Acustica Audio has introduced TAN, a freeware analog style compressor effect in VST/AU/AAX plugin formats for PC and Mac based digital audio workstations.
TAN is based on Acustica Audio’s new CORE8 multi-threading technology which is optimized for working at a lower latency with lower CPU consumption compared to CORE7. This is the first freeware release by Acustica Audio that is based on the new CORE8 technology, resulting in a much better performance and overall stability compared to their older freeware plugins (such as the great sounding Ochre Free equalizer).
In case you’re unfamiliar with Acustica Audio’s previous work, they are known for producing exceptionally detailed emulations of hardware effects by capturing “dynamic impulse responses” (roughly speaking) of the hardware unit’s frequency and dynamic response using the so-called Acqua technology. Although their virtual effects (commonly known as Acqua Plugins) have always sounded quite similar (if not identical) to their real life counterparts, Acustica Audio’s plugins often came with some amount of performance issues and higher latency processing. However, the company has improved its multi-threading technology significantly over the years and their latest creations truly are a joy to use.
During the test, a single instance of TAN resulted in a 12% CPU hit on my i7 based machine, which is still way more than I’d ever expect to get from a compressor meant for normal use. However, the plugin sounds so nice that I can easily see myself using it for mastering, or for offline processing of acoustic drums (or any other audio tracks before adding them to the actual mix).
To download your free copy of TAN, click the black arrow below the red “FREE FOR YOU!” headline on the product page linked below (trying to add the product to your shopping cart will result in a weird “Item out of stock” error message). The product will be added to your user area, along with a download link. If you don’t have an Acustica Audio user account already, you’ll need to create one first (registration is completely free).
TAN is available for free download via Acustica Audio (43.6 MB download size, ZIP archive containing EXE installer, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/AU/AAX plugin formats for Windows & Mac OS).
16 Comments
Aesthete
onSSL G Bus Clone ?
james
onNo – at gearslutz they are saying it is modeled off of some other VCA compressor.
Joe
onReally? because all of the controls aside from shmod are identical to an SSL.
Poofox
onStrange that your cpu hit is so high. I also have an i7(4770@3.4GHz) and I get 1.8% for ZL version and 1.5% for the other version in Reaper x64. Cool plug though, thanks!
Tomislav Zlatic
onMight be some problems with multi-threading in MuLab 6. Perhaps multi-core CPU support in Reaper is better? I’ll look into it.
Joe
onReaper has the best multi core support of any DAW. I dont believe there is a more CPU efficient DAW on the market.
g0nz3r
onI agree that 12 percent seems odd based on my experience, but I should probably note that I have seen multiple people assert that they’re getting huge CPU hits.
I am a Reaper user (v5.22/x64) as well, with two different i7 rigs, and my CPU hits haven’t even reached 1%. The highest I can get out of it is 0.8% on a 3770K.
JoeHF
onLove the UI, though I must confess unfamiliarity with a SHMOD knob
JoeHF
onNvm my previous comment — I see it’s explained on the download page:
One of the exciting new features that is new to software is what we call “ShMod”. This is a shape control for the attack behavior of the compressor. It allows you to fine-tune the attack shape so you can really customize the attack behavior for any audio source!
Curious…
Csabb
onIs it just me, or the GR meter shows reeeaallly slow release times? Even on the fastest setting it is strangely lazy on it’s way back.
Csabb
onI’ve read up on it on other forums and it looks like the meter is not representative, but the actual release time seems to be accurate. Another reason to not rely on what you see, but what you hear :)
Ndumiso
onI’ll get it cause it’s free. My native instruments supercharger remains my favorite compressor that I got for free, hopefully this could prove as useful
Esol
onNice! Cant wait to try this one out. :)
neilpwa
onam i being really dense here? i cannot see the install location it just installs and then quits, i have searched for tan or acustica and no joy..?
Michel Tshilomba
onSame here
Marcus Rasseli
onFor some tasks it can be useful. A track that features this compressor:
https://soundcloud.com/marcus-vinicius-342/free-time-jam-marcus-rasseli