Wes Audio ngBusComp Stereo Bus Compressor with Digital Recall

Wes Audio ngBusComp Stereo Bus Compressor with Digital Recall

The Wes Audio ngBusComp is a 3U analogue VCA bus compressor that pairs a fully analogue audio path with digital control of every setting, so you can recall, automate and adjust it from your DAW. Built around four THAT 2181 VCAs with +24dBu of headroom, it covers stereo, dual mono and Mid/Side operation, making it equally at home gluing a mix bus, tightening a drum group or shaping the side channel of a master.

A choice of electronically balanced or Carnhill transformer-balanced outputs lets you decide how clean or coloured the unit sounds. In IRON mode the make-up gain can push the transformers harder while a relay-switched passive pad brings the level back down, and the variable THD control adds anything from a touch of warmth to obvious saturation. Settings can be stored and compared on the front panel with the A/B/C buttons, even without a computer connected.

Key Features:

• Analogue VCA compression:
  Quad THAT 2181 VCA design, plus a dedicated VCA in each channel's detector, with +24dBu of headroom.
• Stereo, dual mono and Mid/Side:
  Detectors can be linked or unlinked at any time, with relative parameter linking to keep channel balance when adjusting both sides together.
• Two output stages:
  Choose a clean, electronically balanced output or the Carnhill transformer-balanced IRON output with an IRON PAD of up to 15dB in 1dB steps.
• Variable THD:
  Proprietary harmonic distortion circuit adjustable from 0% to 8%.
• Mix control:
  Built-in parallel compression that can be automated from the DAW.
• Sidechain options:
  High-pass filters at 60, 90 and 150Hz, two tilt filters and an external sidechain input for each channel on rear TRS sockets.
• Five ratios:
  1.5:1, 2:1, 4:1, 10:1 and INF for anything from gentle bus control to hard limiting.
• Total recall and automation:
  Plugin control in VST2, VST3, AU, AAX and AAX DSP formats, with five touch-sensitive encoders per channel for writing automation in real time.
• USB or Ethernet:
  Connect directly to a Mac or PC over USB, or join your local network via Ethernet. The standalone WesAudio app is also supported.
• Metering and bypass:
  Input, output and gain reduction metering on both channels, mirrored in the plugin, plus true relay bypass.

In the Box:

• Wes Audio ngBusComp
• Mains power lead
• USB-B cable
• Feedback adapter

Specifications:

• Ratio: 1.5:1, 2:1, 4:1, 10:1, INF
• Attack: 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30ms
• Release: 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2s, Auto
• Sidechain filter: 60, 90, 150Hz, T1, T2
• THD: 0% to 8%, variable
• THD+N: <0.03% (1kHz, 0dBu)
• Frequency response: 0 to 300kHz (-3dB)
• Dynamic range: >120dB
• Crosstalk: >90dB
• Maximum input/output level: +24dBu
• Impedance: >10kΩ input, <50Ω output
• Connections: balanced XLR in and out, TRS external sidechain inputs, USB and Ethernet
• Power consumption: 20W max
• Format: 3U rackmount, 135 x 483 x 252mm
• Unit weight: 7.95kg
• Shipping weight: 10kg