ngBusComp
NEXT GENERATION BUS COMPRESSOR
Next generation bus compressor with digital recall
ngBusComp
Next generation bus compressor with digital recall and automation.
For over 40 years, the stereo bus compressor has been a cornerstone in mixing, often referred to as the “mix bus glue.” WesAudio elevates this classic with ngBusComp — a fully analog, dual mono, stereo, and mid-side compressor, featuring digital recall for seamless DAW integration. Experience versatile compression with Carnhill transformers, THD control, and advanced automation, blending analog warmth with cutting-edge digital precision. The ngBusComp offers a fully analog signal path with digital recall, bringing modern control to timeless sound
Main Features
ngBusComp fully analog compressor with digital recall.
ANALOG SOUND, DIGITAL CONTROL
True ANALOG sound with extremely convenient control!
TRUE QUAD VCA THAT 2181
The ngBusComp stands out as a fully analog device, boasting an impressive +24dBu of headroom for superior audio quality. While offering advanced digital control, the compressor maintains an entirely analog signal path, ensuring the renowned VCA compression sound.
Versatile Stereo/Dual Mono Compression
The detectors can be linked or unlinked at any time, enabling true stereo bus compression or dual mono compression as needed for ultimate flexibility.
Relative Channel Linking
The channels can be linked or unlinked at any time, allowing for independent settings on each channel while still maintaining relative control. When working in Mid-Side mode, each channel can be adjusted individually, but for quick adjustments to the overall balance, engaging the “parameter link” automatically adjusts both channels’ makeup gain while preserving the volume difference.
Flexible Mid-Side Compression Settings
The compressor offers mid-side operation, allowing you to apply different compression settings to the side channel than to the middle channel, providing greater control over the stereo image.
Selectable Output Stages
With the compressor, you have the option to choose between electronically balanced or transformer balanced output stages, with precise control over the output PAD for optimal sound shaping.
Carnhill Transformer Drive
In IRON mode, the makeup gain can be used to drive the transformers, while a dedicated output PAD allows you to attenuate the signal. The PAD, a passive attenuator controlled by a relay cascade, offers up to 15dB of attenuation in 1dB steps for precise level management.
MIX Knob: Easy Parallel Compression
With the MIX knob, achieving parallel compression is easier than ever. The ngBusComp allows you to automate the MIX setting directly in your DAW. Want to apply more compression during the chorus? It’s simple — just record automation using the touch-sensitive encoder or draw automation lines within your DAW for complete control.
Enhanced THD Control for Refined Analog Saturation
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) enables you to saturate your signal with rich analog color. With ngBusComp, you can adjust THD from subtle warmth to prominent saturation using a dedicated knob, allowing for precise control over the distortion effect.
Predefined Sidechain Filters
The sidechain filter functionality allows you to shape the signal before it reaches the compressor’s detector. This includes three high-pass filters at 60, 90, and 150 Hz, along with two specialized tilt filters designed for fine-tuned control.
Five Ratio Settings
The compressor offers selectable ratio settings, including 1.5:1 and 2:1 for smooth mixbus compression, 4:1 and 10:1 for versatile applications, and an INF mode to aggressively clamp down on transients.
External Sidechain
The compressor allows you to create custom sidechain signals, giving you independent control over each channel for more precise compression management.
Hardware A/B/C
Even when using the compressor as a pure analog signal processor, you can seamlessly switch between three memory settings with the simplicity of a button press.
USB or Ethernet Connectivity
ngBusComp supports direct USB connection for easy setup, or you can manage it over your local network by simply connecting it to your router via an Ethernet cable.
Detailed Metering
Each channel provides detailed metering for input, output, and gain reduction. Additionally, the analog metering is fully mirrored within the plug-in instance for convenient monitoring.
Analog Automation
We’ve all wanted to adjust device settings based on different song sections, and now it’s possible! Simply draw automation lines in your DAW, and your analog device will follow suit. Plus, you can use the five touch-sensitive encoders to record automation directly into your DAW for seamless control.
Total Recall and Plugin Control
Along with its analog compression, the unit offers TOTAL RECALL, allowing instant recall of all settings for seamless workflow.
Supports VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, and AAX DSP formats, ensuring compatibility with most major DAWs for easy integration.
Full DAW integration and total recall will transform how you work, offering unparalleled control and efficiency.
Main features summary:
APP FOR MAC AND PC
Digital control features for fully analog units.
