We all have been craving for that groundbreaking and paradigm shifting plugin that will finally close the highly debated disparity between hardware processors and software plugins. Some hardcore analog fanatics claim that it will never happen, but it seems the trend breaker is finally here. Behold- Softube Weiss DS1-MK3, a game changing plugin capable of mastering compression, limiting, and de-essing without compromise. With the arrival of this plugin, every pro level mastering engineer and DIY mastering home musician’s wildest dream just came true. With a verbatim code port of the legendary Weiss DS1-MK3 digital mastering processor; a gear highly regarded by top tier mastering engineers, we now have about a 100% hardware replica plug-in for the first time.
Weiss DS1-MK3, the pedigree
The Weiss DS1 quickly became the ultimate gold-standard mastering unit when it was released in the 1900s. The $10,000 price tag was was a proof of that. Still, the heavy price tag did not deter it from becoming one of the most sought after tools in big mastering studios around the world. Its transparency, unequaled versatility, and exceptional sound quality made it a must-have. It has been used on lots of major records released in the last two decades. Over these years, Weiss has implemented lots of updates and improvements which in turn has led to the near-perfection status of the DS1-MK3.
Albeit being a “boxed” digital hardware coded long ago, the DS1-MK3 has always stand shoulders above its contenders since way back up till now. If you ask me, I would say Daniel Weiss wrote some magic codes back then, that even 20 years later is still top notch and hard to replicate by other audio DSP developers.
Softube Weiss DS1-MK3 Mastering Plugin
A verbatim code port of the digital original means this plugin is a perfect copy of the hardware. This fact combined with further additional features made possible by software DSP, makes this plugin an improvement on a legendary legacy the hardware had laid. The fully digital compressor, limiter and de-esser modules deliver the results no analog unit ever could, and they do it across a wider range of settings. It also provides detailed control of your mastering process than had been previously possible. To cap it all up, it features presets from world-famous Grammy winning mastering engineer, Bob Katz; author of the book “Mastering Audio”, which is the most explicit writing on mastering. Bob described the original hardware unit as impeccable. Describing the plugin version In his exact words; ‘it is the most transparent, refined, flexible, and least “digital-sounding” digital dynamics processor I have ever used.’
This claim is further confirmed by Daniel Weiss himself saying “the Softube Weiss DS1-MK3 plugin sounds exactly the same as the hardware based DS1-MK3”. This means at the price of $490, we can now run this awesome product natively in our various DAWs. More so, we can now use as much instances as required without breaking the bank as would have been the case trying to own two or more of the hardware.
Conclusion
Softube DS1-MK3 works at resolutions of up to 32 bit/192 kHz, which is an improvement on the original hardware. The very precise mid side feature let’s you de-ess your mids and sides independently. With the compressor, you can compress with variable soft-knee adjustments to take you from gentle levelling all the way to aggressive crushing. You also get to limit with simply the best, most transparent, brick wall limiter available, including two all-new advanced limiter algorithms in addition to the Weiss original.
With this plugin, your DIY mastering life just got easier. Now you too can master like the masters, with all the loudness, clarity, and precision, with little or none of the drawbacks. You should also check out our list of top 10 best compressor VST plugins 2018
Official webpage: Weiss DS1-MK3
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