All buttons in, all the time
Smasher is a dead-simple compressor with just 3 knobs and a massive personality. Under the hood, it’s a detailed model of an 1176 with the ‘all-buttons-in’ mode engaged – a classic studio trick used by everyone from Led Zeppelin to the Beastie Boys to beef up a track. Expect explosive drums, powerful room mics, and upfront vocals.
- Uniquely modified 1176 circuit – Recreates the explosive “British” 1176 trick for immediate grit and punch.
- From Subtle Grit to Total Destruction – The perfect tool to (re)discover the magic of parallel compression
- Optimized 3-Knob Interface – A straightforward layout designed for fast results and creative flow.
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Smasher in action
Drum Bus 1
Drum Bus 2
Bass Warming
Synth Arpeggio Glue
Bass Drum
Lead Vocal
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Why it's unique
Based on an internal feedback configuration, FET compressor designs like the Urei 1176 are known for their super-quick attack times and a colorful tonal response that ranges from soft limiting to heavy saturation.
When running in all-buttons-in mode, several things happen to the 1176’s circuit, including changes to the bias voltages. In Smasher, all these phenomena have been perfectly reproduced for the first time using our proprietary Topology Preservation Technology, bringing the full sonic capability of this classic effect to your DAW.
With our unique tuning and its beautiful, uncomplicated interface, Smasher gives this mythical circuit a new personality.
Is not here to be polite
By merging extreme compression with heavy saturation, it delivers a unique, gritty tone that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you need to add thickness to a bass line or completely demolish a drum bus, Smasher provides a raw, aggressive impact that is simply impossible to achieve with other plugins. It’s the ultimate tool for turning thin tracks into a heavy, high-energy wall of sound.
Subtle grit to total destruction
The Mix knob transforms Smasher from a brute-force compressor into a versatile sound-shaping tool through seamless parallel processing. This allows you to aggressively squash your transients and maximize sustain without losing the rhythmic “knock” and clarity of your original performance. By blending the raw, unprocessed signal with Smasher’s signature grit, you can inject density and harmonic richness while preserving the essential dynamic peaks.
Videos
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
CPU
- Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 / i9 / Xeon or AMD Quad-Core minimum
Memory
- 4 GB RAM
- 1 GB free disk space
Operating System
- Windows 10 64 bit
- Windows 11 64 bit
GPU
- OpengGL 2.0 compatible GPU
Monitor
- Resolution: minimum 1024x768, recommended 1920x1080
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
CPU
- Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 / Xeon / Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5)
Memory
- 4 GB RAM
- 1 GB free disk space
Operating System
- MacOS 10.11 or later
GPU
- OpengGL 2.0 compatible GPU
Monitor
- Resolution: minimum 1024x768, recommended 1920x1080
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Compatible plugin formats
AAX Native
64 bits only
Audio Unit
64 bits only
VST 2.4
64 bits only
VST 3
64 bits only