Blitzer
by Solid State Logic · Compressor · Character compressor
Not rated yet
A character compressor with 10 ratios, each with its own curve and tone, covering tube, VCA and vintage opto responses from gentle saturation to brick-wall limiting.
Drive, Transients and a BLITZ! all-buttons-in mode, plus a filtered detection sidechain, give it more tonal range than a single hardware emulation.
Best for: Drums, Drum Bus, Vocals, Bass, Guitars. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: drums, opto, sidechain input, tube, VCA, aggressive, bass, parallel processing, vintage, vocals, undo/redo, A/B compare, auto-gain, beginner-friendly, bus processing, drum bus, gentle, inspired by, built-in mix knob, mixing, simple, single-band, warm.
What it does
Blitzer is SSL's "Analogue hardware-inspired character compressor," with a different compression curve for each ratio.
- 10 curves: 10 ratios, each with its own shape and tone, spanning tube, VCA and vintage opto responses.
- Tone: a DRIVE control for warmth and harmonic saturation, and TRANSIENTS for reshaping attack.
- BLITZ! mode: an 'all buttons in' style mode for aggressive compression.
- Sidechain: detection sidechain with a high-pass filter and bell filter for frequency-dependent compression.
- Workflow: Auto Gain, a Mix control for parallel compression, and SSL's engine with presets, A/B and undo/redo.
The current version is 1.2.5. A 14-day trial is available.
Source: Solid State Logic product page
When to use it
Pick Blitzer for tube, VCA and opto flavors plus transient shaping and a filtered sidechain in one plugin. Where UAD 1176 Classic Limiter Collection and Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection each model one classic compressor, it covers several, and like Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor it offers many characters in one box.
- Best for: drums and drum buses, aggressive vocals, bass and parallel compression.
- Genres: all genres, especially rock, hip-hop and electronic music.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a clean, transparent compressor; Pro-C 3 is more neutral.
- Standout: ratio-dependent curves and the Transients control, which change the tone as well as the dynamics.
What producers say
MusicRadar called it one of the best new compressors it had seen in some time, with one small gripe.
- MusicRadar (2023) said it is "both powerful and easy to use" and does "way more than a simple hardware emulation."
- Drums: the review found both opto settings give "squashy pumping compression" for adding energy to drums.
- Gripe: there is no way to bypass the sidechain EQ.
Where to buy
- Best Service: $99
- Solid State Logic: $99
- Plugin Boutique: $99
- AudioDeluxe: $99
Tutorials and reviews
- SSL Blitzer - analogue hardware-inspired character compressor
- SSL Blitzer Test And Review
- SSL BLITZER - SECRET WEAPON?
- SSL Blitzer Plug-in Tutorial: Overheads, drum bus, lead vocals and full mix processing.
- SSL Blitzer plug-in - Audio Example - Vocals
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