The ThirtySix
Key Features
- Measured Alesis 3630-style VCA compression, limiting, and gating with deliberately audible hardware character.
- Dual, stereo-linked, and Serial A-to-B routing for independent channels or two compression stages in one insert.
- RMS and Peak detection with hard and soft knee choices.
- Separate threshold, ratio, attack, release, and output controls on each channel.
- A downward gate on each channel with independent threshold and rate controls.
- Separate external sidechain buses for the compressor and gate, plus an adjustable modeled noise floor.
- Session recall retains the model version used for the original mix.
Description
The ThirtySix is a dual-channel VCA compressor, limiter, and gate from Six Walls, modeled from measurements of a real Alesis 3630. Its character centers on audible pumping, knee behavior, and a two-stage attack rather than transparent level control.
The two channels can work independently, link for stereo processing, or run in Serial mode with channel A feeding channel B. Serial routing puts two stages of compression in one insert, while the separate strips retain their own threshold, ratio, attack, release, and output controls.
RMS and Peak detection and hard or soft knee choices let you change how the compressor reacts to a track. Each channel also includes a downward gate with its own threshold and rate, and separate external sidechain buses are available for compression and gating.
Six Walls measured the hardware's ratio calibration, threshold law, release curves, sidechain weighting, and output noise alongside its attack behavior. The modeled noise floor is adjustable and can be left at zero when that extra hardware character is unwanted.
Saved sessions retain the model version used when they were mixed, so later modeling updates can preserve the original behavior on recall. The plugin is available for Windows and macOS, with the current installers and individual downloads maintained on the developer's website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The ThirtySix intended to be a transparent compressor?
Its design deliberately retains the pumping, knee, and two-stage attack of the measured Alesis 3630. It is aimed at that hardware character rather than strictly clean compression.
What does Serial mode do?
Serial mode routes channel A into channel B. This lets you apply two stages of compression inside a single plugin insert instead of using the strips independently or linking them for stereo.
Can the compressor and gate use separate sidechains?
Yes. The plugin provides independent external sidechain buses for compression and gating, so their detectors can respond to different routed signals.
Will an update change the compressor sound in an existing session?
Saved sessions retain the model version they used when they were mixed. Six Walls designed this recall behavior so later model updates do not alter a finished mix.
