VPRE-73
by Black Rooster Audio · Saturation · 1073-style console preamp
Not rated yet
A preamp plugin inspired by the Neve 1073, with a continuously variable +18 to +78 dB gain stage for transformer-style harmonics.
It includes the 1073's high shelf and 80 Hz high-pass filter, for $39 at Plugin Boutique.
Best for: Vocals, Drums, Bass, Guitars, Mix Bus. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: hardware emulation, transformer, bass, inspired by, bus processing, drums, vintage, vocals, 70s, British console, circuit-modelled, electric guitar, mixing, polish, subtle, utility, warm, classic, clean, corrective, full mix, mix bus, musical, oversampling, resizable UI, simple, single-band.
What it does
VPRE-73 emulates the preamp section of the vintage Neve 1073 console module, using real-time, SPICE-style circuit simulation of its input and output transformers and discrete Class-A stage. The developer's aim is simple: add "transformer weight, THD and sheen" so a track sounds like it went through something.
- Gain: continuous from +18 to +78 dB; it drives the preamp, and harmonic distortion rises with level, as on the hardware.
- Trim: a clean, linear output stage from -30 to +30 dB that adds no harmonics, for setting the final level.
- Gain/Trim link: right-click and drag to make Gain and Trim move in opposite directions, so you can change the drive at a roughly constant level.
- HF shelf: the 1073-style high shelf, about ±15 dB, for adding or taming top-end sheen.
- High-pass filter: fixed at 80 Hz with a 12 dB/oct slope to clear low rumble.
- Utilities: phase invert and a processing bypass switch.
- Engine: SSE2-optimised DSP with auto-adjusted Dolph-Chebyshev polyphase oversampling, and HighDPI/Retina support.
A free 14-day trial is available.
Source: Black Rooster Audio product page
When to use it
VPRE-73 is a preamp-only take on the 1073: you get the drive, the transformers, the high shelf and the high-pass, but not the mid and low EQ bands. UAD's Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection, Waves Scheps 73 and Arturia Pre 1973 include the full EQ and cost more. Among the rated saturation plugins, Kazrog True Iron also focuses on transformer colour but is not tied to one console, while Soundtoys Decapitator goes much further into obvious distortion. VPRE-73 is the better pick for a quick, low-cost dose of Neve-style weight on many tracks at once.
- Best for: adding console-style colour and low-end weight to vocals, drums, bass and guitars, or across a bus.
- Genres: general purpose; common in rock, pop and soul.
- Look elsewhere if: you want the full 1073 three-band EQ (Scheps 73, UAD Neve 1073) or heavy, obvious saturation (Decapitator).
- Tip: use it inside a chain with a compressor and EQ rather than alone; one blogger paired it with VLA-2A and VEQ-5 to help basslines sit in the mix.
What producers say
Coverage is light but positive, mainly about good value and a warm, subtle effect.
- Gearnews (launch coverage, 2017) described the effect as "subtle but audible" and "warm and musical", and suggested it could be the go-to budget Neve preamp clone.
- andrulian blog (2018) called it a "faithful emulation of a classic studio preamp" and used it on granular basslines with VLA-2A and VEQ-5, with the 80 Hz filter clearing low-end rumble.
- Criticisms: Gearnews noted that it behaves in its own way rather than copying the hardware exactly.
Where to buy
- Plugin Boutique: $39
- PluginFox: $49
Tutorials and reviews
- VPRE-73 - Black Rooster Audio Vintage Pre-Amp Plugin. NEW!
- Black Rooster Audio VPRE 73 Demo
- VPRE-73 - Black Rooster Audio on Bass-Guitar
- Black Rooster Audio VPRE-73 -Revisión en Español-
- Plugin simples e poderoso: VPRE-73 da Black Rooster Audio
Similar plugins
- BAE 1073MP by Antelope Audio · 1073-style mic preamp emulation · $19.90
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- Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection by Universal Audio · Console preamp and EQ · $99
- NEED 73 Console Eq by NoiseAsh · 1073-style preamp and EQ · $59.90
- BritPre by Analog Obsession · British mic/line preamp · Free
- Pre 1973 by Arturia · Preamp and EQ emulation · $49
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- Brit 84 by Three-Body Technology · Neural class-A preamp & EQ emulation · $59
- Britson by Sonimus · British console emulation
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