VS-L2ATube optical compressor plug-in
Level it smooth.
A tube optical leveler: two knobs that hold a vocal, a bass or a mix at one even, musical level.
- 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-L2A
Even vocals in two knobs
PEAK REDUCTION sets how hard it holds; GAIN brings the level back. Set it once and get back to the song.
Musical, never grabby
The optical cell's program-dependent release follows the phrase instead of chasing peaks, so loud lines come down gently and the voice keeps its breath.
Compress or limit, and see it
One switch moves from a gentle ratio to a firm hold for bass, drums and buses, and the display shows every dB it takes.
Set it once. It rides the level.
GAIN and PEAK REDUCTION, scaled 0 to 100 as on the panel, and a VU meter on gain reduction or output.
- VST3 · AU · AAX
- Windows and macOS
- 0 ms latency
- Stereo or mono
The optical compressor
- Even vocals in two knobs. PEAK REDUCTION sets how hard it holds; GAIN brings the level back.
- Musical, never grabby. The optical cell's program-dependent release follows the phrase instead of chasing peaks.
- Compress or limit. One switch moves from a gentle ratio to a firm hold for bass, drums and buses.
- See what it does. Gain reduction history, a live transfer curve and a VU meter show every dB it takes.
- GAIN and PEAK REDUCTION, scaled 0 to 100 as on the panel; the LIMIT / COMPRESS switch; a VU meter on gain reduction or output (+10 or +4).
- ADVANCED: MIX for parallel compression, a sidechain high-pass (20 to 500 Hz), and the sidechain's MID, MID FREQ and HIGH to choose what drives the cell.
- A display unit you can hide: gain reduction, peak, input and output readings, six seconds of gain reduction history, the transfer curve measured live at your settings, 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.
See every dB it takes
Six seconds of gain reduction history over the input and output, a transfer curve measured live at your settings, and a needle meter.
What VS-L2A does
Two knobs on the panel, five more in the ADVANCED strip: every control and what it does.
GAIN
Brings the level back after the hold
The output level after the optical cell, 0 to 100 as on the panel. Around 30 the unit is close to unity.
PEAK REDUCTION
Sets how hard it holds
Turn it up for more gain reduction. The optical cell answers the whole phrase, so quiet words stay present.
LIMIT / COMPRESS
A gentle ratio or a firm hold
COMPRESS for a gentle ratio on a vocal; LIMIT for a much firmer one on bass, drums and buses.
MIX
Parallel compression without a send
Blends the leveled signal with the dry input, from the ADVANCED strip.
Sidechain EQ
Choose what drives the cell
SC HPF, from 20 to 500 Hz, keeps the bass from pumping it. MID (±6 dB, 0.5 to 10 kHz) and HIGH (−10 to 0 dB) make it listen more or less to one band.
The display unit
See every dB it takes
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-L2A window: the panel, the display unit and the ADVANCED strip.
Every feature
Everything in VS-L2A, down to the smallest switch.
25 features
The panel
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GAIN
Brings the level back after the cell, 0 to 100
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PEAK REDUCTION
How hard the optical cell holds the level down, 0 to 100
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LIMIT / COMPRESS
A gentle ratio, or a much firmer hold
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METER
The VU reads gain reduction, or output at +10 or +4
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POWER
Switch the unit out and hear the input untouched
Advanced
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MIX
Blends the leveled signal with the dry, for parallel compression
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SC HPF
A sidechain high-pass from 20 to 500 Hz, so the bass pumps less
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MID
Makes the cell listen more, or less, to one band: ±6 dB
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MID FREQ
The centre of the sidechain's mid band, 0.5 to 10 kHz
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HIGH
The high emphasis the cell listens with, −10 to 0 dB
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
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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-L2A compares
An opto leveler with the controls and the view most leave out.
| VS-L2A | Typical opto compressor plugins | |
|---|---|---|
| Parallel compression | MIX built in | Often a separate parallel bus |
| Sidechain high-pass | 20 to 500 Hz, so the bass stops pumping it | Often fixed, or none |
| What drives the cell | MID, MID FREQ and HIGH in the sidechain | Usually a fixed detector |
| 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-L2A 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 and PEAK REDUCTION (0 to 100), LIMIT / COMPRESS, METER (GR, +10, +4), POWER, VU meter
- ADVANCED
- MIX 0 to 100 %; SC HPF 20 to 500 Hz; MID −6 to +6 dB; MID FREQ 0.5 to 10 kHz; HIGH −10 to 0 dB
- 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-L2A, included.
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Platinum priority support
A real person at contact@voxsamples.com, first in line.
Questions
What does VS-L2A do?
It levels a vocal, a bass or a mix with a tube optical compressor. Turn PEAK REDUCTION for the hold and GAIN to bring the level back: loud lines come down gently and quiet words stay present.
What should I use it on?
Vocals first: it holds a voice even and still alive. LIMIT gives a firmer hold for bass, drums and buses, 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. The optical cell's release follows the phrase instead of chasing peaks, so it holds the level without sounding grabby. The sidechain high-pass and the MID and HIGH bands choose what drives 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-L2A runs at zero latency, so you can track and mix through it.
What does "one analog unit, built in" mean?
VS-L2A 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)
Vocals that sit, smooth and even.
Two knobs, an optical cell that follows the phrase, and zero latency.
$43.03 AUDPrecio habitual $143.48 AUD70% off
- 90-day money back
- Five computers
- Lifetime updates
Pairs with
VS-L2A Optical Compressor Plugin
$43.03 AUDPrecio habitual $143.48 AUD70% off