Affiliate disclosure: the "Get this deal" button is an affiliate link to the store. If you buy through it we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full policy
The dbx® 160 Black Friday deal takes 50% off the dbx® 160 Compressor / Limiter plugin from Universal Audio, bringing it to $49 until Nov 30, 2026.
Universal Audio calls it a fully licensed, faithful emulation of the studio hardware classic. The maker says it captures the quirky sonics of that colorful VCA compression and adds controls for modern workflows.
The original was the first solid-state VCA compressor ever made, and the plugin keeps its simple control set and at-a-glance metering.
The maker points to a few jobs:
Across all of those, the idea is a different voice and flavor next to the compressors you already own.
Two controls go beyond the original hardware layout.
A Dry/Wet mix control sets up parallel compression quickly, with no extra bus or send needed.
A Sidechain Filter cuts low-frequency pumping, so heavy kick and bass material is less likely to drive the gain reduction.
No UA hardware is required. The dbx 160 plugin works with any audio interface.
Yes. The dbx® 160 Compressor / Limiter plugin is 50% off at $49 as part of the Black Friday deal, and the offer ends Nov 30, 2026.
No. Universal Audio says the dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter works with any audio interface, so no UA hardware is required to run it in your sessions.
It keeps the original's simple control set and metering, then adds a Dry/Wet mix control for quick parallel compression and a Sidechain Filter that reduces low-frequency pumping.
Prices and end dates are checked at publishing time and can change, so confirm them at the store before you buy.