Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
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Contenders
SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 by Solid State Logic: official SSL bus compressor plugin. Price $299, Dubspot Score 8.7, specs and alternatives for 2026.
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
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
| Signal | SSL Native Bus Compressor 2 | Cytomic The Glue |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $99 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST2, VST3, AU, AAX |
| Product type | official SSL bus compressor plugin | — |
| Developer | Solid State Logic | — |
| Typical price | $299 | — |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST2, VST3, AUv2, AAXv2 (64-bit) |
| Primary job | mix-bus glue and punch | — |
| Catalog status | Current as of 2026 | — |
| Type | — | Analog-modelled VCA feedback bus compressor |
| 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.