The Master Bus Collection

SUCCESSOR

A Game-Changing Diode Bridge Compressor

Revolutionizing The Industry

Heritage Audio’s SUCCESSOR diode bridge compressor, which transformed the industry, is now available as a plugin.

When Heritage Audio first released the SUCCESSOR stereo mix bus compressor, it was the first of its kind, allowing engineers, producers, and musicians to apply warm, colorful, and fat compression. Prior to its release, only clean and transparent VCA-based processors were available for mix bus duties. While those options were often adequate, they lacked the mojo, energy, and vitality that the SUCCESSOR delivers.

Beyond The Mix Bus

Originally designed for mix bus applications, the SUCCESSOR has become a popular choice for various aspects of music and sound production. It has been widely adopted for tracking sessions, subgroup processing, and even mastering. Used by top-tier engineers like Chris Lord-Alge and present in thousands of studios worldwide, the Successor has established itself as an essential tool for shaping modern music production.

Bringing The Successor To The Digital World

Over the years, Heritage Audio received numerous requests from plugin manufacturers to recreate the SUCCESSOR's unique mojo, energy, and tonal characteristics. However, Heritage Audio insisted on developing it in-house to ensure an authentic recreation. Now, the SUCCESSOR plugin is available to anyone who wants to harness the features of its legendary hardware predecessor—plus even more.

Introducing The New ‘Nuke’ Mode

Pushing the boundaries of traditional compression, the newly added ‘Nuke’ feature takes signals to the next level. By adding an extra +20dB before compression, this feature forces a more extreme response from the compressor. Users can then adjust the output stage to compensate for any or all of the +20dB gain, unlocking new creative possibilities and an exaggerated compression effect.

Heritage Audio continues to push the boundaries of analog warmth and digital flexibility, ensuring the SUCCESSOR Plugin delivers the same legendary sound that made its hardware counterpart an industry favorite.

Features

• Diode Bridge Compression: Delivers true vintage tone by introducing 2nd order harmonic distortion while eliminating unpleasant odd harmonic content
• Ultra-Fast Attack & Release: Provides flexibility beyond vintage designs, allowing for FET-like compression and volume maximization without transient artifacts
• Advanced Sidechain Filtering: Includes traditional high-pass filters, mid-band peak filters, and high-frequency compression for enhanced bus correction
• Blend Control: Enables built-in parallel compression without external gear, with a dedicated Blend ON/OFF button for instant A/B comparisons
• NUKE Mode: Adds an extra +20dB before compression, creating extreme compression reactions while allowing full output control

SYMPH EQ

Revolutionizing The Baxandall EQ

Seventy years after its creation, the Baxandall EQ has been given a definitive update with the SYMPH EQ—now available in plugin form.

Bringing The Heritage Audio SYMPH EQ To The Digital World

Since its release, the Heritage Audio SYMPH EQ 19” rack unit has impressed musicians, sound designers, and engineers alike. Now, after months of meticulous development, the SYMPH EQ Plugin brings that same musicality and precision to the digital realm. With minimal yet surgical adjustments, this plugin enhances stereo mixes, adding depth and clarity while ensuring a natural and cohesive sound.

Its sonic character is best described as tight, sweet, and natural, allowing mixes to stand proudly alongside today’s top productions. Even the smallest tweaks provide a heightened sense of depth and dimension, making the mix more immersive and engaging.

Mid/Side Mode – Finally Done Right

The Mid/Side mode elevates the plugin’s capabilities, allowing for effortless mix sculpting. Thickening and adding weight to the center solidifies the groove, while lightening the side information expands the stereo image, creating a more open and spacious mix. This level of control ensures that every element in the mix sits exactly where it should.

Enhanced Usability & Low Phase Deviation

Whether used in Stereo, Mid/Side, or Mono mode, the SYMPH EQ Plugin is designed for quick and intuitive operation. The gentle EQ curves and parallel equalization ensure minimal phase deviation and negligible artifacts, delivering a highly natural and transparent effect.

With the SYMPH EQ Plugin, Heritage Audio continues to blend the warmth of analog design with the precision and flexibility of modern digital processing.

Features

• Premium Analog Modeling
  • Faithful recreation of custom Carnhill Oxford input transformers and custom Carnhill St Ives output transformers, both exclusively made for Heritage Audio.
  • High-end, 73-style Class A output stage.
  • 0.5dB precision equalizing control for detailed adjustments.
• Advanced Mid/Side Processing
  • Precise bass management in the center while allowing for high-frequency boosts on hard-panned sources without affecting key elements like vocals and snares.
  • Side high-pass filter converts to an elliptical topology when in M/S mode, as used in vintage disc cutters.
• SYMPH EQ Asymptotic Equalizer Section
  • High-Frequency Shelving: Selectable at 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 24 kHz.
  • Boost/Cut: ±10.5 dB in 0.5 dB steps.
  • Low-Frequency Shelving: Selectable at 20, 60, 110, 220, 360, and 470 Hz.
  • Boost/Cut: ±10.5 dB in 0.5 dB steps.
  • Precision Filtering Section
  • 12 dB/octave high-pass filter with selectable cutoff points at 15, 20, 47, 82, and 160 Hz.
  • 12 dB/octave low-pass filter with selectable cutoff points at 10, 12, 18, 22, and 30 kHz.
• Side filter automatically switches to elliptical topology in Mid/Side mode, following classic disc cutter implementations at 6 dB/octave.

System Requirements

• Formats:
  • VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit)
• Platforms: 
  • macOS: 10.15.7 and up (Both INTEL and Native Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3 Compatibility)
  • PC: Windows 10 and 11
• DAWs supported:
  • All major DAWs, including Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig, Reaper, Reason etc

Please note: A free iLok cloud account is required to install and authorise this product