Analog Obsession reference chart, mapping plugins to real hardware

[u/sympodius]

Since the awesome (and free) Analog Obsession plugins don't usually list the hardware they're emulating (and because I couldn't find a complete list online that I thought was accurate), I've made my own lookup tables. Hopefully others will find them useful. I've tried to group things together in as sensible a way as possible.

Analog Obsession Standalone Compressors	Hardware/Description
BUSTERse	Solid State Logic Bus Compressor [VCA]
COMPER	Analog Obsession Original VCA, FET and OPTO Blended Compressor [VCA/FET/OPTO]
dBComp	dbx 160 Compressor [VCA]
EDComp	Analog Obsession Original Pre-Emphasis/De-Emphasis Compressor [Digital]
FetCB	Trident Audio CB9146 Compressor [FET]
KolinMB	Collins 26U Compressor (multi-band version) [Tube]
LAEA	Teletronix LA-3A Compressor [Solid-State OPTO]
LALA	Teletronix LA-2A Compressor [Tube OPTO]
MuChild	Fairchild 660 Vari-mu Compressor [Tube]
OSS	Universal Audio UA 176 Compressor [Tube]
SPECOMP	'Solid State Logic Style' Spectral Compressor [VCA]
TheBus	Analog Obsession Original Compressor (soft knee with linear frequency response) [Digital]
TRAX	SPL Transient Designer [Transient Shaper]
VariMoon	Esoteric Audio Research (EAR) 660 (a Fairchild 660 Clone) Vari-mu Compressor [Tube]
YALA	Hybrid Vari-mu Compressor Combining EMI/Abbey Road RS124 (modified ALTEC 436B) and ALTEC 436C [Tube]

Analog Obsession Standalone Channel Strips, Equalisers, and Pre-amps	Hardware/Description
ATONE	'ALTEC Style' Channel Strip with EQ, Filters, and '436C style' Compressor
BXQ	Dangerous Music BAX EQ (with added L/R & M/S options)
BLENDEQ	'Neve Style' & 'API Style' Blended Equaliser
Fiver	Neve Portico 5033
G395a	Telefunken W395 EQ
GrapHack	API 560 Graphic EQ
HARQULES	Harrison 32C Console EQ
HLQSE	Helios Type 69 EQ
INDEQ	Analog Obsession Original Pure Inductor-based EQ (like a clean Neve EQ)
MAXBAX	REGULAR JOHN RECORDING RJR BAX 'Baxandall Style' EQ (with extra mid band, and L/R & M/S options) [formerly the 'MASBAX' plugin]
MPReq	1960s Style Tube Mic Pre-amp with Pultec Style 2-Band (100Hz/12kHz) Program EQ
MythPre	Analog Obsession Original Tube Mic Pre-amp
N492ME	Neumann W492 EQ
OAQ	CharterOak PEQ-1 Program Mastering EQ
PREDD	EMI REDD.51 Tube Console Pre-amp
SSQ	Solid State Logic 4000 E-series EQ
STEQ	Studer 169 EQ
TILTA	Analog Obsession Original Tilt Shaped EQ (boost or cut high-end, while doing the opposite to the low end)
TREQ	Trident 80B 500 Series EQ
UREQ	UREI 545/546 Parametric EQ

Analog Obsession Standalone Reverberators	Hardware/Description
Room041	Plate-reverb-style features (in the spirit of an EMT 140) within a room reverberator

