Loc-Ness V3
Smash Box — Saturation, Compression & Filtering with 4 Drive Modes, Autogain, Pre/Post Filters, A/B Compare & Up to 8x Oversampling
VST3 · AU · AAX | Windows & macOS
* License Authorization needs an internet connection
"LocNess is pretty great, Just put it on some normal-sounding guitars and took them over the edge."
Queens of the Stone Age, Tool, Melvins, Bad Religion, Kyuss
"Wow, this plugin rocks!!"
"We all work fast these days and to have something that can instantly represent all of the main analog-esque food groups with just a few twists is a joy to have in the toolbox. I downloaded, installed, and started twisting breakbeats in just minutes."
What Users Are Saying
Real feedback from the community
"I have this and Devil Loc. Both are worth having, but if I were to choose one, it would be Loc-Ness. It is more versatile. You can really get so many different sounds with it, and it has the ability to boost/cut the high or low end, easily. It's a go-to plugin on the drums."
"Bought it like 15 minutes into the trial or so... from subtle to absolute destruction, all is possible. Not only user friendly but also sounds great and is light on CPU, so multiple instances aren't a problem."
"I jumped on this at v1.0 and it fills a niche between Decapitator and Devil-Loc. I really like using it on drum room and trash tracks. If you use it in small doses and watch the mids, it can really add some killer smack to percussive parts."
"Works just as good as Devil Loc. It has more features and more adjustable, also has a mix knob and output compensation, something I WISH Devil Loc had. Love both plugins but this one has more bells and whistles."
"LocNess is pretty amazing. I use it on drums all the time. Their Crust dial is one of a kind (also really easy to overuse)."
"This sounds a lot closer to a Level-Loc or SE30 than the Soundtoys version. LocNess is pretty great, just put it on some normal-sounding guitars and took them over the edge."
"I applied Loc-Ness to a client's acoustic guitar track... MAGIC!!!"
"OMG! What an incredible plugin! Sounds super great! Already love it! Amazing!"
"Gorgeous plugin! So happy to use it!!! Thank you so much!!!"
"Just bought it, sounds awesome on old breakbeats!"
"The people at Tone Empire are so cool... very helpful and easy to get hold of. And their plugins are great!"
Sounds Great On Everything
Drum rooms, breakbeats, guitars, synths, bass — anything that needs to hit harder
Drums & Breakbeats
Smash drum rooms, crush breakbeats, fatten individual hits — Loc-Ness makes everything punch through with authority.
Guitars & Bass
Add grit, sustain, and harmonic richness to any stringed instrument. From subtle warmth to full-on crunch.
Synths & Keys
Push digital synths through analog-style saturation and compression for warmth, character, and presence.
See & Hear It In Action
Experience the Loc-Ness V3 sound
Overview
Audio Demos
Hear the original dry files vs. processed with Loc-Ness
All-In-One Processing
Saturation, compression, and filtering — everything you need to crush, smash, and shape any source
Crust & Smash
The two main controls that define the Loc-Ness sound. Crust drives the signal through one of four carefully modeled analog saturation circuits, adding harmonic color from gentle warmth to crunchy overdrive. Smash feeds that saturated signal into a limiter/compressor that sustains and fattens the sound — inspired by the aggressive character of a legendary vintage broadcast limiter, but smoother, more musical, and far more controllable.
- Crust (Saturation): Input gain/drive with tonal color shaping
- Smash (Limiter): Heavy limiting and sustain control
- Serial Processing: Signal flows from Crust into Smash for stacked tone
- Autogain: Automatic level compensation as you drive harder
- From subtle to destruction: Covers the full range of processing intensity
Drive Types & Controls
Four distinct analog-modeled saturation circuits give you a palette of tonal colors, from clean tube warmth to aggressive transistor crunch. Combined with Attack, Phase, Mix, and Output controls, you have complete command over every aspect of your processed sound.
- 4 Drive Types: Each with unique harmonic character and color
- ATK (Attack): Fast mode smashes instantly; Slow lets transients through first
- Phase: Retain or invert the wet signal phase for creative blending
- Mix: Parallel blend dry and wet signals for perfect balance
- Output: Final output level with +/- 12dB range
Pre & Post Filters
Surgical frequency-targeted processing that sets Loc-Ness apart. The Pre Filters let you isolate the exact frequency band you want to saturate and compress — leaving everything else untouched. The Post Filters shape the final output, especially useful when blending wet and dry signals.
- Pre HP Filter (20-500 Hz): Remove low-end before saturation to avoid mud
- Pre LP Filter (3-20 kHz): Tame highs before they get amplified by Crust
- Post HP Filter (20-800 Hz): Shape the low-end of the processed signal
- Post LP Filter (1-20 kHz): Smooth harsh highs in the final output
Demos & Walkthroughs
See Loc-Ness V3 in action across different sources
Premium Benefits
Autogain
Automatic level compensation keeps your output in check as you push Crust and Smash harder.
A/B Compare
Instantly compare two settings with built-in A/B comparison. Never second-guess your sound.
Undo / Redo
Full undo and redo history. Experiment freely and step back to any previous state.
50+ Factory Presets
Get started instantly with 50+ professionally crafted presets. Save your own and mark favorites.
3 Activations
Use on up to 3 machines simultaneously. Studio, laptop, and home.
Up to 8x Oversampling
Clean, alias-free saturation with oversampling options up to 8x for pristine analog character.
Specifications
Plugin Formats
macOS: VST3 / AU / AAX (64-bit)
Windows: VST3 / AAX (64-bit)
macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later
Windows 10 or later
Apple Silicon Native
System Requirements
Intel i3 / AMD Ryzen or equivalent
Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) supported
2 GB RAM minimum
300 MB disk space
Internet for license activation
Processing
Saturation Modes: 4 analog-modeled circuits
Oversampling: Up to 8x
Autogain: Automatic level compensation
Workflow: A/B Compare, Undo/Redo
Presets: 50+ factory, save/favorites
Resizable GUI: 50% - 150%
Own Loc-Ness V2?
Existing Loc-Ness V2 owners get the V3 upgrade for free. Simply log in to your Tone Empire account and add Loc-Ness V3 to your cart — the price will automatically adjust at checkout.
Add to CartFor purchases made through third-party distributors, please contact support with valid purchase proof to receive your free upgrade.