Emanating from a partnership with the iconic Blackbird Studio in Nashville, TN, KIT Plugins makes low-cost effects for your DAW that benefit from the experience of one of America’s most successful multi-platinum recording studios. Owned by John McBride and his country superstar wife Martina McBride, Blackbird Studio has recorded hundreds of mega-artists, including The Eagles, Taylor Swift, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Rush and many more. John McBride was heavily involved with KIT’s newest plugin. Inspired by the legendary 1969 Neve 2254 compressor/limiter, the BB N54 promises to deliver rich, analog warmth and musical dynamic control. Tuned to John McBride’s personal taste, the BB N54 captures the unmistakable low-end weight and harmonic depth that made the 2254 one of the most desirable compressors in pop and rock music history.
Many people think of compression as the key to the “record” sound, and so many compressors don’t bring that. The BB N54 is one that does. The “polish and finish” that a great compressor delivers is immediately apparent in this plugin. Designed to shine on vocals, drums, bass, or on an entire mix, it brings sound forward and creates size, depth, sustain and detail that is characteristic of the original Neve. Not clean and transparent, but full of desirable character and punch, transients can be preserved while processing is eminently controllable. Ordinary sounds become more special when this plugin is involved. With two channels that can be linked for stereo or used independently, the plugin behaves very much like the original Neve.
The BB N54 features all the controls and metering that the original units had and more. Two especially nice features that were not on the original are the addition of a Sidechain Filter and Mix Control. The Sidechain Filter is an adjustable High Pass filter that allows you to leave Low Frequencies untouched by the compressor. This is particularly useful on a master buss for drums where a bass drum might trigger the compressor more than you want—adjusting this control higher can allow the drums to breathe without getting crushed by the energy of the bass drum. The Mix control easily enables parallel compression, with is also a very popular and useful sound. Additionally, a “Vintage” control in the compression ration area allows the plugin to more closely simulate the lack of precision that the original units had in the ratio area.
KIT plugins can be auditioned for 14 days with full functionality. The whole line of KIT and Blackbird plugins are available for purchase or via NOIZ Hub subscription for $9.95 a month.
