Bombardier
by Stillwell Audio · Compressor · Bus compressor
Not rated yet
Bombardier is an RMS bus compressor with switchable detector topology, pre-emphasis, drive, sag and parallel blend.
Its Bomb mode gives very fast, smooth gain control, and it costs $79.
Best for: Drum Bus, Mix Bus, Mastering, Drums. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: bus processing, smooth, glue, drums, full mix, mastering, drum bus, mix bus, musical, parallel processing, vocals, feed-forward, gentle, original design, sidechain input, external sidechain, feedback, built-in mix knob, mixing, oversampling, perpetual licence, single-band.
What it does
Bombardier is Stillwell Audio's RMS bus compressor, tuned for "smooth musical glue" on complex material such as drum groups, vocal stems and the full mix. It has its own design rather than modelling one hardware unit, with more control over the detector than most bus compressors.
- Topology: switch between feedforward and feedback detection.
- Detector modes: five pre-emphasis filter modes, Flat, Punch, Heft, Firm and Lift, that change how the compressor responds across the spectrum.
- RMS and timing: adjustable RMS window length, knee shape, attack and release, and two automatic release modes.
- Bomb mode: an "instantaneous" attack and release setting with very smooth gain reduction.
- Colour: post-compression Drive, and Sag, which makes the sidechain more sensitive to strong signals.
- Mix and range: a Mix knob for parallel compression and a Range control that caps the maximum gain reduction.
- Extras: external sidechain, optional 4x oversampling and a large preset library.
A free evaluation copy is available, and updates are free with no subscription.
Source: Stillwell Audio product page
When to use it
Bombardier is the pick when you want a bus compressor you can tune in depth, from punchy drum control to gentle mastering glue. Compared with The Glue or the SSL G-Master Buss Compressor, it doesn't give you one console's familiar sound, but its detector modes, topology switch, Drive and Sag cover more ground. Compared with TDR Kotelnikov, it has more colour while Kotelnikov stays cleaner and more transparent. It costs more than most other Stillwell plugins.
- Best for: mix bus and drum bus glue, vocal stems and gentle mastering compression.
- Genres: any.
- Look elsewhere if: you want the specific SSL bus sound (The Glue or SSL G-Master Buss Compressor) or a very clean modern design (TDR Kotelnikov).
- Tip: Computer Music suggests feedforward for fast material such as drums or picked bass, and feedback for general glue.
What producers say
The one magazine review found it an accomplished, flexible compressor; the only complaint was the look.
- Computer Music (via MusicRadar, 2010) praised its "smooth and musical sound" and responsiveness even at default settings, said Drive and Sag "add real character without being overbearing", and saw it as far more than a bus compressor.
- Usage note: the same review found the RMS window setting key to a smooth response and to how transients come through.
- Criticisms: Computer Music called the car-dashboard GUI "an acquired taste".
Where to buy
- Stillwell Audio: $79
Similar plugins
- API 2500 Bus Compressor by Universal Audio · Bus compressor · $49
- Precision Buss Compressor by Universal Audio · Bus compressor · $99
- BussPressor by PSP Audioware · VCA bus compressor · $87
- Gluon by nClear · Bus compressor · Free
- GLUE by Echelon Audio · Bus compressor · $99
- Bus Compressor by IK Multimedia · VCA bus compressor · $99.99
- TheBus by Analog Obsession · Bus compressor · Free
- XBus by Kiive Audio · VCA bus compressor · $39
- DeeGlue by Dotec-Audio · Bus compressor · $50
- API 2500 by Waves · Stereo bus compressor · $34.99
More from Stillwell Audio
- Event Horizon by Stillwell Audio · Limiter · $59
- Bad Buss Mojo by Stillwell Audio · Saturation · $59
- Fe26 by Stillwell Audio · Saturation · $59
- Hot Glass by Stillwell Audio · Saturation · $59
- Remanence by Stillwell Audio · Saturation · $79
- CMX by Stillwell Audio · Imaging · $59
- Olga by Stillwell Audio · Synth · $79
- Oligarc by Stillwell Audio · Filter · $79