Empirical Labs has released the latest version (Rev 3) of its Arousor compressor plug-in, introducing more tones based on its Distressor hardware counterpart. Arousor is the only native Distressor plug-in produced by Empirical Labs itself.
The new edition adds two Opto (A and B) compression modes, based on the time constants of a classic and a modern LA-2A compressor. Other new additions to Arousor Rev 3 include a Soft Clipping Expert panel, which allows for introducing more second harmonic distortion and an ability to place the compressor input before or after the soft clipping circuit; a Listen mode, to hear what frequencies are affecting the Detector Sidechain EQ’s compression detector; additional 6:5:1 and 7:1 ratios (accessible by enabling ALT mode in the Ratio section); and an enlargeable GUI to double its original size for more comfortable onscreen editing.
ELI’s classic knee compression with proprietary high-resolution detector modelling remains at the heart of the Arousor Rev 3, providing 12 compression ratios, including the brick wall — Rivet mode in Arousor-speak — for maximum gain reduction. Other features include an adjustable broadband Soft Clipping control for introducing warm saturation; an AtMod Attack Modification control, to change the shape of the initial attack; an advanced high-pass/band-pass Detector Sidechain EQ, for fine-tuning compression detector response; and Mix knob with Dry Level Trim, for parallel compression.
The update available for free to existing owners of Arousor, but is also available for purchase as an AAX-, AU-, VST2-, and VST3-supporting 64-bit effect plug-in for macOS (10.7 or higher) and AAX-, VST2-, and VST3-supporting 64-bit effect plug-in for Windows (7 or higher).