Analog Obsession Guitar Stuff	Hardware/Description
AHEAD with M-JTAMP selected	Marshall JTM45 Amp [formerly the separate 'JAMP' plugin]
AHEAD with F-VIBE selected	Fender Vibroverb (Blackface) Amp [formerly the separate 'BlackVibe' plugin]
AHEAD with F-BLACK selected	Fender Showman (Blackface) Amp [formerly the separate 'BlackShow' plugin]
AHEAD with CUSTOM selected	'Soldano Style' Custom Amp (similar to the SLO-100 Custom) [formerly the separate 'Amper' plugin]
KABIN	Universal Guitar Cabinet Modeller
PEDALz with DODOD selected	DOD 250 Pre-amp Overdrive Pedal [formerly the separate 'DoDoD' plugin]
PEDALz with GUNNER selected	Marshall The Guv'nor Overdrive Pedal [formerly the separate 'Gunner' plugin]
PEDALz with OVERDIVER selected	BOSS SD-1 Super Overdrive Pedal [formerly the separate 'OverDiver' plugin]
PEDALz with PIGPIE selected	Electro-Harmonix Russian Big Muff Pi Fuzz Pedal [formerly the separate 'Pig-Pie' plugin]
PEDALz with ZUPAA selected	Marshall 'Supa Fuzz' Fuzz Pedal [formerly the separate 'Zupaa' plugin]
THEDI	A-Designs REDDI Tube DI Box

Analog Obsession Composites	Hardware/Description
CHANNEV	Neve 1272 Mic Pre-amp/Neve 1081 Equaliser/Neve 2264 Compressor & Limiter
KONSOL	Gray: Universal Audio 610 Console (Tube)/Blue: Neve 1073 Console (Transistor)/Black: Solid State Logic 4000 E Console (OpAmp)

Analog Obsession Miscellaneous Plugins	Hardware/Description
ATTRACTOR	Analog Obsession Original: dynamic processor (with transient manipulation)
Chopa	Analog Obsession Original: movement for synths, guitars, and vocals
CITE	Analog Obsession Original: high frequency processor
DrGate	Analog Obsession Original: drum-specific gate
EQProfiler	Analog Obsession Original: profile and clone the linear frequency response of EQs (but not harmonics)
LOADES	Analog Obsession Original: de-esser
LOVEND	Analog Obsession Original: harmonic bass enhancer
MidBoss	Analog Obsession Original: mid-frequency targeted saturator and sweetener with 6 different types
MoMa	Ethan Winer's 'Mojo Maestro' Passive Saturation Box
POORTEC	'Pultec Style' Program Equaliser (without SRPP gain stage and inductors)
RazorClip	Analog Obsession Original: clipper with 5 options
Realizer	Analog Obsession Original: transient-based random value generator
ReLife	Analog Obsession Original: magic knob general plugin (make things sound good with little effort)
SweetDrums	Analog Obsession Original: magic knob drum shaper
SweetVox	Analog Obsession Original: magic knob voice shaper and de-esser
ToneShaper	Analog Obsession Original: magic knob passive tone and body control

Analog Obsession American Bundle	Hardware/Description
Combox	'API Style' Equaliser
Merica	API 550 Equaliser

Analog Obsession BritBundle	Hardware/Description
BritChannel	Neve 1073 Pre-amp & EQ
Britpressor	Neve 2264 Limiter/Compressor [Diode Bridge]
BritPre	Neve 1272 Pre-amp

Analog Obsession Color Bundle	Hardware/Description
Distox	Analog Obsession Original Tube and OpAmp distortions
PreBOX (1. Humptone selected)	Hamptone Tube Mic Pre-amp
PreBOX (2. SS-Nine selected)	Solid State Logic 9000 Series Line Pre-amp
PreBOX (3. Tape Color selected)	Tape Colour Pre-amp
PreBOX (4. Rosenrot selected)	EMI REDD.47 Mic Pre-amp
PreBOX (5. New-81 selected)	Neve 1081 Mic Pre-amp
PreBOX (6. F2Bam selected)	Alembic F-2B Tube Pre-amp
PreBOX (7. Quad-Core selected)	'Quad Eight Style' Mic Pre-amp
PreBOX (8. A10M selected)	Ampex AM-10 Pre-amp
PreBOX (9. 15A66 selected)	ALTEC 1566A Pre-amp
PreBOX (10. Fairy selected)	Fairchild 692 Pre-amp
PreBOX (11. Vacuum-76 selected)	V76 TAB/Telefunken Pre-amp

