting VST emulations have become an integral part of the music production landscape, offering faithful recreations of iconic compressors, equalizers, tape drives, and synthesizers. In this article, we explore the extensive lineup of Isting VST emulations that emulate classic hardware, bringing vintage warmth and character to the digital realm.

Compressor & Limiter Emulations:

1. Teletronix LA-2A/3A:

• Waves CLA-2A/3A
• IK Multimedia T-RackS 3 White 2A
• URS Opto2a/3a (CCS Pro)
• Native Instruments VC2A (for Guitar Rig)
• LALA Analogue Obsession (FREE)
• ADHD Audio Tools- Levelling Tool (FREE)

1. Tube-Tech CL-1B:

• Softube Tube-Tech CL-1B
• URS Tube T (CCS Pro)

1. Urei 1176LN:

• Softube FET Compressor
• Bomb Factory BF76
• UAD 1176 collection (requires UAD interface to buy and own)
• Waves CLA-76
• Native Instruments VC-76
• IK Multimedia Black 76 Limiting Amplifier
• Arturia Comp FET-76
• Overloud Comp76 FET Compressor-Limiter
• McDSP 6030 Ultimate Compressor (SST ’76 mode)
• PSP FETpressor
• Slate Digital The Monster (FREE)
• Slate Digital FG-116 Blue Series
• Slate Digital FG-116 on VMR 2.0
• Black Rooster Audio VLA-FET
• Tim Petherick U76
• Yamaha Compressor 276
• PreSonus FETComp in Fat Channel XT
• Antelope Audio FET-A76 (requires Antelope interface)
• DMG Audio TrackComp set to 76A or 76D
• Melda Production MTurboComp set to Meldei 1176
• Cakewalk Module PC76 U-Type Channel Compressor (Cakewalk/Sonar stock plugin)

Similar/indirect emulations:

Note: I’m including here some 1178 emulations, but I might later decide to just do a proper 1178 list and put those there.

• Pulsar Smasher
• Softube Fet Compressor
• Plugin Alliance Lindell Audio 7X-500
• Analog Obsession FETISH (FREE)
• Plugin Alliance Purple Audio MC77
• Pulsar 1178
• Modern DynaKiller (FREE)
• Avid Purple Audio MC77 on the Classic Compressors Bundle
• Apple Compressor (Studio FET mode) (Logic Pro stock plugin)
• Steinberg VintageCompressor (Cubase/Nuendo stock plugin)
• Stillwell JS 1175 (Reaper stock plugin)
• Antelope Audio FET-A78 (requires Antelope interface)

Fairchild 660/670:

• T-Racks 3 Fairchild 670
• Nomad Factory LM-662
• Waves JJP PuigChild 660/670
• Bomb Factory Fairchild 660/670

DBX 160/165:

• URS 1975
• URS VCA60 (CCS Pro)
• Native Instruments VC160 (for Guitar Rig)
• Softube VCA Compressor (Free Limited Time)

SSL 4000 Bus Compressor:

• SSL Duende Native SSL Bus Compressor
• Waves SSL 4000
• Native Instruments Solid Bus Comp (for Guitar Rig)

Neve 2254:

• URS 1970 Classic Console Compressor
• Waves V-Comp
• Nomad Factory MCL-2269

Rupert Neve Design Portico 5043 Compressor:

• Steinberg Rupert Neve Design Portico Compressor (Cubase 6 Plugin)

1. EMI TG12413 Limiter:

• AbbeyRoad Plugins TG12413 plug-in

1. EMI RS124 valve compressor:
   • AbbeyRoad Plugins RS124 plug-in
2. Elysia mpressor:
   • Elysia mpressor plug-in
3. Elysia alpha compressor:
   • Elysia alpha compressor plug-in
4. SPL Vitalizer MK2:
   • SPL Vitalizer MK2
5. Pye Compressor:
   • Waves PIE Compressor (Eddie Kramer)
6. Valley People Dyna-mite:
   • Valley People Dyna-mite by Softube
7. Focusrite ISA130:
   • Focusrite Midnight Compressor
8. Distressor/Fatso:
   • PSP Vintage Warmer
   • URS Stress (CCS Pro)

