PUSH is a compressor from KERN Audio that processes 40 ERB frequency bands separately instead of applying one broadband gain reduction to the whole signal, and it is available as a VST3 and AU plugin for macOS and Windows.
PUSH at a glance
| Developer | KERN Audio |
|---|---|
| Type | Effects / Compressor |
| Formats | VST3, AU |
| Operating systems | Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.13 or later |
| Apple Silicon | Native |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €30.74 |
What PUSH does
Rather than averaging peaks across the full spectrum, PUSH maps its dynamics onto 40 perceptually spaced bands that follow the way hearing divides frequency, so each region of the signal is compressed on its own terms.
The interface is built around three characters, one per workflow. SETTLE acts as a cohesion layer for a mix bus, applying gentle per-band gain reduction that holds elements together and sits in front of a regular bus compressor. TIGHT is a transient control intended for drums, bass and percussion, with fast attack and per-band release that catch stray peaks a broadband compressor would average away. DRIFT applies upward compression per band to lift room tone, sustain tails and high-frequency air, a task the developer says a broadband compressor cannot perform. The plugin ships with 36 factory presets, and its surface is limited to 4 knobs and 2 toggles.
Key features
- 40 ERB bands. Dynamics are processed across 40 ERB-spaced frequency bands, so each band is compressed with its own gain reduction rather than one shared envelope.
- SETTLE cohesion layer. SETTLE applies gentle per-band gain reduction intended to hold the elements of a bus together, placed before the regular bus compressor in the chain.
- TIGHT transient control. TIGHT uses fast attack and per-band release to control transients in drums, bass and percussion, catching peaks that a broadband compressor would average out.
- DRIFT upward compression. DRIFT applies upward compression per band to lift ambience, room tone and high-frequency detail, rather than a single broadband lift.
- Magnitude-only gain processing. Gain is applied to the magnitude of each band only, which the developer describes as avoiding smearing, comb filtering and crossover artifacts.
- Compact control set. The interface offers 4 knobs and 2 toggles, with 36 factory presets to start from.
- Crack, keygen and serial variants. Searches for PUSH crack, keygen and serial key versions are common, and the release is often found as a repack or torrent.
Compatibility
PUSH comes as VST3 and AU for Windows and macOS in 64-bit builds. It requires macOS 10.13 or Windows 10 as a minimum, and native support for Apple Silicon processors is listed. Macs with Apple Silicon are supported natively, and the plugin also loads in VST3 and AU hosts on Windows and macOS.
PUSH compared with similar plugins
C6 Multiband Compressor from Waves is a VST2, AU and AAX plugin for Windows and macOS, so it covers a different format set than PUSH, which is VST3 and AU. BLEASS Multiband Compressor from BLEASS is a VST3, AU and AAX plugin for Windows and macOS, and it lists AAX where PUSH does not.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUSH | KERN Audio | Compressor | VST3, AU | Windows, macOS | €30.74 |
| C6 Multiband Compressor | Waves | Compressor | VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €42.64 (regular €165.41) |
| BLEASS Multiband Compressor | BLEASS | Compressor | VST3, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €28.76 |
| OTTX | Rave Generation | Compressor | VST3, AU | Windows, macOS | €39.62 |
| C4 Multiband Compressor | Waves | Compressor | VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €42.64 (regular €110.67) |
Price and availability
PUSH was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €30.74. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
PUSH FAQ
Does PUSH run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. Native support for Apple Silicon processors is listed, on macOS 10.13 or higher.
Which formats does PUSH come in?
PUSH is available as VST3 and AU, for Windows and macOS in 64-bit builds.
Is there a working serial key or keygen for PUSH?
Searches pair the plugin name with serial key and keygen, and the VST3 and AU builds are most often listed as VST crack and AU crack files.