Specification
ngBusComp specification
| THD+N < 0.03% (1kHz,0dBu) | at 0dBu < 0.006% |
| Frequency response | 0-300kHz (-3dB) |
| Input impedance | >10kohm |
| Output impedance | < 50ohm |
| Crosstalk | > 90dB |
| Max input level | +24dBu |
| Max output level | +24dBu |
| Dynamic range | > 120dB |
| Attack | 0.1, 0.3, 1,3, 10, 30 (ms) |
| Release | 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, Auto (s) |
| Ratio | 1.5, 2, 4, 10, INF |
| Sidechain Filter | 60, 90, 150, T1, T2 |
| THD | 0% to 8% |
| Power consumption (MAX) | 20W |
| Dimensions | 135x483x252mm |
| Box dimensions | 274x550x382mm |
| Unit weight | 7,95 kgs |
| Box weight | 10 kgs |
| Warranty | 2 years |
User Manual
Download ngBusComp User Manual
I like the WesAudio stuff mainly for how it sounds.
Katy Perry, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ariana Grande, ZZ Top, Justin Bieber
This is technology that I’ve been waiting for a long time. It’s taken this long…it’s taken Wes Audio to be the ones to have seamlessly made this digital control work well. Wes Audio has created an analog compressor that sounds amazing and has the flexibility of any great stereo analog box
Beyoncé, Mariah Carey,James Brown, Lady Gaga, Notorious BIG, Black Eyed Peas,R. Kelly, Jennifer Lopez, Puff Daddy, Tupac Shakur, and many others
WesAudio nailed it with ngBusComp. It's been on my mix bus since the first time I tried it. After A/B'ing it with the original quad VCA unit, I was honestly blown away by how much better it is.
Beyonce, Jay-Z, Fka Twigs, and more.
I did a lot of a/b with my other SSL clones and plugins. I find that ngBusComp sounds better than all of them.
Olivia Rodrigo’s Multi-platinium “Driver’s License”, Carlie Rae Jepsen, Niko Rubio, Giorgio Moroder, Lady Gaga, Lost Kings, Melanie Martinez, LP, Bebe Rexha and more….
The ability to control an analog compressor from within the DAW has become a valuable feature to my workflow. The Dione is a great sounding unit and is a perfect example of where the future of pro audio is heading.
Gold & Platinum award producer
_MIMAS is as good as my other 1176 in the rack…I love this technology.
The diones are so very good. It’s such a flexible all purpose compressor. I haven’t found anything it doesn’t do well. Parallel compression on drum bus, compressing multiple keyboards in order to level them all out etc… they are sonically rich sounding, and the distortion modes sound fantastic.
I had several SSL type compressors in the years and for me there’s zero doubt, the WesAudio _Dione is by far the best in that category. _Dione never left my 2bus since the day I got it.
These days it’s really easy to excited about all of the technology we have access to. Which is also another the reason why I do my best to try and spot what really shines in this industry. To me, Wesaudio has something really special going on. Not only are the analog components up to snuff…but I believe they have the potential to be the leaders of the 500 series format. They have the analog/digital hybrid down to a refined science without the need of middle hardware. But most importantly, their stuff simply sounds great!
_MIMAS – This first enhanced 500-series module from Wes Audio is both convenient and impressive: it provides an updated version of the classic 1176 compressor, but with full remote-control facilities via a VST 3/AAX plug-in.
_DIONE – A well thought-out interpretation of the classic SSL bus compressor design that genuinely brings something new to the table.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no need to uninstall the WesAudio application before installing a new release. The update process will seamlessly overwrite the existing version.
If the module doesn’t react to any changes to the knobs on the front panel, the first necessary step is to rewrite firmware into the flash memory (Factory reset procedure re-writes firmware into internal flash memory – it doesn’t affect anyhow unit configuration). To proceed with factory reset, please follow below steps:
- Connect unit either:
- Through front panel USB socket,
- Or keep the unit in ng500 chassis – _TITAN, but please note that chassis has to be connected to the PC/MAC either via USB or Ethernet cable.
- POWER OFF your 500 series chassis.
- Depends on the product please press following front panel control:
- _MIMAS – RATIO button,
- _DIONE – RATIO button,
- _RHEA – THD button,
- _PROMETHEUS – HIGH CUT encoder (top-right encoder),
- _HYPERION – LMF GAIN encoder,
- _CALYPSO – MENU encoder,
- _PANDORA – HIGH SC FILTER (right button).
