VS-L3ASolid-state optical compressor plug-in
Smooth, and quick.
A solid-state optical compressor: opto smoothness with a faster response and a clearer top, in two knobs.
- Use it on 5 computers per copy
- Lifetime updates
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Download link in minutes
- VST3, AU and AAX, Windows and macOS
- Try it free
Formats and DAWs
Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit): VST3 and AAX
macOS 11 or later: VST3, AU and AAX
Works in any 64-bit DAW that loads VST3, AU or AAX plug-ins.
Licence
Use it on up to five of your own computers per copy you buy. Yours for good, no subscription. Unlock it with your email and a six-digit code, no dongle and no password. It checks in now and then and works offline in between.
Delivery
Download links by email within about five minutes, and always in your account under Downloads.
Why VS-L3A
Two knobs, done
PEAK REDUCTION sets the hold; GAIN brings it back, from unity up to +30 dB. The part sits forward.
Quicker than a tube opto
A solid-state path that reacts sooner and keeps the top end clear: guitars, vocals and drums stay even without dulling.
A firmer hold, parallel and pump-free
LIMIT for peaks that need catching, MIX for parallel compression, and an 80 Hz sidechain high-pass so the bass stops pumping it.
Two knobs. Done.
GAIN and PEAK REDUCTION, each scaled 0 to 10 as on the panel, with the GR / OUTPUT meter switch and POWER.
- VST3 · AU · AAX
- Windows and macOS
- 0 ms latency
- Stereo or mono
The solid-state opto
- Two knobs, done. PEAK REDUCTION sets the hold; GAIN brings it back.
- Quicker than a tube opto. Keeps guitars, vocals and drums even without dulling them.
- A firmer hold on demand. LIMIT in the ADVANCED strip for peaks that need catching.
- Parallel and pump-free. MIX for parallel compression; an 80 Hz sidechain high-pass so the bass stops pumping it.
- GAIN and PEAK REDUCTION, scaled 0 to 10 as on the panel; the GR / OUTPUT meter switch; POWER with its lamp; a VU meter.
- ADVANCED: MIX, an 80 Hz sidechain high-pass and LIMIT.
- A display unit you can hide: gain reduction readings, six seconds of gain reduction history, the live transfer curve and a needle meter.
- One analog unit, built in: the small part tolerances of a single unit, each side its own, in every setting.
- Presets you save and load, with arrows to step through them; A/B, undo and redo, MIDI Learn on every control; a window from 75 to 200 %.
- Zero latency.
Smooth, or firmly held
The transfer curve is measured live at your settings, with a dot that rides it as the cell works.
What VS-L3A does
Two knobs on the panel, three more in the ADVANCED strip: every control and what it does.
GAIN
Brings the level back after the hold
The level after the optical cell, 0 to 10 as on the panel: 0 is unity gain, 10 is +30 dB.
PEAK REDUCTION
Sets how hard it holds
Turn it up for more gain reduction, 0 to 10 as on the panel.
GR / OUTPUT
Watch the hold, or the level
Switches the VU meter between gain reduction and output.
MIX
Parallel compression without a send
Blends the compressed signal with the dry input, from the ADVANCED strip.
SC HPF
Stops the bass pumping it
An 80 Hz high-pass ahead of the cell, on or off with one key.
LIMIT
A firmer hold on demand
The cell's limit characteristic, for peaks that need catching.
The display unit
See it hold
Gain reduction, peak, input and output readings, six seconds of gain reduction history, the live transfer curve and a needle meter. Hide it for a compact window.
One analog unit, built in
The small differences of one real unit
The small part tolerances of a single unit, each side its own, in every setting. One fixed unit: there is nothing to select.
Inside the plugin
The whole VS-L3A window: the panel, the display unit and the ADVANCED strip.
Every feature
Everything in VS-L3A, down to the smallest switch.
22 features
The panel
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GAIN
Brings the level back: 0 is unity, 10 is +30 dB
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PEAK REDUCTION
How hard the optical cell holds the level down, 0 to 10
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GR / OUTPUT
The VU reads gain reduction or output
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POWER and its lamp
Switch the unit out and hear the input untouched
Advanced
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MIX
Blends the compressed signal with the dry, for parallel compression
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SC HPF
An 80 Hz sidechain high-pass, so the bass pumps less
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LIMIT
A firmer hold on peaks
Display
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Gain reduction readouts
Gain reduction, peak, input and output in figures
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Gain reduction history
Six seconds of gain reduction drawn over the input and output
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Transfer curve
Measured live at your settings, with a dot that rides it
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Needle meter
Reads IN, GR or OUT
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A display that hides
Hide the display unit for a compact window; it opens by default
Workflow
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Presets
Save and load your own, and step through them with the arrows
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A/B
Compare two settings with one click
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Undo and redo
Try anything and step back
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MIDI Learn
Right-click any control and move a knob on your controller
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Window from 75 to 200 %
Size it to your screen
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One analog unit, built in
The small part tolerances of a single unit, each side its own, in every setting
Licence and compatibility
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VST3, AU and AAX
VST3 and AAX on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit; VST3, AU and AAX on macOS 11 or later
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Latency
Zero
-
Stereo or mono
On a stereo or a mono track
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Licence
Five of your own computers per copy you buy
How VS-L3A compares
Opto smoothness, quicker, with the controls and the view most leave out.
