Black Rooster Audio’s latest plug-in delivers an all-in-one vocal-processing tool, and is the debut release in a new Professional Series range. PS-VC1 Vocal Chain Channel brings together six powerful processing modules, offering an array of tonal-shaping tools that have been fine-tuned for use on vocal tracks.
The plug-in comprises six sections: Low End, High End, Compress, Reverb, Echo and Width, and draws on everything Black Rooster Audio have learnt from studying and modelling sought-after hardware designs. In contrast to modular plug-ins that offer a flexible signal path, PS-VC1 employs a fixed processing order that’s been designed specifically for shaping vocals.
Each section’s name is fairly self-explanatory. Low end and High End offer a selection of EQ-based controls while Dynamics takes care of compression; Reverb and Echo then deliver an assortment of time-based effects, with Width offering some stereo-widening as a finishing touch. All six modules are equipped with an identical set of controls: a level fader, a bypass switch and a preset selector that offers a choice of four settings. Black Rooster Audio say that while the preset-based system may sound limiting at first, it provides users with a wide variety of tonal options, and helps to keep their attention focused on their vocal tone rather than getting lost in parameters.
Key Features
- Six-In-One Vocal Chain: Low End, High End, Compress, Reverb, Echo and Width in a single unified interface with one shared signal path.
- Low-End Filtering: Four presets for the low spectrum: Sub (20–150 Hz) for rumble and weight, Floor (20–180 Hz) for the lowest fundamentals, Boom (40–340 Hz) for proximity effect and resonance and Mid (60–640 Hz) for the vocal's body.
- High-End Shaping: Four presets for the top: Sharp (5–6 kHz) to tame sibilance, Silk (1.8k–18 kHz) to smooth and polish, Edge (1.2–10 kHz) for presence and definition and Air (3–20 kHz) for modern openness.
- Compressor With Peak And Vintage Detection: Slight, Punch, Smack and Limit controls cover gentle level control through to aggressive, upfront dynamics, with selectable peak or vintage detection behaviour driving the envelope.
- Auto Make-Up Gain: The compressor compensates for its own gain reduction automatically, so bypassing the module compares character rather than level — genuine A/B instead of "louder sounds better".
- Efficient Reverb Algorithm: Tight, Chamber, Large and Church options span small-room ambience to cathedral decay, built on an algorithm designed for rich spatial processing at minimal CPU cost.
- Tempo-Synced And Free-Running Echo: Fast slapback, eighth- and quarter-note repeats and a long ambient Space setting.
- Three Stereo Width Algorithms: All-Pass, Haas and Hilbert processing across Tight, Close, Far and Outer presets, each with its own spatial character, from subtle enhancement to extreme spreading.
- Per-Module And Global Bypass: Every one of the six modules can be bypassed individually, and the global Power switch disables all processing while maintaining signal flow for an instant whole-chain comparison.
- Full Gain Staging & Placement
- Input and output gain from −30 to +15dB, polarity inversion for multi-mic sources and a pan control that positions the signal in the stereo field before processing.
- Precision metering
- High-resolution VU meters on input and output with extended dynamic range, plus a dedicated gain-reduction readout for the compressor.
- Scalable HighDPI Interface: Seven interface sizes from XXS to XXL, rendered crisply on high-pixel-density displays under macOS and Windows.
Compatibility
PS-VC1 Vocal Chain Channel is supported on PCs running Windows 7 or later, and Macs running macOS 10.13 and above. VST, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available.
Pricing & Availability
PS-VC1 Vocal Chain Channel is available now, priced at £45.55 including VAT.
