Kush Audio has introduced the UBK-1, a groundbreaking three-stage dynamics processor plug-in with simultaneous serial and parallel audio paths that open up unprecedented levels of control over a sound’s shape, tone, and harmonic character.

Kush Audio UBK-1

Kush Audio UBK-1

The processor has three engines – Saturation, Compression, and Density. Five meticulously tweaked compressor curves are provided, all based on the popular UBK FATSO hardware.

A high pass (HP) sidechain filter with an unusually wide frequency sweep allows for unorthodox shapes of compression. Two “Tele” style rockers control the wet/dry Mixes, and feature several optimized preset positions as well fully variable operation. A Headroom control simultaneously adjusts the sidechain level of all three engines without affecting the plugin’s output level. At the end of the chain, the Density engine adds an additional frequency-selective compressor/harmonic saturator, with a switch for targeting the mids or highs. The cumulative effect of these three engines is a thickness and musicality typically associated with expensive analog processing.

“I’m an analog guy, so I wanted to create a plug-in with an intuitively simple but deep interface that bends sound and inspires my creativity the way my hardware does,” said designer Gregory Scott. ”I’m proud to say that this thing delivers in spades, on all fronts.”

The UBK-1 will be available in RTAS, AU and VST for Mac and PC. Mac RTAS is available immediately, with other versions expected by the end of 2011. The $299 selling price includes one master license valid for all available formats and platforms.

Kush Audio’s Gregory Scott will be personally demonstrating the UBK-1 at the NYC AES show in booth 253.

More information: Kush Audio