Recording - December 2017 - 62

Plug-In Outlet

u-he

Presswerk
By Paul Vnuk Jr.

Urs Heckmann and his company u-he are
well known in the virtual instrument community
for creating some of the most hyperrealistic
analog-sounding software synthesizers on
the market. Using that same level of circuit
modeled detail, the u-he team have turned
their attention toward a compressor plug-in
called Presswerk. Like all of their products, it
is crafted from the ground up at a component
level and is not a recreation of any famous
boxes of yore. This is similar to the approach
u-he took with the Satin virtual tape machine
(reviewed February 2014).
Presswerk is a dynamics unit with 38 adjustable controls,
offering access to every deep-level parameter one could ever
wish for in a compressor/limiter and then some. The graphical
user interface is "vintage meets modern," with wood panel
sides, a dual VU meter for gain reduction, large knobs, LED
input and output meters, a graphic knee meter, and an alphanumeric preset/parameter settings display.
If built to scale as actual hardware, Presswerk would be
a 6U rack device. The GUI can be resized from 70% up to
200% to fit your screen needs, and absolutely every dial,
button and parameter can be assigned to an external MIDI
controller with ease. I liked the Presswerk set at 120% on
my Slate Raven MTI2 control surface (reviewed September
2017). Being able to reach out and "touch" the controls really
aids in the illusion of it being a piece of hardware.

It's all in here

Scattered across Presswerk's surface are controls for attack,
release, threshold, ratio, input, and output, as well as more
modern dynamics settings like sidechain, knee control, and
wet/dry mix. On a deeper level, you also get a choice of
feed-forward, feedback, or interactive (a blend of the two)
detection, Mid/Side or stereo use, channel linking or unlinking,
highpass EQ, and soft clipping.
On the just plain tweaky end of things, the soft knee is fully
variable and can even be nonlinear. The release can be set
adaptively with an adjustable auto-release, the sidechain has
both high- and lowpass options with dB/octave slope choice
and an onset delay. There is M/S and stereo channel monitoring, and an analog saturation section that can be pre or
62

RECORDING December 2017

post compression and can be set to affect only the dynamics
or the entire signal.
One feature that needs singling out is a button labeled
DPR or dual phase rotation. This is a vintage radio broadcaster
trick described by u-he as intended to "reduce unwanted asymmetries in the signal. It smears phases, increases headroom a
little and adds bass 'oomph'."

Skins

At this point, if your eyes are glazing over and you're
thinking, "Oh my, that sounds complicated,", you're not
alone, believe me. Presswerk is one of, if not the deepest
and most full-featured compressor I have ever used-it does
everything you can think of and then some, but all that power
can be daunting.
The great news is as of version 1.1, Presswerk now includes
a set of six different skins. These are not just for looks-each
skin groups, gangs, and macros multiple features and functions
together into simple vintage styled, source-specific boxes.
The six skins are Drum Compressor, Vocal Compressor,
M/S Program Compressor, Easy Compressor, Bus Compressor,
and Limiter. Each one is designed to look and act in a manner
familiar to anyone who has ever tweaked or touched a compressor. Be aware, however, that these are just skins rather
than alternate plug-ins. Each one retains the sound and ballistics
inherently baked into Presswerk's audio engine.
As an example, Easy Compressor offers only five controls:
Threshold, Ratio, Response, Output and Soft Clip. All of these
are fully variable and self explanatory with the exception of
Response, which is a unique mashup of the attack and release
parameters into one dial labeled Fast-Slow.



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - December 2017

Contents
Recording - December 2017 - Intro
Recording - December 2017 - Cover1
Recording - December 2017 - Cover2
Recording - December 2017 - 1
Recording - December 2017 - 2
Recording - December 2017 - 3
Recording - December 2017 - 4
Recording - December 2017 - 5
Recording - December 2017 - Contents
Recording - December 2017 - 7
Recording - December 2017 - 8
Recording - December 2017 - 9
Recording - December 2017 - 10
Recording - December 2017 - 11
Recording - December 2017 - 12
Recording - December 2017 - 13
Recording - December 2017 - 14
Recording - December 2017 - 15
Recording - December 2017 - 16
Recording - December 2017 - 17
Recording - December 2017 - 18
Recording - December 2017 - 19
Recording - December 2017 - 20
Recording - December 2017 - 21
Recording - December 2017 - 22
Recording - December 2017 - 23
Recording - December 2017 - 24
Recording - December 2017 - 25
Recording - December 2017 - 26
Recording - December 2017 - 27
Recording - December 2017 - 28
Recording - December 2017 - 29
Recording - December 2017 - 30
Recording - December 2017 - 31
Recording - December 2017 - 32
Recording - December 2017 - 33
Recording - December 2017 - 34
Recording - December 2017 - 35
Recording - December 2017 - 36
Recording - December 2017 - 37
Recording - December 2017 - 38
Recording - December 2017 - 39
Recording - December 2017 - 40
Recording - December 2017 - 41
Recording - December 2017 - 42
Recording - December 2017 - 43
Recording - December 2017 - 44
Recording - December 2017 - 45
Recording - December 2017 - 46
Recording - December 2017 - 47
Recording - December 2017 - 48
Recording - December 2017 - 49
Recording - December 2017 - 50
Recording - December 2017 - 51
Recording - December 2017 - 52
Recording - December 2017 - 53
Recording - December 2017 - 54
Recording - December 2017 - 55
Recording - December 2017 - 56
Recording - December 2017 - 57
Recording - December 2017 - 58
Recording - December 2017 - 59
Recording - December 2017 - 60
Recording - December 2017 - 61
Recording - December 2017 - 62
Recording - December 2017 - 63
Recording - December 2017 - 64
Recording - December 2017 - 65
Recording - December 2017 - 66
Recording - December 2017 - 67
Recording - December 2017 - 68
Recording - December 2017 - 69
Recording - December 2017 - 70
Recording - December 2017 - 71
Recording - December 2017 - 72
Recording - December 2017 - Cover3
Recording - December 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_20205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/nxtd
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com