Things - Voice is a single-knob compressor designed explicitly for vocal processing, derived from an obscure 1950s German broadcast measurement instrument that Hainbach discovered possessed exceptional mic preamp characteristics. The plugin captures the pleasant compression inherent to that device's tube-driven signal path while making its behavior accessible and adjustable.
The compressor itself employs an unusual topology that differs meaningfully from standard VCA or optical designs. Rather than transparent gain reduction, it exhibits a musical quality that adds density and presence to vocals without aggressive pumping. This character stems directly from the hardware's original passive tube design, which exhibits soft-knee behavior and forgiving response curves.
Beyond compression, Things - Voice includes a saturation stage that models the authentic harmonic coloration of the tube preamp, allowing users to dial in subtle to pronounced vintage character independently of gain reduction. An integrated EQ section targets frequencies specifically chosen to enhance vocal clarity and presence without sounding clinical.
The plugin occupies a specific niche: it excels for voice-over, podcast recording, and lead vocal processing where both control and sonic warmth are priorities. Compared to more transparent modern compressors, it trades technical precision for character. It sits somewhere between specialized broadcast-era equipment and contemporary mastering-grade tools like the Thermionic Culture Phoenix or Pendulum Audio OCL-2.
This represents the seventh collaboration between AudioThing and Hainbach, reflecting an ongoing commitment to translating unconventional vintage hardware into practical plugin form. The result is legitimately useful rather than merely nostalgic, offering tangible sonic benefits for spoken and sung content.
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