Equalizer Emulations:

API 550A/B:

• Waves API
• URS A10 (560B)

Pultec EQP-1A:

• Softube Tube-Tech PE 1C
• T-Racks 3 Pultec
• UAD Pultec Passive EQ collection
• Waves PuigTec EQP-1A
• Avid Pultec EQP-1A
• Apogee EQP-1A
• IK Multimedia EQP-1A
• NoiseAsh Rule Tec EQ1A
• Black Rooster Audio VEQ-1P
• Apple Vintage Tube EQ in Logic Pro
• Antelope Audio VEQ-1A (requires Antelope interface)
• Acustica Audio Purple
• Kiive Audio Warmy EP1A Tube EQ (FREE)
• Overloud EQP
• Ignite Amps PTEq-X (FREE)
• Tim Petherick Dual Tech Tube Passive EQ
• Melda Production MTurboEQ set to Pulmeld 1A
• Red Rock Sound EQP-1A Immersive (support for Spatial Audio)

SSL EQs:

• SSL Duende Native SSL Channel
• Waves SSL E/G Channel

Neve EQ 1073/1084 (MicAmp):

• URS N Series (Neve 1084)
• URS N12 Series EQ (Neve 1073)
• UAD Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ collection (requires UAD interface to buy and own)
• Waves Scheps 73
• IK Multimedia EQ 73
• Arturia Pre 1973
• Slate Digital FG-73 on their Virtual Preamp collection
• Slate Digital FG-N on VMR 2.0
• Sonimus Burnley 73
• NoiseAsh NEED 73
• McDSP 6020 Ultimate EQ (British E mode)
• Softube British Class A
• Acustica Gold
• Mogwai MEQ-1073
• Black Rooster Audio VPRE-73
• Plugin Alliance Lindell Audio 80 Series
• Apple Vintage Console EQ in Logic Pro
• Melda Production MTurboEQ set to Meve 7381

Similar/indirect emulations:

• Analog Obsession BitChannel and BitPre (FREE)
• Antelope Audio BAE-1073 (requires Antelope interface)
• Stillwell 1973

Neve EQ 1081:

• URS 1972
• URS N4 Series EQ

Neve 8048:

• Slate Digital VCC (Neve 8048 Channel)

1. Rupert Neve Design Portico 5033 EQ:

• Steinberg Rupert Neve Design Portico EQ (Cubase 6 Plugin)

1. Trident A-Range EQ:

• Softube Trident A-Range EQ

1. Trident 80B:

• Slate Digital VCC (Trident 80B Channel)

1. Helios Channel Strip (Preamp):
   • Waves HLS Channel (Eddie Kramer)
2. Sony OXF-R3 Digital Mixing Console EQ:
   • Sonnox Oxford EQ
3. SPL RackPack EQ Modules:
   • SPL EQ Rangers Vol.1
4. SPL Passeq:
   • SPL Passeq plug-in
5. Focusrite ISA110:
   • Focusrite Midnight EQ
6. Motown 7-band passive EQ:
   • URS MotorCity EQ/Vintage Cinema EQ
7. Tonelux Tilt:
   • Softube Tonelux Tilt
8. Calrec PQ1549 EQ:
   • IK Multimedia T-RackS 3 Classic Equalizer
9. BFE/Filtek EQ Mk5 & Neumann PEV 930:
   • Softube Active/Passive (EQ)
10. ALTEC 9063B Program Equalizer:
    • Nomad Factory ALL-TECH 9063B
11. AMEK console “inspired”:
    • PSP ConsoleQ
12. MCI console “inspired”:
    • PSP McQ
13. OTHERS (analog modeling):
    • AbbeyRoad Mastering/Brilliant Pack
    • PSP RetroQ (Avalon-esque)
    • Sonalksis SV-517

Saturation/Tube Drive Emulations:

1. Ampex 350 tape drive preamp:

• SoundToys Decapitator “A-Setting”

