SILIKA
by Kush Audio · Compressor · Dual diode compressor
Not rated yet
SILIKA is a dual-diode compressor that recreates the clipping, harmonic-rich sound of a vintage compressor when you drive its input.
It has four ratios, attack, release, threshold, mix and sidechain filtering, for $99.
Best for: Drums, Bass, Vocals, Guitars, Drum Bus. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: diode-bridge, drums, sidechain input, bass, smooth, vocals, germanium, metering, parallel processing, thick, vintage, analog-sounding, bright, bus processing, dark, drum bus, enhancement, built-in mix knob, mixing, perpetual licence, room mics, single-band, subscription.
What it does
SILIKA is Kush Audio's dual-diode compressor with a complex harmonic distortion generator built in. Kush's pitch is that when you drive the input, "everything melts deliciously", with smooth highs rather than harshness.
- Input drive: the Input knob sets all the distortion, which can be switched off or blended in.
- Distortion modes: Zener style, bright and adding presence, or Germanium style, darker and focused on the low end (as described by Tape Op).
- Compressor/limiter: four ratios, 2:1, 4:1, 12:1 and 20:1.
- Timing and threshold: attack from 30 ms down to 0.1 ms and release from 5 s down to 15 ms, plus threshold.
- Sat/Comp mix: a mix control that balances saturation and compression and allows parallel compression.
- Sidechain filtering: a sidechain high-pass from 20 to 300 Hz and a 9 dB bell boost between 2.5 and 10 kHz, which change what the compressor reacts to.
- Metering and presets: a tri-meter display, and all presets are included.
KVR lists version 1.2.2. A perpetual licence with free updates and support is available, a 10-day demo is offered, and it is also part of Kush's subscription to all its plugins. It is also in the Kush Complete Bundle.
Source: Kush Audio product page
When to use it
SILIKA is the pick when you want compression and heavy, smooth saturation from one plugin, with the distortion as part of the sound rather than an add-on. Compared with the 1176 Classic Limiter Collection or the Distressor emulation, it is a diode-bridge design with a thicker, hazier tone, and its Zener and Germanium modes let you aim that colour at presence or low end. Its sidechain high-pass and presence boost give more detector control than Klanghelm MJUC. Unlike Pro-C 3, it is not built for clean, transparent work, and it has no auto-gain link between input and output.
- Best for: thick, saturated compression on drums, drum rooms, bass and vocals, and rescuing weak-sounding tracks.
- Genres: rock, hip-hop and pop, and anything that wants vintage grit.
- Look elsewhere if: you want clean, transparent control; Pro-C 3 or TDR Kotelnikov are better.
- Tip: use Germanium mode for bass and Zener on drum kits, and combine Input drive with the Sat/Comp mix for parallel compression (Tape Op).
What producers say
Tape Op rated it a clear winner for analog character at a fair price, with only small workflow complaints.
- Tape Op (Gus Berry, issue 140, late 2020) praised the smooth, flattering distortion and flexible gain staging, and summed up: "This plug-in rules!"
- Criticisms: no auto-gain link between the Input and Output knobs, and a tri-meter that can distract while mixing.
Where to buy
- Kush Audio: $99
Tutorials and reviews
- SILIKA
- Mixorcist Episode 14: Kush Audio Silika
- Kush Audio: Silika = Huge Drum Sounds !!!
- Kush SILIKA // Dual Diode Vintage Compressor // ADR Compex, Neve 2254 distortion AUDIO DEMOS
- SILIKA - Dual Diode Compressor closes the Analog/Digital Gap!
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