What do the Attack and Release MOD buttons do?

MOD lets you adjust attack and release continuously between the classic fixed steps. Switch it off to return to the stepped timing values.

Can I use XBus in mid/side?

Yes. Choose stereo, dual mono or mid/side operation, with linked or independent controls.

Does the sidechain filter remove bass from my mix?

No. The sidechain filters change what the compressor reacts to. They do not cut those frequencies from your audio.

Can saturation go before or after compression?

Yes. Choose PRE or POST, then use the saturation section’s own Mix control to blend it in.

Is the free trial the full plugin?

Yes. Try every XBus feature free for 14 days in your own sessions.

XBus $39.00

Try it freeTry free

XBUS

Name: XBus
Brand: Kiive Audio
Price: 39.00 USD
Availability: InStock

The bus compressor you reach for first.

4.9 (143)

$39.00

XBus captures the punch and movement of classic VCA bus compression, with the flexibility to cover far more than gentle mix-bus glue. Shape the compression, fine-tune its harmonics, and blend everything in parallel for a whole range of sounds from one plugin.

14-day free trial · no card required

Instant download · free updates for life

VST3 · AU · AAX · macOS & Windows

Hear XBus in action.

Source

THE COMPRESSION

Get the movement you want.

Familiar controls, with more freedom to find the right response.

STEPPED OR CONTINUOUS

Find the timing between the steps.

Use the classic stepped attack and release times, or switch on MOD to dial in the values in between. With ratios from 1.5:1 to 20:1 and Auto release, XBus covers everything from gentle bus compression to a much more aggressive response.

Classic timings, with the freedom to fine-tune.

XBus parallel Mix and stereo Width controls

MIX & WIDTH

Parallel compression and stereo width.

Push the compression harder, then use Mix to blend it with your dry signal. The Width control lets you widen or narrow your stereo image, all within XBus.

Parallel compression, without another bus.

XBus stereo, dual mono and mid/side controls

Choose how your channels work.

Keep both channels working together in stereo, compress left and right independently in dual mono, or work on the center and sides separately in mid/side.

Link the controls, or adjust each channel independently.

BEYOND THE COMPRESSOR

A whole other side to XBus.

Explore the saturation, headroom and sidechain controls behind its wider range of sounds.

Shape your harmonics

Blend even and odd harmonics independently, then use Tone to shape the saturation and Mix to control how much you hear. Place saturation before compression so XBus responds to the saturated signal, or after it to add saturation to your compressed sound.

Adjust the headroom

Raise the headroom for a cleaner response, or lower it for more aggressive compression. It gives you another way to shape XBus’s behavior alongside your ratio, attack and release.

Choose what XBus reacts to

Use high-pass, low-pass and mid-band EQ to shape the sidechain, then solo it to hear your changes. Reduce the low end’s influence on compression without cutting bass from your mix.

Keep your focus on the sound.

A/B your settings.

Compare two versions of your settings, undo a change, and save your own custom presets.

Up to 16× oversampling.

Choose the oversampling setting that suits your session, with options from off to 16×.

A view that fits.

Resize the interface and show or hide the advanced controls to suit the way you work.

WHAT ENGINEERS ARE SAYING

4.92 / 5 Read customer reviews (143)

“This is the one that will turn your mix from wow, to holy sh#t.”

MalteVerified XBus customer · April 15, 2026

Kiive Audio

XBus full demo

MixbusTV

XBus in a mix

Mixing With Mike

XBus walkthrough

Explore all video resources

A few things you might be wondering.

Pairs well with

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Combine preamps, EQs and compressors from three console designs to shape your tracks before they reach XBus.

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VX-Q

VX-Q pairs clean, musical EQ with five transformer saturation modes and Variance, moving from transparent correction to added weight, bite or texture.

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Choose Plugins

Pick ANY 3 | Build Your Own Bundle

Choose three Kiive plugins, from channel strips and bus processors to EQ, saturation and creative effects.

$159.00VST3 · AU · AAX

Learn more Choose Plugins

Amazingly accurate

Very close to my beloved Smart Research C2 compressor.
Thank you

By far my favorite SSL style compressor emulation

By far my favorite SSL style compressor emulation. I've gone through a bunch and they usually lack character and flexibility, both of which has been masterfully solved by Kiive. They are one of the only plugin companies right now that understands the power of digital plugins, and that there's absolutely no point in just emulating the original 1 to 1. Instead, Kiive add features and flexibility, and create something harnessing the full power of the computer. XBus demonstrates this excellently by adding the "mod" modes to the attack and release, including dual-mono, stereo, and mid-side modes, a wonderful "headroom" knob for a continuous "crush" button (like on the original C2), and a brilliantly flexible saturation/distortion section as well. After having used XBus for more than three weeks, I don't think I could live without these features. Other than that, I should also mention that the interface is excellent, there's now obnoxious licensing like iLok, it runs on Linux through wine flawlessly (YMMV), and that the hardware it models (the C2) is indeed better than the original. I love this compressor and pretty much always find myself using it on drums and the mix buss, every time. The only drawback I'll mention, is that it compresses the dynamic range a little too much for me to use it in mastering, but I don't think that's really it's purpose anyway. Absolutely great compressor, Kiive has done it again.

Kiive is the Best!!!

Great products that are at a Professional grade! This stuff adds color, and excitement to the mixes..
Can't go wrong with a Kiive!

So versatile!

It’s a great bus compressor with some extra and handy features. It sounds better that most bigger companies take on the same style of compressor while still being more versatile and equally comprehensive. If you want to invest in a bus compressor, look no further. This is the one that will turn your mix from wow, to holy sh#t.

The best!!!!

My new favorite bus comp, it just elevates everything.

A+++

A+++

Solid Bus Compressor and I'm a big fan of Kiive's saturation

Solid Bus Compressor and I'm a big fan of Kiive's saturation.

The best bus compressor I've ever tried

XBus is an absolute game-changer for my mixes. It gives the drum and mix bus that perfect analog glue and punch without killing the transients. It’s incredibly fast to dial in, and it instantly makes the whole track sound thicker, wider, and more expensive. If you want that authentic hardware feel and serious knock in the box, this is the one.

Your mix is the best demo.

Download XBus and try the full plugin free for 14 days in your own sessions.

XBus

$39.00

Try XBus free

OPERATING SYSTEM

macOS 10.14 or later

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i5 or Apple Silicon

MEMORY

4 GB RAM

PLUG-IN FORMATS

AU, VST3, AAX

DAW SUPPORT

64-bit DAW required

SCREEN RESOLUTION

1024 × 768 or higher

AUTHORIZATION

License key · 3 licenses

Need a hand?

Have a question about XBus or getting it running in your session? Send us a message and we’ll help you get sorted.

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