- While keeping this control (button/encoder) pressed, POWER ON your 500 series chassis.
- LEDs should present a strange pattern.
- Now open GConManager:
- WIN: C:/Program Files (x86)/WesAudio/GConManager.exe
- MAC: /Applications/WesAudio/GConManager.app
- Or click on the WesAudio “Tray” icon, and select “Open GConManager”
- Go to _UPGRADE application.
- Hit start!
If the module doesn’t react to any changes to the knobs on the front panel, the first necessary step is to rewrite firmware into the flash memory (Factory reset procedure re-writes firmware into internal flash memory – it doesn’t affect anyhow unit configuration). To proceed with factory reset, please follow below steps:
- Connect the unit to either USB or Ethernet.
- POWER OFF your unit.
- Depends on the product please press following front panel control:
- ngBusComp – far left Ratio on Channel 1 (Ratio “-”),
- ngTubeEQ – THD encoder on Channel 1,
- ng76 – “IN MODE” button,
- ngLEVELER – use a small screwdriver and press button available on the rear panel via a small hole in the chassis.
- While keeping this control (button/encoder) pressed, POWER ON your unit.
- LEDs should present a strange pattern.
- Now open GConManager:
- WIN: C:/Program Files (x86)/WesAudio/GConManager.exe
- MAC: /Applications/WesAudio/GConManager.app
- Or click on the WesAudio “Tray” icon, and select “Open GConManager”
- Go to _UPGRADE application.
- Hit start!
This is a very common issue and in most cases the root cause lies in the connection of the unit and audio interface. If that happens it should be checked if audio interface input isn’t connected to the chassis input and if audio interface output isn’t connected to chassis output. As this initially would seem to be entirely wrong and shouldn’t work at all, as all our units implement “True Bypass” via relays, the unit will pass a signal when the bypass is engaged. The reason for that is that the relay is in fact hard wiring input to the output, and thus the unit will pass the signal, as it doesn’t go through any active circuit of the unit.
This is actually how it is supposed to work, so after the plug-in instance is created, please use a small triangle button which usually is on the bottom side of the plug-in and select proper HW ID from the drop down menu. If the drop down menu doesn’t list any hardware units, please check Your connectivity and other possible root causes in this FAQ.
This is a wide topic, and there may be at least several root causes, but there are few things that should be checked. However, the first and most important thing is to double check that GConManager doesn’t list this device in the _CONFIG app. If this is the case, it means that WesAudio unit can’t connect on the OS level, and some of the below steps may help:
- First of all double check if module connection is properly executed, this procedure is described here.
- USB specification indicates that USB 2.0 works up to 5 meters. This is however not entirely true, as it strongly depends on the peripherals that unit is connected to. Even if our modules are USB 2.0 compatible, your USB port could support USB 3.0 – USB is a backward compatible protocol, so it may be that USB 3.0 cable length limit should be considered which is 2 meters. We would recommend having a USB cable up to 2 meters to remove those limitations from the equation.
- USB HUB is very common root cause to those problems, if module can’t connect via HUB – just for the sake of the test, it is mandatory to connect unit directly to PC/MAC to verify if the problem isn’t caused by it.
- Please note any system warnings attached to “WesAudio Tray Icon”.
As USB controllers have limited capacity it could be a reason for random unit disconnection. Usually, it happens when a lot of USB devices are plugged into the PC/MAC. The usual behavior would be that the unit works normally, and after reboot it doesn’t, but it strongly depends on the OS implementation so exact reaction could be a little bit different. If this is suspected, just for the test, it would be good to disconnect most of the devices from the USB ports, reboot PC/MAC and double check the connectivity from stability point of view. If it leads to the conclusion that this is the root cause of the problem, we would recommend using a decent USB hub, and ideally a TB/USB dock station which tends to offload a lot of responsibilities from our PC/MAC.
If the unit was working fine, and suddenly it couldn’t connect (it is not visible in the GConManager _CONFIG app) that could lead to the conclusion that some devices were added to our USB line, and we could have problems with the USB controller inside PC/MAC. In that case please check the description in the above “Unit disconnects by itself”.
GConManager in Admin mode enables special functionalities which are used during WesAudio units calibration.
OSX:
- Please open terminal.
- Copy-Paste following command:
open /Applications/WesAudio/GConManager.app --args --admin
WINDOWS:
- Go to “START” and open “Command Line”.
- copy paste this command:
"c:\Program Files (x86)\WesAudio\GConManager.exe" --admin