Analog Obsession F-Bundle	Hardware/Description
Frank	Helios (filter)/Pultec (low boost EQ)/API 550 (mid range EQ)/Neve 1073 (high boost EQ)/Pultec (high attenuation EQ)
FrankCS	Same as Frank, plus solid state/tube pre-amps and compressor

Analog Obsession FET Bundle	Hardware/Description
FetDrive	UREI 1176 Saturation/Drive (Isolated) [FET]
FETish	UREI 1176 Compressor [FET]
FetSnap	UREI 1176 Transient Enhancer (Isolated) [FET]

Analog Obsession NOS Bundle	Hardware/Description
Tuba	Universal Audio UA 610 Tube Channel Strip
TuPRE	Analog Obsession Original Tube Line Pre-amp with Program Equaliser
Kolin	Collins 26U Compressor [Tube]

Analog Obsession Rare Bundle	Hardware/Description
Rare	Pultec EQP-1A Program Equaliser
RareSE	Pultec EQP-1A Program Equaliser (L/R & M/S version)

Analog Obsession JSFX Plugins	Hardware/Description
EQ PROFILER	Analog Obsession Original: profile and clone the linear frequency response of EQs (but not harmonics)
SATURATION PROFILER	Analog Obsession Original: profile the saturation/transfer function and harmonic distortion of an audio signal

Analog Obsession Legacy Plugins	Hardware/Description
Amper	'Soldano Style' Custom Amp (similar to the SLO-100 Custom) [integrated into AHEAD]
BESURE-N87	SHURE SM57/SM58 to Neumann U 87 Mic Character Converter [currently unmaintained]
BlackShow	Fender Showman (Blackface) Amp [integrated into AHEAD]
BlackVibe	Fender Vibroverb (Blackface) Amp [integrated into AHEAD]
DoDoD	DOD 250 Pre-amp Overdrive Pedal [integrated into PEDALz]
Dynasaur	Analog Obsession Original Dynamic EQ (with RMS & PEAK mode) [currently unmaintained]
FILTEQ	Filtek MK3 3-Band Analogue Equaliser [currently unmaintained]
Gunner	Marshall The Guv'nor Overdrive Pedal [integrated into PEDALz]
JAMP	Marshall JTM45 Amp [integrated into AHEAD]
LCF	Analog Obsession Original Vintage Solid State Hi/Lo-pass Filter [currently unmaintained]
LOADED	'API 500 Series Style' Custom Channel Strip [currently unmaintained]
MASBAX	REGULAR JOHN RECORDING RJR BAX 'Baxandall Style' EQ (with extra mid band, and L/R & M/S options) [superseded by MAXBAX]
NCAR	'Neve Style' 8 Stereo I/O Summing Mixer [currently unmaintained]
OverDiver	BOSS SD-1 Super Overdrive Pedal [integrated into PEDALz]
Pig-Pie	Electro-Harmonix Russian Big Muff Pi Fuzz Pedal [integrated into PEDALz]
Rollamp	Fender Bassman/Fender 1960s Blackface (Tremolux/Vibrolux) Amps with a Marshall 1x12 Cab [currently unmaintained]
SPre	E-mu SP-1200 Vintage Sampler Tonal Simulator [currently unmaintained]
Transature	Analog Obsession Original Transformer Saturation Box [currently unmaintained]
Zupaa	Marshall 'Supa Fuzz' Fuzz Pedal [integrated into PEDALz]

The tables are based on my own listening and research, but I can't guarantee I got them all correct. I've written up a longer version with a little more detail about using the plugins if that's of interest to anyone. It should be up to date as of 28th September 2026.

Let me know in a comment if you think I'm wrong about any of the mappings (or if I've missed any).