1. Chandler/EMI TG Channel preamp:

• SoundToys Decapitator “E-Setting”

1. Neve 1057 input channel:

• SoundToys Decapitator “N-Setting”

1. Thermionic Culture Vulture triode setting:

• SoundToys Decapitator “T-Setting”

1. OTHERS (analog modeling):

• PSP Vintage Warmer
• SPL Twin Tube
• SPL Vitalizer MK2
• URS Phat C
• Softube Focusing EQ
• Sonnox Inflator
• Antares Warm
• 112dB Redline Preamp
• PSP MixSaturator2
• Sonimus Satson
• Nomad Factory BT Analog Valve Driver ADR2S
• Silverspike Ruby Tube
• Wave Arts Tube Saturator
• D16 Group Redoptor (Tube Distortion)
• iZotope Trash

Analog Tape Simulation:

1. Bootsy Ferric TDS
2. URS Saturator
3. URS 15ips/30ips (CCS Pro)
4. Waves MPX Master
5. Digidesign Reel Tape
6. VirSyn VTape
7. Nomad Factory Magnetic
8. Jeroen Breebaart Ferox
9. McDSP Analog Channel
10. Magenta

Transient Designer Emulations:

1. SPL Transient Designer (Analog Code)
2. SPL Attacker/Mo-Verb/De-Verb (Analog Code)
3. Sonnox TransMod
4. Native Instruments Transient Master (for Guitar Rig)
5. Waves Trans-X Wide
6. Flux:: Bitter Sweet II

DeEsser Emulations:

1. Waves DeEsser
2. Sonnox Oxford SuprEsser
3. Eiosis E2

Tape Delay/Space Echo Emulations:

1. SoundToys Echo Boy
2. GSi Tape Echo GS-201
3. Nomad Factory ECHOES (Maestro Echoplex 1/3, Tel Ray Echo, Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man, Boss DM-2)
4. Digidesign Echo Farm
5. Audio Damage DubStation
6. Fabfilter Timeless 2

Delay Emulations:

1. Lexicon PCM 42:

• Lexicon PSP 42/84

1. Moogerfooger Analog Delay MF-104Z:

• Bomb Factory Moogerfooger Analog Delay

Reverb Emulations:

1. Eventide SP2016 Reverb:

• Princeton Digital Reverb 2016 Stereo Room

1. Lexicon PCM 96:

• Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Plug-in bundle

1. Lexicon LXP Series:

• Lexicon LXP Native Reverb Plug-in bundle

1. Lexicon 480L:

• Relab LX480

Filter Emulations:

1. Moogerfooger MF-101 Lowpass Filter:

• Bomb Factory Moogerfooger Lowpass Filter

1. Moog Modular 914 Fixed Filter Bank Module:

• Audio Damage 914 Fixed Filter Bank

1. OTHERS (analog modeling):

• SoundToys FilterFreak

Other Notable Emulations:

1. Roland SDD-320 Dimension D Chorus:

• Wok VDimension

1. Aphex Aural Exciter:

• Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter

1. Eventide H3000 (-esque) granular echo effect:

• SoundToys Crystallizer

1. Audio & Design Panscan (panner):

• SoundToys PanMan

1. Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Phase-Shifter:

• ArtsAcoustic BigRock

1. Dolby Labs Cat. No. 43 Background Noise Suppressor:

• Waves W43 Noise Reduction Plugin

Synth Emulations:
(Selection)

Access Virus (-esque):

• Lennard Digital Sylenth 1
• rgc:audio z3ta+ (Cakewalk Rapture)
• reFX Vanguard
• Synapse Audio DUNE
• Rob Papen Predator
• Urs Heckmann Zebra 2.5

ARP 2600:

• Arturia ARP2600 V
• Way out Ware TimewARP2600

ARP Odyssey:

• GForce Oddity

Clavia Nord Lead 2:

• DiscoDSP Discovery

EDP Wasp:

• DASHSignature daHornet

Elka Synthex:

• XILS-lab The Synthix

EMS Synthi AKS:

