Hammer
Key Features
- Fixed-threshold 1176-style compression architecture that applies gain reduction by driving the Input knob, delivering intuitive and musical results on drums, vocals, and bus processing
- Variable Knee control for smooth transitions between hard-knee transient shaping and transparent soft-knee compression across different source material
- Ultra-fast Attack and Release settings capable of aggressive FET-style drum compression and precise transient control on percussive sources
- Built-in Mix knob for parallel compression blending, eliminating the need for external bus routing to achieve punchy New York-style compression
- Selectable Peak and RMS metering modes with LED-style Input, Output, and Gain Reduction meters for accurate visual monitoring
- CH-Link stereo linking with variable adjustment for flexible stereo bus processing and independent left/right channel compression
- 64-bit double precision internal processing for clean headroom and accurate dynamics behavior at all gain reduction levels
Description
Hammer is a hybrid compressor and limiter from Japanese developer Vidar Audio that draws heavy inspiration from the legendary 1176 circuit design. Instead of a traditional threshold control, it uses a fixed-threshold architecture where the Input knob drives signal into compression, making it intuitive to dial in everything from subtle glue to aggressive pumping.
The plugin covers both vintage and modern compression territory with a full set of professional controls. Ratio includes a limiter function at higher settings, while the variable Knee parameter lets you move between hard-knee transient shaping and softer, more transparent gain reduction.
Attack and Release times reach extremely fast settings, making Hammer well suited for 1176-style drum abuse and aggressive transient control. A Mix knob enables parallel compression directly within the plugin, and the CH-Link control offers variable stereo linking for precise stereo bus processing.
All internal processing runs at 64-bit double precision for clean headroom and accurate dynamics behavior. Sidechain input is supported for ducking and frequency-aware compression, though there are no built-in sidechain filters, which may limit its use on complex broadband material.
Hammer runs as VST3, AU, and AAX on both Windows and macOS, making it compatible with virtually every major DAW environment.
Video Preview
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Hammer's compression differ from a traditional threshold-based compressor?
Hammer uses a fixed-threshold design inspired by the hardware 1176, where you increase the Input knob to push the signal past the threshold rather than lowering a threshold control. This approach tends to feel more musical and responsive, similar to how engineers drive hardware FET compressors.
Can Hammer handle transparent bus compression or is it only for aggressive drum processing?
While Hammer excels at fast, aggressive FET-style drum compression, its variable Knee control and Mix knob make it capable of transparent bus and channel compression as well. Dialing in a softer knee with a lower ratio and blending via the Mix control produces smooth, glue-like results on mix buses.
Does Hammer support sidechain input from external sources?
Yes, Hammer includes external sidechain support so you can trigger compression from a separate audio source. However, there are no built-in sidechain filters, so for frequency-dependent sidechain compression you would need to filter the sidechain signal externally before routing it in.