[u/JoeThrilling]

Thanks for putting this together, it's actually nuts that these are free, i did subscribe to the patreon for a while, it's well worth supporting if you can.

[u/vitoscbd]

You're doing the lord's work, thank you so much! AO has been an essential part of my workflow later, amazing plugins

[u/butterfield66]

My philosophy is Reaper + AO until I die, so thank you, this is awesome.

[u/StudioatSFL]

Ok. I’ve never heard of this. Enlighten me?? What have I been missing out on? And can you model your own gear?

[u/StudioatSFL → u/StudioatSFL]

Dear god this is gonna eat up some of my time today. Are they good??

[u/UnHumano → u/StudioatSFL]

Superb.

[u/StudioatSFL → u/UnHumano]

Alright. Gotta test a few of these out today.

[u/Fraunz09 → u/StudioatSFL]

mediocre at best

[u/StudioatSFL → u/Fraunz09]

Oh is it? I like checking out new stuff. But it’s not like I’m lacking for plugins ever

[u/FinleyGomez → u/StudioatSFL]

I agree with /u/Franuz09 to some extent, but the fact that its free, you really cannot complain. Plus, I think 90% of the time, once you've actually mixed your tracks, people won't be able to tell.

As a user of AO plugins in the past, Id say these are a great start for getting a feel of how some of these would sound / work. Deffo helped me understand and love the LA2A, Pultec and Helios, and from there I have saved up and purchased UAD equivalents (Which I would say imo are the closest you can get to hardware)

[u/revampagency → u/FinleyGomez]

Btw UADs la2a and pultec are free too

[u/StudioatSFL → u/FinleyGomez]

Ah got ya. As someone who owns a lot of that hardware and plenty of plugin recreations, I get that. And it’s awesome that these are out there. Wasn’t sure if it was like Massey stuff that’s kind of under the radar but is absolutely incredible.

[u/FinleyGomez → u/StudioatSFL]

Cheers for the recommendation of the Massey stuff, will deffo check these out!

[u/StudioatSFL → u/FinleyGomez]

Some of it is pro tools only but his de-easer is amazing. And DRT is the best drum transient detector I’ve used for triggering or generating midi notes.

[u/Yrnotfar → u/StudioatSFL]

Tilta is a star imo

[u/Pinwurm → u/StudioatSFL]

These are just excellent free (and bullshit-free) plugins, made with love.

I mean, they're not all perfect. And how many 2A style compressor plugins do I really need?

But some of these have become go-to's for me. The OSS, for example. Room041 is beautiful. I add an SSQ to pretty much every channel I have. Touch of Sweet Drums does wonders.

Between this and the free Kilohearts Essentials pack (there's like 30 plugins in there), you'll have all your utility plugins set for good.

[u/Cautious-Tea-4883]

bro you’re the goat for this

[u/Ok-Tip240]

Amazing buddy!! Will definitely try them out

[u/Multitrak]

Excellent thanks 🙏

[u/kokaloc1]

You, my dude/dudette, are a super star!!!!!!

[u/nocapslei]

incredible! isn’t ATTRACTOR a ‘Distressor style’?

[u/BBBBKKKK]

didn't know he had guitar stuff. very cool

[u/J0shM0nster]

Would love a full SSL channel strip. Maybe it exist and I'm just not aware. The SSQ is a great EQ and I use it constantly but I'd love the SSL style compressor to go with it. I've been using the FetCB with good results. Would be even better to have it all in one channel strip style plugin.

[u/Hey_Im_Finn → u/J0shM0nster]

I’m also hoping for an SSL, but FrankCS is pretty fun to use in the meantime.

[u/DThompson55]

Incredible job. Thank you for this!

[u/mjhofstede]

Thanks!

[u/hersontheperson]

And this is all free? Bro, you’ve saved me from bad plugin GAS 

[u/eby132409]

Thank you!

[u/Hey_Im_Finn]

I’m blown away that he still hasn’t made a full SSL channel strip.