Midnight

Embark on a journey into the realm of timeless audio processing with Midnight, the newest Acqua plugin, available in VST, AU, and AAX formats that stands as the Ultimate Vari-mu Tube compressor collection universally considered the most iconic dynamics processor to date, reinterpreted in the Acustica way.

Introducing Midnight: Timeless Classic Compressors, Vintage Vibes, Modern Mastery.

Described as the 'universally accepted standard for level control' in the 1950s, Vari-mu's remain one of the most revered studio processors ever invented, equally multipurpose in mastering studios and radio broadcast facilities. Widely acknowledged for their unique ability to impart a musical warmth and gentle compression, these tube compressors have left an indelible mark on the world of sound.

Midnight includes four different sampled units from different manufacturers, delivering unparalleled sound quality thanks to Hyper 3 technology. It brings to life the 'Ultimate' vari-mu tube compressor, reminiscent of the renowned Acqua plugin suite Ultramarine, but redesigned by Acustica, adding many innovative features, never before introduced for these specific iconic 660-670 compressors whether hardware versions or software emulations on the Market.

What's the idea behind Midnight?

This product was born out of the need to recreate an even more adaptable and intuitive version of a classic and timeless icon. Midnight does not want to pose as a simple clone, which Acustica has already given with the now famous Ultramarine plugin suite. The idea behind this product is to offer our loyal customers the best of a compressor that has made history, redesigning it, enhancing it, and pushing the boundaries of traditional emulation. The goal lies in offering a range of features not found in the original gear ensuring maximum versatility, allowing users to sculpt their sound with greater precision, without sacrificing the sound of the equipment sampled, so as to harness all its different facets.

The sound of these impressive hardware devices is characterized by the unique feature of having short attack times and long release times, acting on the individual Time Constant control. This allows for the control of transients and a subtle "sonic massage" to enhance the body of the track. This sonic characteristic has been preserved and enhanced. One of Midnight's distinctive features lies in the management of transient response and the overall compression behavior, which is more precise and detailed compared to its hardware counterparts. This is primarily achieved through the ability to independently adjust the attack and release time constants, further refining them with the use of Hold controls. From subtle and transparent compression to bold saturation and rich character, Midnight serves as a dual-mono compressor offering a truly broad spectrum of sonic possibilities without sacrificing ease of use.

Its intuitive interfaces (3D & Flat) ensure ease of use, enabling both seasoned professionals and novices to harness the power of tube compression effortlessly.

Over the years, multiple hardware clones have been created in an attempt to harness the unmistakable character of this behemoth compressor/limiter. We have captured the sound of what we believe to be the best four different hardware inspirations of this legendary compressor. When combined, their total list price would exceed $35,000. We offer them in a software version redesigned to Acustica standards.

Don't let its size fool you! Try it out for yourself — we're sure you'll agree that the results are simply stunning.

Get a special discount for Midnight

Everybody deserves a chance!

Dear user, despite taking advantage of Acustica Audio's generosity, we still want to give you another chance. But you'll have to make a choice, whether to tell the truth or lie, whether to sacrifice or not. To get the discount code on Midnight, you'll need to return one authorization slot of one of your free plugins among Pumpkin, Fire the Gold, and Fire the Bus by selecting the one you want to sacrifice in the section below. The game starts now.

Key features

Hyper 3 technology.
New 'Aria' engine supporting the new dynamic / real-time metering displays.
New Anti-Aliasing algorithm that significantly reduces the plugin's aliasing issues.
Advanced Metering System with Real-Time Waveform Display: A new visual interface that includes RMS Input-Output meters and GR meters, designed to swiftly identify peaks and extreme values in the audio signal.
4 sampled powerful compressors
'Ultra' Tube preamp emulation
Super-responsive knee display for real-time monitoring.
Visual Control and Precise Calibration: Midnight fits into a landscape of plugins that emphasize strong graphical components, offering the primary advantage of providing a highly detailed view of audio information.
Instant Feedback: Enhanced instant response of the controls, capable of providing immediate feedback on the impact of your adjustments, enabling you to make real-time changes to the signal to achieve the desired sound quickly.
High quality oversampling, up to 64x; with perfect phase response.
3D – Flat GUIs
Listening modes (Δ, LR, M, S).
Great and distinctive sound.
Resizable and responsive GUIs.

Midnight | DEMO

Try it for free!

Experience all our plugins for 30 days without spending a dime. It's super easy to get started. Just create an account and use our Aquarius Desktop to download and activate any product you want to try. Happy testing!

How to download a plugin

With the installation manager Aquarius Desktop you can select, download & install all the Acustica Audio plugins and start spicing up your productions.