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14-day money back guarantee included if product is not activated
You can purchase from Gear4music with complete confidence and peace of mind. All of our digital products come with a 14-day money-back guarantee as standard.
If you decide you don't want your order, you can return it within 14 days of receiving it. Provided your product hasn't been activated in that time, you can exchange it for a different product, or get a refund.
We will only issue a new product or refund if the supplier confirms that your product has not been activated. At the same time, we will ask them to invalidate it so that it cannot be used in the future.
This does not affect your statutory rights.
For more information, please refer to our Returns and Refunds Information.
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 30 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
- Mouth and Lip-Care Products
- CDs, DVDs and Software
We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 30 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
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Key Features
The Slate Digital Virtual Buss Compressors is a bundle of three compressor plugins, modelled after highly revered hardware compressors, upgraded and enhanced for modern DAW producers. Each providing a distinctive analog warmth and unique tone, Virtual Buss Compressors includes FG-RED, FG-GREY and FG-MU to be used as individual plugins or together in the Compressor Rack. The FG-RED compressor enhances mix punch and articulation through its unique DRIVE control, enabling precision control over transformer-driven saturation. The FG-GREY accurately recreates the iconic British console compressor, delivering tight, cohesive mixes without sacrificing crucial low-end and midrange presence. Meanwhile, the FG-MU introduces authentic tube-based tonal richness, thickening mids, tightening lows, and gently smoothing harsh upper-mid frequencies.
Every unit in the suite meticulously models complex non-linear characteristics such as harmonic distortion, dynamic phase shifts, and transformer-induced colouration. This sophisticated approach authentically reproduces the subtle, desirable imperfections found in classic analogue hardware. By adding depth, vitality, and organic analogue flavour, Virtual Buss Compressors significantly enhance mix quality, offering an intuitive, versatile toolkit to transform any digital recording into a vibrant, cohesive production.
Product Ref: 346208
The FG-RED is inspired by a distinctive compressor favoured by acclaimed mix engineer Chris Lord Alge. Unlike typical mix-buss compressors, the FG-RED employs a quick attack combined with gentle compression ratios, resulting in exceptionally punchy and transparent mixes. Perfectly modelling the unique output transformers, the Slate FG-RED is perfect for adding depth, aggression, and clarity, even when driven to the limits. Enhanced for modern producers, the Slate Digital FG-RED includes a dedicated DRIVE knob, letting users harness transformer-based tonal shaping independently from makeup gain. Experimenting with DRIVE yields substantial enhancement to transients, punchiness, and sonic character. Whether dialled subtly for transparent clarity or driven harder for more attitude, FG-RED transforms any mix into a powerful sonic statement.
The FG-GREY emulates the iconic British 4000-series console compressor known for its distinctive tightening and blending qualities. Slate Digital’s meticulous modelling accurately replicates its famous transparent-to-aggressive sonic capabilities. Additionally, Slate Digital improved upon the original hardware design, adding subtle transformer characteristics to preserve low-end presence and midrange openness, even under heavy compression. The result is an exceptionally musical compressor capable of keeping mixes solid, rich, and full-bodied. The FG-GREY is especially effective on drums and guitars, providing enhanced depth, clarity, and cohesiveness, effortlessly lifting any mix.
The FG-MU encapsulates the sought-after warmth and musicality of classic tube buss compressors like the Fairchild 670 and Manley Vari Mu. Slate Digital has carefully recreated the subtle yet impactful characteristics imparted by tube circuits, notably enhancing midrange depth, low-frequency roundness, and gentle smoothing of harsh high-frequency peaks. Even without compression engaged, simply routing audio through FG-MU enriches mixes with vibrant analogue colour and sonic openness. Its flexible presets showcase diverse tonal options, ranging from silky-smooth subtle compression to more assertive dynamic control. FG-MU effortlessly delivers authentic analogue warmth and sonic charm, making it an indispensable tool to elevate digital recordings.
When developing the Virtual Buss Compressors, Slate Digital closely studied analogue compressors, identifying key sonic traits often missing from typical plugin recreations. They discovered classic analogue compressors add complex, non-linear sonic artefacts, including harmonic distortion, phase shifts, saturation, modulation, and subtle crosstalk. These qualities significantly contribute to the sought-after analogue ‘magic’. Slate Digital's sophisticated modelling captures these non-linear characteristics precisely, combining them seamlessly with accurate compressor curves and timings. Unlike simpler plugin models, Virtual Buss Compressors retain the depth, life, and authentic analogue feel demanded by audio professionals. Users can immediately appreciate the distinctive sonic depth and dimension, transforming digital mixes into truly analogue-sounding recordings.
“I’m blown away by the VBC. I just replaced my vintage Neve 33609 with the RED and the RED beat it with 30 seconds of tweaking.” - Jeff Juliano (John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band)
