Recording - March 2013 - 46

PLUG-IN OUTLET
Massey Plugins CT5 Compressor
By Bill Stunt

Massey Plugins is a small company, a 3-man operation headed up by former
Digidesign software engineer Steven Massey. Despite its small size, this company has been knocking out big league Pro Tools plug-ins since 2006; a quick
scan of the perennial “best Pro Tools plug-ins” lists put together by various user
and support groups on the Internet invariably turns up various Massey plug-ins
in many users’ Top Ten.

simple click. Purchasing, which unlocks the full
functionality of the plug-ins, requires the setup of
an account and a credit card. Authorization of
fully functioning full versions requires nothing
more than an authorization code forthcoming
via email once you’ve completed the transaction. And there’s no need for an iLok USB key,
which is a plus for many users. I was up and running with a full version in less than ten minutes.
Layout and features
When opened the CT5 presents a simple interface that’s easy to understand and immediately
use. Visually “old school analog” is the aesthetic; the controls are few, and their function obvious. A pair of meters dominates the metallic,
matte blue surface. The center analog meter
dynamically displays the amount of gain reduction. The more modern vertical digital meter displays both input and output levels.
The controls for setting compression are as
simple as can be. A large knob functions dually
as threshold and ratio control. Like an old-school
leveling amplifier, the more you turn up the compression knob, the lower the threshold where
compression kicks in. At the same time the ratio
of gain change to input is jacked up. The other
large knob controls the output level, akin to the
makeup gain control you’ll find on many such
compressors.
The pair of switches at the top of the interface
control the attack and release characteristics of

The CT5 is easy to use and best set by using your ears;
start playing around with various settings, and stop
when you hear something that sounds great!
Along with the CT5 Compressor under review today, Massey offers a full
the modeled processor. Rather than numeric valsuite of plug-ins, including DRT, a handy, easy-to-use drum replacement tool.
ues, as is common on many compressors, the
The latter is not unlike Avid’s Drum Rehab, which, as it turns out, the aforeCT5 simply offers Fast and Slow attack and
mentioned Mr. Massey had a hand in developing while in the employ of
release positions. On the CT4, playing with those
Trillium Labs, where he also helped design and develop TL Aggro and TL
switches revealed a hidden Medium position that
Space. Not a bad CV!
offers a setting somewhere between Fast and
The CT5 compressor is an update of the previously released CT4. Much, if
Slow; it’s now explicitly labeled on the CT5.
not all, of what made the CT4 a popular, reasonably priced dynamics procesJust below the attack toggle and above the
sor has been retained. According to Steven, along with some very nice interCompression knob there is a virtual push switch
face feature additions, the filters have been tweaked to improve the dynamic
that when depressed engages the Limit function.
range of the compressor circuit. There is also more
compression effect potential with the reworked plugDelivery: Download only
in. There are more aggressive settings available,
Format: RTAS, TDM and AudioSuite for Pro Tools 7.0+
and let’s face it, more compression when mixing
Copy Protection: serial number
many popular music styles is not a bad thing at all!
License: single user/multiple computers without simultaneous use
Getting started
Documentation: PDF manual
Getting and installing the CT5 couldn’t be much
Price: $75 (upgrade from CT4, $3)
easier. A quick visit to the website gets you quickly to
More from: Massey Plug-, www.masseyplugins.com
a “try ‘em” page. All Massey plug-ins have very functional demo versions that can be downloaded with a
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RECORDING March 2013

http://www.masseyplugins.com

Recording - March 2013

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