The sound, the features, the versatility. It's all here. I use it on my mix buss, but I could also see myself using it on a master if I didn't do the mix myself. Keep it up, Wes.

I've had the ngBusComp for two weeks, now. I can join the others in saying it is a pleasure to use. Out of habit, I turn to the unit to adjust knobs instead of using the plug-in. There's something nice, akin to touching the music, to use tactile controls. But that is changing and I can report that using the plug-in is no different than turning knobs. Reliable and instantaneous. Having the adjustments saved with the project is a joy, of course, and one can jump from project to project and expect the settings to be right where they were last time.

Sound? A non-issue. Super clean to colored. Where on the continuum is your choice. The Iron transformer pathway adds body to low-mids in a way that is incredible on some mixes and awful on others. I make a lot of radio and TV commercials and can say just a touch of iron does wonders to voiceovers. In M/S mode, I can add iron to the center channel and not the sides...another way to emphasizing the narration intelligibility while keeping the music as hot as possible.

It's a terrific 2-bus and mastering compressor. and I can see that major studios would want several of these for tracking. For those of us that are undercapitalized and lay down one track at a time, the unit can be used on every track while recording. Alternatively, I sometimes lay down tracks with no processing at all and then bounce them through the unit one at a time or in sub mixes. This makes it possible to change my mind on settings later. I save the individual track settings in a folder named for the song...one setting for each track. This has proved especially useful for drums, since one can wish to reprocess after hearing them mixed with other tracks.

One aspect that seems superior on the ngBusComp is the amount of leveling than can be achieved without being noticed. Mastering a song with quiet and dynamic areas can be done even without the amazing automated parameters. Using 1:1.5 ratios, one can level the sections quite nicely even with just modest settings (gain reduction meter barely twitching)...using the Mix control to govern how much.

I go around and around with the ITB vs Hybrid discussion. I remember endless discussions about digital photography and it followed the same curve. Compared to film, deficiencies were immediately identified and the binary format was constantly improved until, one day, it's performance exceeded that of film (for most uses). Criticism subsided. Seems digital audio processing is in the midst of that same evolution.

I'm now using ngBusComp hardware for mastering. As a test, I tried to duplicate settings on the Weiss DS1 plug-in, my go-to software compressor. It can sound similar to the clean equivalent on the ngBusComp, but it lacks just a tad of the low end punch, something I couldn't fix even by changing the otherwise identical settings. Then I added the Black Box Hg2 distortion plug-in and a Studer reel plug-in after the DS1. With careful adjustment I was able to almost duplicate the color options of the ngBusComp.

With all of the other advantages to software-only, this gives pause. For 1/6 the cost I can approximate the sound of the ngBusComp using plug-ins. Hmmm.

Well, "almost" isn't the same as "the same." All the compressor plug-ins I have, including UA's LA-2A (perhaps the most scrutinized modeling plug-in), fails to treat the bottom two octaves the same way as the analog equivalent. For some reason, these units' response to this region are difficult to model. Yet, every time I apply the ngBusComp to the mastering process, I'm taken back to the control room in 1978 and get reacquainted with that analog response. It makes me smile. The combination of tactile response, low-end punch, plug-in recall, and, I will admit, a subjective "analog" like sheen from the color options, still makes the WesAudio box superior to any other compressor I've used for mastering. And there is a simplicity in consolidating several of these features in one box.

So, is it worth it? At the moment, I think, "yes." The unit costs no more than an upper-middle class microphone (admit it...how many mics have you bought?) and offers a broader range of options to sculpt the sound. In that fashion, the ngBusComp is a worthwhile purchase to me.

I'll have a chance to try harder ratios and more extreme settings on an upcoming project. If this site allows, I'll post an update.

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i do not do reviews EVER, but thing deserve it , its BRILLIANT in every way
highly recommended it

This unit packs a tremendous amount of sound and versatility. Being able to compare 3 different settings instantly is a feature I never knew I needed but it is great to compare smashing a mix and turning back the wet/dry vs a typical conservative compression approach. The THD is great in moderation. The output transformers sound great when needed but I rarely use the pad to drive them on a mix. On drum buss the THD and transformer pad if driven can really shape a nice drum sound. With all the sounds this unit can produce it can also be very transparent if that's what you are after. Plus everything is recallable. A no brainer IMO if you need a mix/drum buss comp.

I've tried using software bus compressors for the longest time but never really liked what they did to the sound. I took the gamble and bought when of these and I have absolutely zero regrets.

The versatility of this thing is amazing to say the least. It can be extremely clean or very saturated especially with the total harmonic distortion knob. The mid side capabilities are amazing. Even running things like kick and snares through this thing add a great dimension to the sound.

The plug-in is extremely stable and the setup was quick and simple. If you're in the market for a serious bus compressor, look no further than this. You will not regret it.

