
Empirical Labs - Arousor™ 3.0
Arousor™, the first compressor plug-in from Empirical Labs, delivers the same luscious classic knee compression of their award-winning hardware – the Distressor®.
Get this Compressor now with an Annual or Monthly subscription
iLok 2 or 3 USB key AND iLok Cloud license activation available
About Empirical Labs Arousor™
For over 20 years, producers and engineers have been yearning for a Distressor-In-The-Box and the Arousor delivers that and more.
Not only does the Arousor 3.0 deliver the company's signature Classic Knee compression it also brings much of the coveted non-linearity and character we associate with the hardware
Combine that with Empirical Labs proprietary techniques to minimize common digital artifacts and you are left with an innovative, user-friendly and most importantly, great sounding compression plug-in.

How Does Empirical Labs Arousor™ Work?
On the surface, the Arousor has a similar look and feel to the Distressor, however, there are a few things that are distinctly different.
There are two new choices for gain reduction – 1.5:1 and 8:1 and the Nuke setting has been replaced by the Rivet setting.
Other state-of-the-art features include proprietary Empirical Labs Detector modeling; broadband Saturator; the unique AtMod Attack Modification Control and an indispensable blend control for parallel compression. Overall, it is a new, innovative, must-have compressor right at your fingertips.
What's New In 3.0
- Two OPTO Modes based on the time constants of a classic and a modern LA2A
- Soft Clipper Expert Panel that allows for introducing more second harmonic distortion and the ability to place the compressor input before or after the soft clipper circuit.
- Detector Sidechain EQ now includes a listen mode to hear what frequencies are affecting the compression detector.
- Two new ratios (6.5:1 and 7:1) can now be accessed by enabling “ALT” mode in the ratio section.
- The GUI can now be enlarged to double its original size for more comfortable editing.
- iLok Cloud activation is now available in addition to iLok USB Key activation.
Watch The Arousor In Action
What People Are Saying About The Empirical Labs Arousor™
The plugin is a game changer ITB. I have for a very long time been a fan of the Distressor on snare and now I have that again. Nothing compares and on the mix I’m doing I went from feeling really good about it…to killer. Thanks!
I recently found the Empirical Labs “Arousor” plug-in. It was immediately like greeting a friend I hadn’t seen in 10 years! Oh how I remember that sound, and the Arousor plug-in has taken it a step further. Allowing me to re-create the “SPANK” I was using with the EL-8 during the 90’s and 00’s, but with the detector sidechain EQ, giving me the flexibility to get deep into controlling how much spank and how I want to blend it. LET THE SPANKING CONTINUE!
WHY THE EMPIRICAL LABS AROUSOR IS SUCH A BIG DEAL
- Empirical Labs' Classic Knee Compression
- Proprietary Empirical Labs High Resolution Detector Modeling
- Broadband Saturator for impressive peak control
- Rivet brick wall ratio — ideal for room mics and skimming peaks
- AtMod™ Attack Modification Control. Changes the shape and length of the initial attack
- Highpass and bandpass sidechain EQ
- Blend Control for parallel compression
- 18 Lock n Load Presets

Never Settle For Imitation When You Can Have Innovation
iLok 2 or 3 USB key AND iLok Cloud license activation available
Arousor™ is a trademark, and Distressor® is a registered trademark of Empirical Labs, Inc for their brand of audio signal processors.