dbx® 160 Compressor / Limiter
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Experience the quirky VCA compression of the vintage hardware.
The dbx 160 Compressor/Limiter plug-in is a fully licensed, faithful emulation of the legendary studio hardware, capturing the quirky sonics of its colorful VCA compression along with added controls for modern workflows.
Included Versions
UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.
- Add a unique voice and flavor to your compressor toolkit with the first solid-state VCA compressor ever made
- Harness fat compression textures on bass guitar, drum buses, synths, and more
- Give acoustic guitars and snare drums in-your-face “thwack”
- Create with Dry/Wet mix control for quick parallel compression and Sidechain Filter for reduced low-frequency pumping
TAKE A LISTEN
Add Versatile VCA Compression to your Tracks
Whether you’re using it on synths, bass guitar, or a drum bus, the dbx 160 plug-in emulates the original hardware’s grabby, low-end glue and old-school character, full of the same unique nonlinearities that make it a must-have for any engineer’s compressor toolkit.
Simple to Use, Timeless Character
With the same simple control set and at-a-glance metering of the original, the dbx 160 plug-in makes it easy to crush a parallel drum bus, or inject subtle fatness. It can also add aggressiveness and impact to everything from guitar power chords to a hip-hop vocal.
Leveled Up for Modern Workflows
Along with graphic enhancements and improved VU metering, the dbx 160 plug‑in’s Dry/Wet Mix control lets you easily punch up a drum bus with parallel compression, while the added Sidechain Filter lets you keep the low end tight, enhancing the compressor's impact.
5-Minute UAD Tip
In this video, learn how to add parallel compression to drums, even out a bass performance, and bring presence to acoustic guitars with the dbx 160 Compressor/Limiter.
Customer Reviews
H. Yamamoto
October 2, 2023
Good compressor
Good compressor. When you want a solid effect.
Read MoreJ. Newman
October 2, 2023
Drums will come to life!
I have experienced many examples of the excellent, world famous DBX 160 on drums in my studio. The simple and fast hardware emulation works it’s magic and adds the...
Read MoreJ. Young
October 2, 2023
Great drum compressor!
This is a great compressor for drums! Basically put it on and and drive it for light or hard compression and it sounds amazing!
Read MoreA. Vroomams
October 2, 2023
The best DBX 160 emulation there is
This works amazing on anything drums. But it is also a go-to for bass guitar. It makes your mix sound smoother, more together and...
Read MoreJ. Branam
October 2, 2023
love it
has it's own quirky characteristic. works really well on kick and snare with a pultech eq taggin' along.
Read MoreT. Spott
October 2, 2023
Angenehm überrascht
Stellte gestern dbx 160 erstmalig in eine Snare-Drum-Spur und hatte ohne weitere Einflussnahme auf die Parameter sofort einen überraschend guten Effekt damit erzielt....
Read More -
Key Features
Add a unique voice and flavor to your compressor toolkit with the first solid-state VCA compressor ever made
Harness fat compression textures on bass guitar, drum buses, synths, and more
Give acoustic guitars and snare drums in-your-face “thwack”
Create with Dry/Wet mix control for quick parallel compression and Sidechain Filter for reduced low-frequency pumping
Use with any audio interface, no UA hardware required
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Customer Reviews
dbx® 160 Compressor / Limiter
H. Yamamoto
Good compressor
Good compressor. When you want a solid effect.
J. Newman
Drums will come to life!
I have experienced many examples of the excellent, world famous DBX 160 on drums in my studio. The simple and fast hardware emulation works it’s magic and adds the compression sound that supports early 90’s snare and kick. I’m able to sculpt the transients and construct attack around anything I use it in; and it’s very useful. I’d suggest anyone to try the free trial and see what it can do for you !
J. Young
Great drum compressor!
This is a great compressor for drums! Basically put it on and and drive it for light or hard compression and it sounds amazing!
A. Vroomams
The best DBX 160 emulation there is
This works amazing on anything drums. But it is also a go-to for bass guitar. It makes your mix sound smoother, more together and really professional.
J. Branam
love it
has it's own quirky characteristic. works really well on kick and snare with a pultech eq taggin' along.
T. Spott
Angenehm überrascht
Stellte gestern dbx 160 erstmalig in eine Snare-Drum-Spur und hatte ohne weitere Einflussnahme auf die Parameter sofort einen überraschend guten Effekt damit erzielt. Während viele Kompressoren einer langwierigen Steuerung bedürfen, um damit hörbare Verbesserungen herbeiführen zu können, bekam ich schon durch das Switch-On ein wirklich annehmbares Ergebnis.
T. Spott
Angenehm überrascht
Stellte gestern dbx 160 erstmalig in eine Snare-Drum-Spur und hatte ohne weitere Einflussnahme auf die Parameter sofort einen überraschend guten Effekt damit erzielt. Während viele Kompressoren einer langwierigen Steuerung bedürfen, um damit hörbare Verbesserungen herbeiführen zu können, bekam ich schon durch das Switch-On ein wirklich annehmbares Ergebnis.
M. Eriksson
Five stars
A must have comp!
O. Barnes
amazing like the hardware
the dbx snap is definitely evident in this plugin
M. Enomoto
Good for Bass and Kick
My low sounds toned up!
C. Duru
Dbc160
Could use a bit more grit
R. Pazmino
Amazing plugin
One Of The best dbx160 emulations
M. Rafael
160 reasons why you should get the DBX 160 Compressor Limiter
Reason NO. 160 - Tight Low End, Huge Punch!
On the kick this SLAPS like the meme "How can she slap?" It tightens up the low end and adds a nice punch (like the bald guy with the red cloak), but I digress... If you are on the fence about getting this plugin, jump off and take a chance! I would highly recommend this. Once again, switching to UAD has vastly improved my mixes. something about this company just adds to that pro sound.D. Beneke
Like the Real dbx 160
I have experience with the real unit from back in the 70's and 80's. I have always loved dbx products, bought one of UA's competitors 160 plugin units, and was disappointed. Sounded too gritty. The UA 160 is cleaner and more like a real unit! You guys might want to try an emulation of the dbx 3bx unit, a great expander gate. Very pleased with the sound of your 160, like to use it as a limiter.
P. Fiore
Rápido pero seguro & simple
hermoso en miles de instrumentos, pero si quieres darle un toque agresivo a las voces de rap este es el camino.
M. Bhat
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R. Farnley
how can I
I can't review. i can't even use it. the authorize bit keeps rejecting my log in
how do I fix this?
robertK. Fink
Astounding Virtualization!
I owned a pair of these back when they were released.
They were lost to me when my studio closed. Then I got a 160X in the late 80's still have it but I didn't have a pair for stereo.
Now this piece of software has solved that for me in so many situations! Lovin' it!
C. Jaramillo
Just like the hardware
Just like the hardware .. It leaves transients thru and the rest you can compress to taste !
C. Jaramillo
Just like the hardware ....
Just like the hardware, it leaves room for the initial transients and the rest can be compressed to taste. Love it !
