mbx 165A Soft-Knee Compressor / Limiter

The story

The punch behind the early '80s.

By the early '80s, VCA compressors had changed what a studio rack could do. Where valve and optical boxes were slow and coloured, a VCA could react in an instant and stay clean doing it. This rack unit took that speed and added a soft-knee curve, so compression fades in gradually around the threshold instead of snapping on at one point.

Engineers loved it on drums, bass and vocals: it holds the front of a note, keeps the body steady and doesn't dull the top end. Auto attack and release made it quick to set up, and the separate PeakStop ceiling meant nothing ever hit tape too hot. It became a fixture in racks everywhere.

Our mbx 165A is modelled on the real unit, control for control, down to the threshold lights and the three-way meter. Gentle, it's an invisible leveller. Leaned on, it's the punch you hear on so many records from that decade.

The controls

Every knob, right where it was.

The same panel, the same scales and the same lights as the hardware. Here's what each one does.

Front panel of the mbx 165A plugin: power and stereo coupler buttons, threshold with below and above lights, compression, attack, auto, release, stop level, output gain, meter buttons, system bypass and VU meter

Threshold: Sets where compression starts, from -40 to +10. The three lights show where you are: green below the threshold, yellow in the soft knee, red above it.
Compression: The ratio, from 1:1 to infinity. Around 2 to 4 is gentle to firm; all the way round, it becomes a limiter.
Attack: Set as a rate, in dB per millisecond. High numbers (400) clamp down instantly; low numbers (1) let the front of each hit through.
Release: Also a rate, in dB per second. 4K recovers almost instantly; 10 lets go slowly and smoothly.
Auto: Hands attack and release over to the unit, which adjusts them to the music as it plays. The yellow light shows it's on.
Stop Level: Sets the PeakStop ceiling, from -2 to +24. Nothing gets past it, and the PeakStop light flashes whenever it catches something.
Output Gain: Makes up the level lost to compression, up to 20 dB either way.
Meter: Three buttons switch the meter between input level, output level and gain change, which shows how hard it's compressing.
Stereo Coupler: Links the left and right channels so both compress together and the stereo image doesn't wander. The Slave light shows when it's linked.
System Bypass: Takes the whole unit out of the signal path, for quick before-and-after comparisons.
Power: Switches the unit on and off, just like the button on the hardware.

Where it shines

Six ways to use it.

Starting points to get you going. Every source is different, so trust your ears from here.

Punchy kick and snare

A slower attack lets the click through, then the compressor holds the body of the hit. Set the threshold so the red Above light flickers on each hit.

Start hereRatio 4 · Attack 10 · Release 400

Bass that stays put

Auto mode follows the notes, so every one sits at the same level without losing its attack.

Start hereRatio 3 · Auto on · Output +3

Vocals with a safety net

Gentle compression keeps the body of the vocal steady, while PeakStop catches the odd shout before it can clip.

Start hereRatio 2 · Auto on · Stop Level +10

Drum bus glue

A low ratio, a medium attack and the channels linked pull the kit together without flattening it.

Start hereRatio 1.5 · Attack 10 · Release 1K · Coupler on

A touch on the mix bus

Just enough that only the loudest moments light the Above light. Auto mode keeps it musical.

Start hereRatio 1.5 · Auto on · Coupler on

Brick-wall limiting

Ratio all the way up and the fastest attack turn it into a limiter for room mics, parallel chains or anything that has to stay under a line.

Start hereRatio ∞ · Attack 400 · Release 4K

Tech specs

What you get.

Formats: VST3 · AU
macOS: macOS 11 or later, Intel & Apple Silicon
Windows: Windows 10 or later
Channels: Mono & stereo
Sample rates: Up to 192 kHz
Copy protection: None. DRM-free, no activation
Updates: Free for life
Delivery: Instant download via Gumroad

Questions

Good to know.

Do I need an iLok, a dongle or an account?

No. The mbx 165A has no copy protection and no activation. Download it, install it, and it works, even offline. We only ask that you don't share your copy.

Which DAWs does it work in?

Any host that loads VST3 or AU plugins, including Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Reaper and Bitwig. Pro Tools isn't supported at the moment, because it needs the AAX format.

How do I get it after I buy?

Checkout happens through Gumroad. As soon as you've paid, you get a download link by email, and the plugin stays in your Gumroad library so you can download it again any time.

How many computers can I install it on?

All of the computers you personally own or use, such as your studio machine and your laptop.

Are updates free?

Yes. Every future update to the mbx 165A is free for everyone who bought it.

What if it doesn't work on my computer?

Get in touch at support@magicalmysteryaudio.com and we'll do our best to fix it.

mbx 165A