Mix engineers will tell you that one of their most trusted pieces of gear is their mix buss compressor. It's like the grand governor of your mix that you trust with your life. You kind of form a relationship with it! Every fader move is in perfect harmony with your buss compressor.

I have been mixing through my trusty Alan Smart C2 compressor for nearly two decades. I love how it sounds, and never thought of straying from it. But, I went out on a limb with the WesAudio ngBusComp because of the incredible features, flexibility, and the amazing plugin interface offering complete recallability.

Cards on the table...I've never trusted the idea of a digitally controlled analog piece to sound great, but I just had to check this out. And, of course, Sweetwater has a 30-day return policy, so no worries!

OK, this thing sounds nothing short of AMAZING! I am completely floored! All the punch, clarity, warmth, and "glue" that I've come to expect in a high end buss comp with endless tools to sculpt the perfect mix! I can't get enough of this thing! Want a punchy tone with a little "muscle"? Engage the output transformers and turn up the gain to get a little "iron" in your mix. Back it down with the "IRON PAD" before hitting your A/D. Perfection! Need more coloration? Dial in some of their proprietary THD circuit and hear your mix come alive with harmonic distortion that pleases the ear! Looking for an open, clean and un-color tone? Turn off the THD, bypass the transformer output stage and listen to the crystal clear sound of pure VCA compression. Clean, wide, and open. If that's not enough control, dial in some dry signal with the "MIX" parallel compression circuit! It's endless!

The sidechain is a must for me. I used to patch an external Hi-pass filter EQ with the Alan Smart compressor to accomplish this. The ngBusComp has it built in! And the frequency choices are extensive! Mix in Stereo, Dual Mono, or M/S and compare up to 3 settings!

The plugin has been a joy to work with. It's stable, and reliable and saves all the current settings in your mix session. You can also automate every parameter right in your DAW! I didn't think I would ever use this, but I already have! I had a mix that needed to start soft and open, but get more aggressive later in the song. So, I automated the output gain into the transformers to achieve a subtle change in volume and tone. Incredible!

Complaints? As of yet, I don't have any! I did some initial A/B-ing with the Alan Smart compressor on a previous mix set in dual mono mode, (which is how I prefer to mix), and found it to be very comparable! The ngBusComp sounded a little more center-forward than the Alan Smart from a mid-side perspective, at least on a previously mixed song. I don't find that to be the case when mixing with it from the start.

All in all... this thing is for real! It is a solid, well built, serious mixing and mastering compressor that is worth the price tag. I even bought their Pultec-style 500-series EQ, (the Prometheus) to put after the ngBusComp for the final sweetening, which is also amazing and recallable! But that'll get it's own review!

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I'm finding that this unit is really spot on. It is analog with a big sound. With having 1.5 and 2 to 1 ratios, makes things so easy to manage. Without the transformer, the sound is big and open. With the transformer, the signal becomes very warm and thick. Only reason for me giving this unit 4 and a half stars is I find that using the Iron mode creates a little imbalance between left and right. I am in contact with WesAudio about this to get it rectified. It's not bad at all, maybe half a db. Oh yeah... This unit has tons of headroom. You can hit it hard and not worry at all. And of course, there's recall. Wonderful! I just installed the plug in and it worked. Just that simple.

Wait.. I do have one last tiny gripe and it's super small. There are no values on some of the knobs. Take the THD, it would be nice to know how much is being applied from a value stand point. Yes........... I know... Use your ears. I know. The flip side to this is inside the plug in, you get values. How about that??!!! LOL.

All in all, don't hesitate to pick this unit up. It's setting the bar for future analog gear and is a darn versatile, and very good compressor.

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This Compressor is probably the best thing that has happened in 2020. Let's be honest, I don't usually leave reviews on things on the internet like instruments / electronics or pieces of gear because I believe that you should try things out before buying it especially at this price range but my goodness just take my word for it this time. The ngBuscomp not only sounds amazing it adds character, body, 3d feel and an incredible punch, the THD and the Transformer balanced output (IRON) on the make up gain is unbelievable. It makes this compressor sound versatile. It's like having 3 compressors in one. If you want something clean or if you want something colored, this compressor can do both. Also The fact that you can control this thing with a plugin connected to your computer via usb, it's like peanut butter to my jelly. The plugin is also very stable and I haven't had any issues with it. I really couldn't ask for more. Wesaudio ngbus compressor is that one piece of gear that I now can't mix without it.

The one and only tiny complaint I have is the packaging.  When you open the box, you don't get that unboxing experience you do when you open a brand new iphone or one of the Tegeler Audio Equipment. This is a very straightforward packaging, you get a power cable and usb cable.  I don't know, it just didn't seem pleasing to me.  However, that doesn't really matter.  At the end of the day, you'll be putting it in a rack and make music along with it so the Unit still is worth every penny.

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