8.5Great
TDR Kotelnikov is Tokyo Dawn Labs' free wideband dynamics processor for transparent mix-bus and mastering compression with separate peak and RMS release.
Plugin comparison
TDR Kotelnikov vs Cytomic The Glue
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.8Great
Cytomic The Glue is an SSL-style VCA bus compressor with Mix, Range, sidechain HPF, and oversampling, built for drum buses, mix glue, and transparent level control.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Cytomic The Glue comes out ahead (8.8). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | TDR Kotelnikov | Cytomic The Glue |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $99 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.5 | 8.8 |
| Formats | VST2, VST3, AU, AAX | VST2, VST3, AU, AAX |
| Type | Wideband dynamics processor / bus compressor | Analog-modelled VCA feedback bus compressor |
| Version | 1.6.7 | — |
| Processing | 64-bit multi-rate; delta-oversampled path | — |
| Key controls | Crest-factor scheme with separate peak and RMS release | — |
| Formats | VST2, VST3, AAX (Win 64-bit); VST2, VST3, AU, AAX (Mac 64-bit) | VST2, VST3, AUv2, AAXv2 (64-bit) |
| System | Windows 7+; macOS 10.9+; OpenGL support | — |
| Paid upgrade | TDR Kotelnikov GE (Gentleman's Edition) | — |
| Circuit inspiration | — | Classic 1980s British large-console stereo bus compressor |
| Detector | — | Dual-diode envelope follower (feed-back topology) |
| Ratios | — | 2:1 (soft knee), 4:1 (medium), 10:1 (hard / peak-limiter territory) |
| Attack | — | 0.01 ms to 30 ms (includes faster settings than original hardware) |
| Release | — | 0.1 s to 1.2 s plus classic Auto release |
| Key extras | — | Mix, Range, sidechain HPF (0–2 kHz, 6 dB/oct), external sidechain, stereo link 0–100% in 25% steps, Peak Clip, advanced oversampling |
| Platforms | — | macOS 10.13+ (Intel/Apple silicon); Windows 10+ (64-bit) |
| Price model | — | $99 one-time; free trial available from Cytomic |
| Related stock device | — | Ableton Live Glue Compressor uses the same core algorithm family |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.