Simple but extreme compression in the “British style” – an accurate imitation of the unique modification 1176.
Smasher is an unprecedented custom modification of the classic Urei 1176 compressor circuit. It’s a unique formula we stumbled upon while tweaking other algorithms.
The original 1176 compressor hardware offered four compression ratios, but studio engineers soon discovered that pressing all buttons simultaneously resulted in distorted, explosive, and heavily compressed audio. It is this “All Buttons Down” or “British” mode that has been meticulously recreated in Smasher.
While we’ve kept the original design as close to true as possible, the changes we’ve made to Smasher will add clarity to transients and make your sound more aggressive. We love using it to enhance ambience in drum sessions, but there are plenty of other creative uses. Smasher isn’t suitable for every track, but where it works, it works wonders.
Smasher excels at producing gritty, harsh sounds, reminiscent of bands like Vulfpeck, The Whitefield Brothers, and The Black Keys.
Based on an internal feedback configuration, field compressors like the Urei 1176 are known for their ultra-fast response times and colorful tonal response that ranges from soft clipping to intense saturation.
When operating in “all buttons on” mode, several changes occur in the 1176 circuit, including the bias voltage. In Smasher, all of these phenomena have been perfectly reproduced for the first time using our patented topology-preserving technology, allowing you to fully utilize the sonic potential of this classic effect in your DAW.
With our unique customization and beautiful, simple interface, Smasher gives this mythical scheme a new identity.
- Download Pulsar Audio Smasher v1.5.7. VST3,VST,AAX x64 [09/22/2025](R2R)
- Original Publisher: Pulsar Audio
- Version: v1.5.7
- Format: VST, VST3, AAX
- Category: VST Plugins
- Require: Windows 7+
- License type: Full
- Download Size: 108.7 MB
