VLA-FET
by Black Rooster Audio · Compressor · 1176-style FET compressor
Not rated yet
A FET leveling amplifier plugin inspired by the classic 1176, modelled as a full circuit including the FET gain stage, output transformer and Class-A output stage.
It adds an external sidechain, a sidechain high-pass filter and a wet/dry mix to the classic controls, for $59 at Plugin Boutique.
Best for: Vocals, Drums, Bass, Guitars. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: FET, sidechain input, bass, drums, vocals, built-in mix knob, parallel processing, external sidechain, hardware emulation, inspired by, classic, transformer, circuit-modelled, CPU-light, electric guitar, metering, mixing, 60s, aggressive, creamy, heavy, musical, oversampling, rhythmic, single-band, stereo-linked, vintage.
What it does
VLA-FET is Black Rooster Audio's take on the 1176 FET compressor, "modelled as a living circuit" with real-time, SPICE-type component simulation. The developer aims for the 1176's fast, hard character on drums, bass and vocals.
- Modelled circuit: a FET compression amplifier, an output transformer with flux saturation and a discrete Class-A output stage.
- Input and Output: input gain drives the compression and output gain sets the make-up level, as on the original.
- Ratio: 1:1, 4:1, 8:1, 12:1 and 20:1 plus an All mode for the all-buttons-in sound.
- Attack and release: attack from roughly 1 to 7 ms, and a fully sweepable release with an Auto Fast setting that adapts to the material.
- Sidechain: external sidechain input for ducking and rhythmic effects, and a sidechain high-pass filter from 7.5 Hz to 1 kHz.
- Mix and Stereo Link: a 0 to 100% wet/dry knob for parallel compression and a linked detector for a stable stereo image.
- Metering and engine: switchable input, gain-reduction and output meter; adaptive oversampling up to 4x, SSE2-optimised code and a HighDPI interface.
A free 14-day trial is available.
Source: Black Rooster Audio product page
When to use it
VLA-FET sits alongside UAD's 1176 Classic Limiter Collection, Waves CLA-76 and Arturia Comp FET-76. Where the UAD collection models several hardware revisions in depth, and CLA-76 is a long-standing, familiar choice, VLA-FET's angle is a component-level circuit model with modern extras built in: a sidechain high-pass filter, external sidechain, a mix knob and Auto Fast release. That makes it a good pick if you want the 1176 sound and would otherwise add a parallel bus or a separate filter. One reviewer found its interface plain, but the sound and low CPU use were praised.
- Best for: fast, aggressive compression on vocals, drums, bass and guitars, parallel drum crush, and adding FET colour.
- Genres: suits any genre; the 1176 sound is common in rock, pop and hip-hop.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a transparent or program-dependent compressor (Pro-C 3), a smoother opto sound (VLA-2A Mark II or CLA-2A), or several modelled 1176 revisions (UAD 1176 Classic Limiter Collection).
- Tip: use the Mix knob for parallel compression in the plugin, and the sidechain high-pass to stop kick and bass from pumping a full mix or drum bus.
What producers say
The review coverage is very positive on sound and efficiency; the interface is the main complaint.
- InTheBox Online Mixing called it "probably the best choice" for a 1176 plugin emulation, praising its "creamy saturation", musical attack, transient detail and low CPU use, which allows many instances.
- Criticisms: the same review found the interface lacks visual appeal and could look more modern.
Where to buy
- Plugin Boutique: $59
- PluginFox: $129
Tutorials and reviews
- Black Rooster Audio - VLA-FET (NEW PLUGIN 2019)
- Checking Out VLA-FET
- Presenting the VLA-FET (Vintage Leveling Amplifier) from Black Rooster Audio
- Black Rooster Audio VLA-FET vs Klark Teknik 76-KT
- 【今週のプラグイン】BlackRoosterAudio / VLA-FET 個人的76系コンプのファースト・チョイス！
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