Heritage Audio Successor Stereo Bus Compressor

Heritage Audio Successor Stereo Bus Compressor: Unleash Vintage Compression with Modern Features
The Heritage Audio Successor Stereo Bus Compressor is a high-performance tool designed for modern studios seeking the coveted vintage sound of classic British diode-bridge compression. Built with precision and inspired by iconic audio gear, the Successor offers true stereo operation, ensuring tight left/right tracking and minimal offset between channels. With features like Carnhill transformer-coupled balanced inputs and outputs, stepped controls for easy recall, and ultra-fast attack and release times, the Successor is the perfect stereo bus compressor for producers and engineers who need powerful compression with flexibility and tonal richness.

True Stereo Operation with Tight Left/Right Tracking
The Successor excels at providing true stereo operation on single controls, which is essential for ensuring consistency across your mix. Matched gain cells guarantee that left and right channels maintain an extremely tight track with near-zero offset, so every detail remains intact. This is crucial for tasks like bus compression where you want uniform behavior across both channels without any deviation. Whether you're mixing drums or full tracks, the Successor offers precise stereo compression that works as a cohesive unit, making it ideal for maintaining balanced and dynamic mixes.

Carnhill Transformers and Classic British Tone
One of the standout features of the Successor is its use of Carnhill transformer-coupled balanced inputs and outputs. These premium transformers deliver the warm, rich character and vintage flavor that's sought after in high-end audio equipment. The Successor's design incorporates vintage-style Class A output stages that bring the iconic sound of British diode-bridge compression to your drum and mix buses. These transformers and output stages provide the distinctive warmth, girth, and authority that classic compression units are known for, making it perfect for adding depth and character to your tracks.

Fast and Flexible Compression with Modern Enhancements
Heritage Audio has modernized the Successor with faster attack and release time options that aren't typically found in vintage designs. This enables users to achieve more flexibility in shaping their sound, such as obtaining FET-like behavior for slamming drums or maintaining natural dynamic range in full mixes. With selectable attack times from ultra-fast (50uS) to slower settings (20mS), and release times ranging from 25mS to automatic, you can adjust the compressor's behavior to perfectly match the material you’re working with. This flexibility allows for more aggressive compression when needed, while still preserving the integrity of transient details.

Sidechain Filtering and Parallel Compression for Advanced Control
The Successor's sidechain filter offers advanced options that go beyond basic highpass filters. It includes mid-band peaking filters and high-frequency compression capabilities, allowing you to shape your bus dynamics with unmatched precision. With the smooth 50Hz roll-off and the ability to filter out unwanted low frequencies from triggering the compressor, you gain full control over your sound. The Blend control also adds to the system's versatility by providing instant parallel compression, with an On/Off button for easy comparison between processed (wet) and unprocessed (dry) signals. These features help you tailor the compression to the needs of each track or bus, making the Successor one of the most flexible tools in its class.

Easy Settings Recall and External Processing Options
For ease of use, the Successor features stepped controls that allow for quick and precise recall of your settings, making it ideal for workflows where consistency is key. In addition, the unit comes with sidechain send and return jacks, enabling you to send external sidechain signals or process the internal signal externally. This is especially helpful in complex mixes where you may want to incorporate additional processing or use external effects during compression. With its analog gain reduction meter, you can visually monitor the amount of compression being applied, ensuring that your settings are always dialed in perfectly.