Hardware-Modeled Character Compressor Brings Studio Legend to DAW
The Shure Level-Loc plugin, officially licensed by Shure and endorsed by Grammy-winning producer Tchad Blake, brings the distinctive compression and saturation characteristics of the legendary hardware unit to modern DAW workflows.
Authentic Hardware Modeling
This plugin meticulously models three vintage Level-Loc units, including two from Tchad Blake's personal collection. The comprehensive modeling captures the entire signal path, from the FET limiter to the transformers, delivering the authentic character that has appeared on countless professional recordings.
Extended Control Set
The plugin expands upon the original hardware's capabilities with modern features including adjustable high and low pass filters, variable release times, and a sweepable sidechain EQ. A unique Battery Drain control simulates voltage variations, while the Impedance setting allows users to experiment with different gain structures and transformer behaviors.
Producer's Secret Weapon
Tchad Blake, known for his work with artists like The Black Keys, Peter Gabriel, and Tom Waits, discovered the Level-Loc while recording Waits' "Bone Machine" album. "The Level-Loc changed my life," Blake notes, making it an essential part of his mixing toolkit ever since.
The plugin excels at creating punchy drums, adding warm saturation to enhance low end, processing vocals and acoustic instruments with vintage character, and achieving creative lo-fi effects. The Mix control allows for precise parallel processing capabilities.
Compatibility and System Requirements:
- Formats: VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit)
- OS: Mac OSX 10.14+ / Windows 7+
- CPU: Intel, AMD or Apple Silicon i5 quad core
- RAM: 4GB minimum
- Resolution: 1024 x 768 or higher
Price: $149.99 (Intro Sale $74.99)
More information about the Shure Level-Loc is available on the Korneff Audio website.
