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Wavegrove intends to take the sweat out of audio work. For now you’ll be left with the blood and tears.
The Modern Classic.
HCL Varis is a mastering grade all tube point-to-point design vari-mu compressor.
Varis is basically four different compressors all packed together for pure tube action – now inside of your DAW.
– Add Varis to Cart –
89€
– Add the HCL bundle to Cart –
149€
Master the art of volume. Break barriers or don’t, it’s up to you.
Inspired by boutique hardware from Handcrafted Laboratories, Islander is a Vari-Mu based mastering grade compressor, with digitally extended features and a proven track record.
– Add Islander to Cart –
99€
Testimonials for HCL Plugins
Adrian Schinoff
Adrian Schinoff Studios, Latin Grammy nominated mixing engineer and composer of the ASCAP Pop Ballad of the Year winner
I’m in love with the plug in! Finally a compressor that sounds like a real thing!!
Alejandro González Vargas
Engineer, Music Producer, Musician Latin Grammy Nominated
I’ve been loving Varis on drums, bass and on the mixbus. The clipper on Islander got me the first time I engaged it. Both compressors sound great, they just “do something”. The harmonic enhancement is nuts.
Carlos Flores A.K.A: Maxter “El de la magia”
Collaborator on the Latin Grammy Winner album "Mi Niña Bonita" by De Chino y Nacho. Nominated 2021 with Billos Legendarios. Magic Juan, Don fulano, Budu, Treo, La Nueva Calle, Jaison Jeack
Excellent, they have their magic! … I’m using the Varis on the Buses to generate the Glue effect, and the Islander to get the Claw 🤟🏻 HCL is part of my diary nowadays, they are doing it Very Well Wavegrove 🔥
Francisco Javier
Audio engineer, Producer, audiotoolsblog.blogspot.com
The character offered by this compression / saturation / clipper is distinctive, and what we are looking for. It’s that ‘Glue compression’ you’re looking for, maybe it’s the mojo your mix or your tracks need, the necessary brightness for the song without eq. Likewise, the clipper on your master to get the desired LUFS level.
Isaac John Klein
Recording/Mixing Engineer for GRAMMY Award Winner: Singer/Producer Steve Tyrell
I’ve tested out Varis on a myriad of different sources and have yet to run into an Achilles’ heel for it. Everything from live jazz instruments to MIDI-programmed hip-hop drums and samples sounds marvelous through Varis. I particularly enjoy what it does on the mix bus. I’m amazed at how well it handles material from the low and low-mids and also how it affects the higher frequencies. Not all Vari-Mu compressors are created equal, and if you’re looking for proof, look no further than Varis by HCL. Stellar plugin!
Jerkka Perälä
Soft Neon Audiovisual
HCL Islander really isn’t just another compressor. Truly delivering what it promises, usage varies from slight silky gluing to ultra-punishing and pummeling impacts, and does it all with ease. Delta mode and the clipper are my two favourite features, and this has been sitting on all of my drum busses since day one.
Dialing in the perfect compression with a tone flavour suitable for practically any use has really not felt this easy, 6/5.
Klas-Henrik Lindblad
Blackhead Studios, Berlin. Fatboy Slim, Eats Everything, Henrik Schwarz
Verdict after one week of work: very good control of movement and nice options for colour. Bass for the WIN 👍
A tip to all Pro Tools users, load it in Metaplugin and off you go.
Maged Khalil
Naughty Dog, Ms. Lauryn Hill, MF DOOM, Kool G Rap, and more
HCL has been apart of my sound for a few years now, to have anything Gena makes as a plugin is beyond exciting. The Islander plugin delivers on everything you’d expect as a buss compressor. It’s even best out some of my favorite ITB comps for certain duties. I need more HCL plugins from Wavegrove…now. Lol
Mark Wingfield
Heron Island Studio, Award winning mixing and mastering engineer
Islander has become one of my absolute goto mastering compressors. This compressor brings so many things to the table in one plugin and it does them all with such pristine sonic quality. It easily adds solid weight and punch while at the same time bringing out the energy of a song. It adds glue without sounding overdone and just as importantly it brings out the best parts of the tone of the music in a way I can’t get out of any other compressor.
Mats Takila
Producer, Mixing engineer, Helsinki Unity Music, Consultant at Universal Music Finland
I’ve had the honor to use Ukrainian HCL’s gear for 17 years. When I first heard what Islander does to the sound, I had to open the old mixes and mix again. The compression is warm and withstands even harder pushing. A really good addition is the saturation, which I used to get the necessary brightness for the song without eq. Likewise, the clipper provides appropriate aggressiveness when needed. Islander will be an important tool in my mixing kit.
