Vulf Compressor

Name: Vulf Compressor
Price: 149 USD
Author: Goodhertz

by Goodhertz · Compressor · Character compressor

Not rated yet

Vulf Compressor is a character compressor made with Jack Stratton of Vulfpeck, based on a rare algorithm from the Boss SP-303 sampler.

It is known for heavy, pumping compression with a warm tone, and costs $149.

Best for: Drums, Drum Bus, Bass, Keys & Synths, Vocals. Genres: R&B & Soul, Hip-Hop & Trap, Lo-Fi, Pop, Rock & Indie.

Keywords: lo-fi, drums, pumping, samples & loops, bass, flutter, wobble, digital classic, hardware emulation, keys, mastering, parallel processing, sidechain input, 80s, 90s, advanced, bus processing, digital-sounding, drum bus, external sidechain, heavy, mixing, reference & monitoring, single-band, stereo-linked, vinyl, vocals, warm.

What it does

Vulf Compressor promises "beastly compression, by Vulf." It grew out of an odd compression algorithm in the Boss SP-303 Dr. Sample sampler from around 2000: Vulfpeck's Jack Stratton found it on a forum, and Goodhertz co-founders Devin Kerr and Rob Stenson rebuilt and expanded it into a plugin with added lo-fi and wow and flutter sections.

Compression: one Compression Amount control (0–100%) between input and output gain. It can't be switched fully off.
Attack and release: unitless attack and release time constants on the advanced page, since the algorithm works by feedback rather than fixed millisecond values; stereo link can be switched off.
Wow and flutter: vinyl-style pitch wobble with its own mix, stereo phase (0–180°) and speed set by record RPM: 33.3, 45 or 78.
Lo-Fi: one amount that reduces fidelity and adds distortion and noise, with Crunch, noise level and three types: Analog, 1990s Digital and 1980s Digital.
Sidechain: an external sidechain blend, a Tilt control that makes the detector more sensitive to lows or highs, and a Listen switch to hear the detector.
Mix and reference level: Master Mix for parallel compression, and a Digital Ref Level (±36 dB, default -18 dB) that sets the level the algorithm expects.
HQ mode: a higher-precision mode that adds about 50 ms of latency and two to four times the CPU load.
Mastering sibling: VCME is a separate, lighter mastering edition, with 25% off for Vulf Compressor owners.

Goodhertz's downloads page lists version 3.14.1 (June 2026) for its plugin line; it runs mono, mono-to-stereo and stereo. A 30-day free trial is available.

Source: Goodhertz product page

When to use it

Vulf Compressor is the pick when the compression should be heard: obvious pumping and grit in the style of sampler-made records. Compared with the Distressor emulation and CLA-76, it is less of a mixing tool and more of a sound: it has no ratio or millisecond timing controls, but it adds wow and flutter, noise and early-digital degradation that those hardware models don't have. The Glue and Pro-C 3 are far more controllable and can stay invisible, which Vulf Compressor never really does. Next to MJUC it is cruder and more lo-fi rather than warm and tube-like.

Best for: pumping drum loops, squashed keys and bass, and giving samples or whole beats a lo-fi sampler feel.
Genres: R&B, funk, soul, hip-hop, lo-fi, electronic and pop.
Look elsewhere if: you want subtle, transparent level control; Pro-C 3 or Goodhertz's own VCME are gentler.
Tip: Sound On Sound suggests using the blend control to add its character in parallel, and found it ideal on loops and samples.

What producers say

Reviewers treat it as a creative effect more than a utility compressor.

Sound On Sound (Neil Rogers, June 2018) called it "a compressor that can change the direction of a song", praising its grainy early-digital character on drums and electronic music.
Criticisms: Sound On Sound noted it is not subtle and is the wrong tool for invisible dynamic control.

Sound On Sound review (Goodhertz plug-ins)

Where to buy

Goodhertz: $149

Tutorials and reviews

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