| VS-L3A | Typical opto compressor plugins | |
|---|---|---|
| Response | A solid-state path that reacts sooner, with a clear top | Often a slower, darker tube-style cell |
| Parallel compression | MIX built in | Often a separate parallel bus |
| Sidechain high-pass | 80 Hz, one key | Often none |
| Gain reduction view | Six seconds of history, a live transfer curve and readouts | Usually a VU needle only |
| Latency | Zero | Varies; oversampled modes add delay |
| Left and right | Each side its own small part tolerances | Often two identical channels |
| Window size | 75 to 200 %, and the display hides | Often one fixed size |
| A/B and undo | A/B, undo and redo built in | Often left to the host |
| MIDI Learn | On every control | Often host automation only |
"Typical" describes what we commonly see in this category; it does not describe any particular product. VS-L3A facts are from the plugin and its manual, October 2026.
What you get
Vox Samples
90-day money back · Thank you
Specs and system requirements
- Formats
- VST3 and AAX on Windows; VST3, AU and AAX on macOS
- Operating system
- Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit; macOS 11 or later
- Host
- Any 64-bit DAW that loads VST3, AU or AAX plug-ins
- Channels
- Stereo or mono
- Latency
- 0 samples
- Panel
- GAIN (0 to 10: unity to +30 dB) and PEAK REDUCTION (0 to 10), GR / OUTPUT, POWER with its lamp, VU meter
- ADVANCED
- MIX 0 to 100 %; SC HPF 80 Hz, on or off; LIMIT, on or off
- Display
- Gain reduction readouts, six seconds of gain reduction history, transfer curve, needle meter (IN, GR or OUT)
- Window
- 75 to 200 %; the display unit hides
- Presets
- Save and load your own; step through them with the arrows
- Analog unit
- One, built in; no selector
- Licence
- Five of your own computers per copy you buy
90Day money-back guarantee
Our guarantee
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90-day money-back guarantee
Not for you? Email contact@voxsamples.com within 90 days for a full refund.
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5 computers per copy
Use it on up to five of your own computers per copy you buy, and move it yourself from the plugin's Licence menu.
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Lifetime updates
Every future update and upgrade of VS-L3A, included.
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Platinum priority support
A real person at contact@voxsamples.com, first in line.
Questions
What does VS-L3A do?
It evens out a guitar, a vocal or drums with a solid-state optical compressor: the gentle, musical hold of an optical cell, with a path that reacts sooner and keeps the top end clear. Turn PEAK REDUCTION for the hold and GAIN to bring the level back.
What should I use it on?
Strummed guitars, busy vocals and drums that a slower tube opto would dull. LIMIT gives a firmer hold on peaks, and MIX blends in the dry signal for parallel compression.
How is it different from a plain compressor?
There is no threshold, ratio, attack or release to set: two knobs and the optical cell do the rest. An 80 Hz sidechain high-pass stops the bass pumping it.
Which formats and systems does it run on?
VST3 and AAX on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit; VST3, AU and AAX on macOS 11 or later, in any 64-bit DAW that loads those formats. Stereo or mono.
Does it add latency?
No. VS-L3A runs at zero latency, so you can track and mix through it.
What does "one analog unit, built in" mean?
VS-L3A carries the small part tolerances of a single unit, each side its own, in every setting. It is one fixed unit: there is no selector and nothing to switch. POWER off passes the input through untouched.
What if it's not for me?
Request a refund from your account within 90 days.
Founder's Story
"When COVID hit, I finally had time to dive into music production—only to discover I was missing the right tools. The plugins I tried were clunky, overloaded with unnecessary features, and killed my vibe with endless tweaking. I knew there had to be a better way.
So, with my engineering background, I started making free and simple audio plugins for my producer friends. They loved them! That’s when I set out on a mission to create plugins that save you time, streamline your workflow, and keep your creativity flowing."
- Ryan Svensson (Founder & CEO)
Opto smooth, and quick on its feet.
Two knobs, a solid-state optical cell that reacts sooner and keeps the top clear, and zero latency.
$43.03 AUDNormaler Preis $143.48 AUD70% off
- 90-day money back
- Five computers
- Lifetime updates
Pairs with
VS-L3A Solid-State Opto Compressor Plugin
$43.03 AUDNormaler Preis $143.48 AUD70% off