Niklas Silén / bManic
Beta testing, presets for industry leaders such as FabFilter, Tone Projects, Tokyo Dawn Labs, DMG Audio and many more.
This is an absolutely unique and superb plugin. You will not be able to duplicate it’s action and mojo with other tools. Believe me when I say that I’ve tried! That alone makes it extremely valuable in my opinion.
Nil Hartman
Computer musician, mastering engineer and Ableton Certified Trainer, Founding member of 3OP
Quite a wonderful compressor : while it can be set in a few clicks and work its magic already, I’m stunned by its flexibility and how you can dive deep and sculpt its dynamic behavior surgically. Tonally, it’s equally as versatile with very few controls, with lush box tone. Oh and don’t slip on its clipper !
Sean & Dan, Studio Life 101
Creators of "Is It Sh!t” & “StudioLife” No messing plug in reviews & audio ramblings
Another gold star? Yeah it’s just.. I don’t know how they are doing it. It just sounds so legit, it sounds so analog, not one thing made my ears think I was listening to a plugin.
Sonic Scoop
Top Compressors of 2023
HCL Islander is awfully clean as a compressor, handling parallel duties to boost apparent loudness quite well. It also has a clipper that sounds fantastic. All of it combines seamlessly into a compressor worth using every day.
Teemu “TB” Lampinen
Mixing and mastering engineer
Fun fact, I was the first who bought HCL Islander plugin.
Nowadays, Islander is always in my mastering chain. I really love how it colors my sound. With the clipper in Islander I can make music LOUD! I love this!
Wytse Gerichhausen
White Sea Studio
Wow! I’m really impressed – I can’t find anything to bitch about. They’ve done it really well
– it’s a nice color box and I like how subtle it is.
Products designed by Wavegrove to solve problems. Whether it’s missing mojo in a master, getting down with dynamics, or equalising a track to fit the soundscape. Wavegrove designs plug-ins to make your life easier.
About
creating waves since 2021
Tools to solve specific needs
When mixing or mastering the key word is feel. Usually you can hear the sound you want in your head before you get it right in your DAW. After chasing the sound for a good ten years, Jussi noticed patterns that kept repeating, and thought about automating parts of his mixing process. When you do the same thing over and over again in a mix, it’s clear there could be a tool to do just that.
Working with people whose ears we trust
While doing something by yourself gets you the results you strive for, it is always better to get some help from in the people around you. We’ve forged relationships with some of the best people in the business and feel blessed to be working with them on our products.
Philosophy
While there’s wonders and magic happening in the analog realm and the gear we’re all used to, digital audio offers possibilities that analog doesn’t. While Wavegrove doesn’t try to emulate the analog completely, we definitely try to get some of the same mojo out of our code.
Latest Articles
CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR ARTICLES
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No-brain November
Wavegrove November Sale is here. Expiry: November 30th. The sale of the year is here. Varis and Islander 39€ eachor get both for 69€
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HCL Islander in Sonic Scoop’s top new compressors of 2023
HCL Islander was included in a list of 2023’s top compressors by Sonic Scoop! Thank you all for your support <3 “This plugin comes by way of two software companies and one Ukrainian hardware manufacturer. It’s awfully clean as a compressor, handling parallel duties to boost apparent loudness quite well. It also has a clipper…
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The Story of Islander
I wanted to tell you the story of how the HCL Islander came to exist as a plugin. Hope you enjoy reading it! While HCL Islander has become a staple of mastering compressors, Wavegrove is still just a one man operation run by me, Jussi. I’m a musician and nerd making my money mostly from…
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HCL Islander v1.2.2 introduces user presets
HCL Islander v1.2.2 has been released and introduces custom user presets. Even the factory default can be replaced. Make sure to check out the manual to see how the feature works!User Manual on Google Drive
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ProTools support released
You AAX about it – Islander is now Pro Tools compatible! Two month intro offer available – including all other platforms as well! As always, download the plugin before hand and try the trial on your system before purchasing. We got you covered! Islander – Our journey has now begun Plugin page:https://wavegrove.com/plug-ins/hcl-islander/ Downloads:https://wavegrove.com/downloads/
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HCL Islander version 1.2.1
Version 1.2.1 Further oversampling improvements, gain match accuracy improvement Version 1.2.0
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HCL Islander version 1.1.0
V1.1 Feature Creature How many gain controls does it have? – Yes “Probably the only compressor with 8 different ways of controlling gain.10 if you count the thresholds.”
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