VCA compression

VCA compressors are the most versatile, with independent attack, release, threshold, and ratio controls,¹ and they are especially well-suited for dealing with transients.² They tend to be transparent.³ Most digital compressors are based on the VCA design.¹ The SSL G Series, Distressor, dbx 160, and API 2500⁴ are popular VCA compressors.⁵

They can also transform energy, like FETs. They may be likened to a CNC machine.⁶ These are great for percussion and Parallel compression.² Molot GE does a nice VCA kind of thing. DC8C3 Snap mode is like a VCA. MTurboComp does an SSL Bus, Distressor, and dbx 160. It seems Pro-C 2’s Bus mode is VCA-inspired. Reaper’s Major Tom Compressor is inspired by a dbx 160.

Steve Churchyard, Humberto Gatica, Eddie Kramer, Ed Cherny, and Mike Clink use a dbx on vocals for how clean they are.⁴ Rick Beato likes to use a dbx or SSL on kick and snare. He also sometimes uses a Distressor on snare and SSL on toms.⁷ Tom Lord‑Alge, Jack Joseph Puig, and Butch Vig, and Glen Ballard like the dbx on drums. Michael Brauer, Joe Chiccarelli, Fabian Marasciullo, and Robert Orton like to use a Distressor on drums, especially for parallel processing.⁴