BlackAsh SC-5 is a VCA-style compressor from Black Rooster Audio, modeled after a sought-after 80s compressor and aimed at drum bus and dynamic material.
BlackAsh SC-5 at a glance
| Developer | Black Rooster Audio |
|---|---|
| Type | Effects / Compressor |
| Formats | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX |
| Operating systems | Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.9 or later |
| Apple Silicon | Native |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| RAM | 1 GB or more |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €38.68 |
What BlackAsh SC-5 does
It is available as VST3, VST2, AU and AAX for Windows and macOS (64-bit), and it is the sibling of BlueAsh SC-5, with slightly different compression behaviour.
Compared with its sibling BlueAsh SC-5, the BlackAsh version brings slightly different compression behaviour. Native support for Apple Silicon is listed.
Key features
- Drum bus smashing. The developer presents the plugin for giving a drum bus a colorful, smashed sound.
- Taming dynamic material. The compressor is positioned for reducing the movement of lively, dynamic material.
- Sibling behaviour. Compared with BlueAsh SC-5, the BlackAsh version behaves slightly differently in compression.
Compatibility
Formats are VST3, VST2, AU and AAX, for Windows and macOS (64-bit). Minimum OS is macOS 10.9 and Windows 7, the plugin requires 1 GB of RAM, and native support for Apple Silicon is listed.
BlackAsh SC-5 compared with similar plugins
StaGate, Model 5000 and OptoRED are compressors from Tone Empire in VST3, AU and AAX on Windows and macOS, without a VST2 build. Bus Compressor from IK Multimedia is a compressor in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX for Windows and macOS, the same format set as BlackAsh SC-5.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlackAsh SC-5 | Black Rooster Audio | Compressor | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €38.68 |
| StaGate | Tone Empire | Compressor | VST3, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €42.64 |
| Model 5000 | Tone Empire | Compressor | VST3, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €84.29 |
| OptoRED | Tone Empire | Compressor | VST3, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €64.46 |
| Bus Compressor | IK Multimedia | Compressor | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €118.99 |
Price and availability
BlackAsh SC-5 was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €38.68. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
BlackAsh SC-5 FAQ
Is there a working serial key or keygen for BlackAsh SC-5?
A working serial is the string most often typed with BlackAsh SC-5, and queries pair the name with keygen and serial key.
Does BlackAsh SC-5 run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Native support for Apple Silicon is listed for the plugin, which requires macOS 10.9 or higher.