Things - Voice — Free Download

Purpose and Design

Things – Voice is a simple one-knob compressor designed specifically for voice-over and vocal processing. It is based on the Dials channel strip but focuses on making a voice loud yet smooth with minimal effort. The compressor itself uses an unusual and complex circuit from a 1950s German radio broadcast measurement instrument, which was originally used to send fixed level signals to transmitters.

The plugin is the seventh collaboration with Berlin musician Hainbach. It is available for Mac, PC, and Linux in VST, VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP formats (64-bit only), as well as AUv3 and standalone versions on the App Store. Its core appeal is the ‘throw it on and it sounds good’ workflow, reducing the need for detailed tweaking.

Key Capabilities

The compressor’s character comes from the original hardware, a 1950s/60s German measurement instrument adapted by analog specialist Wojcek Czern into a high-quality mic preamp. A side effect of the amplifier is pleasant compression, which AudioThing analyzed and made adjustable. This gives you the overtone-rich gain of the preamp separately from the compression effect.

A saturation button adds authentically modded tube gain, letting you get closer to the unit’s vintage tone. Additionally, a bass boost EQ excites the right frequencies for an authoritative low-end without being muddy. These features combine to provide a complete voice processing chain in a single plugin.

Workflow and Controls

The workflow centers on a single main knob for compression, making it fast to dial in a good sound. The saturation and bass boost are separate controls, allowing you to shape the tone independently. A preset system includes a randomizer, which is useful for quickly generating new sounds or starting points.

The interface is resizable, adapting to different screen resolutions and user preferences. This makes it easy to integrate into any session, whether you are working on a laptop or a large monitor. The straightforward control set is ideal for engineers who want to move quickly without getting bogged down in complex parameter mapping.

Practical Applications

Things – Voice is designed for voice-over and vocal recording, making it suitable for podcasts, audiobooks, and music vocals. The compression smooths out dynamic peaks, while the saturation adds warmth and character. The bass boost can give voice tracks a fuller, more present sound, especially useful for spoken word content.

The plugin is also effective for mono acoustic recordings and processing synthesizers, as the preamp gain adds harmonic richness. The vintage character is well-suited for broadcast-style voice work, where a loud, smooth, and authoritative sound is desired. It simplifies achieving a professional vocal sound without extensive routing or multiple plugins.

Key features

• One-knob compressor for voice and vocals
• Tube saturation button for vintage tone
• Bass boost EQ for authoritative low-end
• Preset system with randomizer
• Resizable window
• Available in VST, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP, AUv3, and standalone formats

Best for

Voice-over and vocal recording, especially for podcasts, audiobooks, and music where a loud, smooth, and vintage character is desired. Also useful for mono synths and acoustic sources needing instant compression and tone shaping.