• EMS Synthi A vs
• EFM Synthia 2

EMS VCS3:

• XILS-lab Xils 3

EMS Vocoder 5000:

• Eiosis ELS Vocoder

Ensoniq SQ-80:

• Siegfried Kullmann SQ8

Fender Rhodes (E-Piano):

• AAS Lounge Lizard
• Emagic EVP73
• NI Elektrik Piano
• Scarbee Vintage Keys
• GSi MrRay73 Mark II

Hammond B3 Organ:

• Native Instruments B4 II
• GSi VB3

Hartmann Neuron:

• Hartman Neuron VS

KORG M1:

• KORG Legacy Collection – Digital Edition

KORG Wavestation:

• KORG Legacy Collection – Digital Edition

KORG MS-20:

• KORG Legacy Collection – Analog Edition

KORG MS2000:

• Superwave Tarkus

KORG Polysix:

• KORG Legacy Collection – Analog Edition

KORG Mono/Poly:

• KORG Legacy Collection – Analog Edition

Mellotron:

• GForce M-Tron

Moog Little Phatty:

• Xhun Audio LittleOne

Moog Minimoog:

• Arturia Minimoog V
• GForce Minimonsta: Melohman

Moog Modular:

• Arturia Moog Modular V

Novation Bass Station:

• Novation Bass Station

Novation K-Station:

• Novation V-Station

Oberheim OB-X:

• SonicProjects OP-X Pro

OSC OSCar:

• GForce impOSCar

Polivoks (80’s Soviet Synth):

• Image Line Sawer

Sequencial Circuits Prophet 5:

• Native Instruments Pro-53
• Arturia Prophet V

String Machine:

• Loomer StringVST
• Gforce Virtual String Machine
• FXpansion Amber
• Nomad Factory ASS Analog String Station

Syntauri Corporation Alpha Syntauri:

• Audio Damage Phosphor

Roland Alpha Juno 1/2:

• reFX Juno X2
• EFM Alpha 2
• Dash Signature daAlfa2k

Roland JP-8000:

• Superwave P8
• Adam Szabo JP6K

Roland Juno 6/60:

• Togu Audio Line TAL-U-No-62

Roland Jupiter 8:

• Arturia Jupiter 8

Roland SH-101:

• Sonic Timeworks SH-1001
• D16 Group Shioitor

Roland TB-303:

• Propellerhead ReBirth RB-338
• AudioRealism Bass Line
• D16 Group Phoscyon
• MUON Tau Mk II

Roland TR-606:

• D16 Group Nithonat

Roland TR-808:

• D16 Group Nepheton
• Propellerhead ReBirth RB-338
• AudioRealism Drum Machine

Roland TR-909:

• D16 Group Drumazon
• Propellerhead ReBirth RB-338

Ruben & Serge Fernandez (RFS) Polykobol:

• XILS-lab PolyKB

Waldorf Blofeld:

• Waldorf Largo

Waldorf PPG Wave 2.2/2.3/2.V:

• Waldorf PPG Wave 3.V

Wurlitzer E-Piano:

• Applied Acoustics System Lounge Lizard
• NI Elektrik Piano

Vox Continental Combo Organ:

• Martinic Combo Model V

Yamaha CS-80:

• Arturia CS-80V

Yamaha DX-7:

• Native Instruments FM8

Yamaha TX-81Z:

• Big Tick Rhino

Convolution/Impulse Response (Player/Hosts):

1. Voxengo Pristine Space
2. Knufinke Sir2
3. Altiverb
4. Virsyn Reflect
5. Waves IR1/Renaissance
6. Liquid Sonics Reverberate

Isting VST emulations have revolutionized the way music is produced, providing access to the sonic characteristics of classic

hardware within the digital domain. Whether it’s the warmth of analog tape, the character of vintage compressors, or the unique tonalities of classic synthesizers, these emulations offer a diverse palette for modern-day producers and musicians. As technology continues to advance, the marriage of classic analog sound and digital convenience becomes increasingly seamless, allowing creativity to flourish in the ever-evolving landscape of music production.