Best Compressor Plugins

A

Absolutepower

New member
Hello,
I want to know what compressor plugins you guys are using and liking.
I have only one that I really like, the Waves PYE. They have one other compressor I think that Black/Blue that is really good, but too expensive for me. Anyone find any diamonds in the rough?
 
depends what your using it for. some are darker than others.personally i like the wave ssl channel on vocals and the waves api 2500 (from memory) on drums ,acoustic guitars. just my two pence
 
API 2500 gets used a lot on my computer.
Believe it or not, I'm still a fan of the free Kjaerhus compressor. It functions well enough for some stuff.
 
I go for good clean versital about as often as the emulations (the UAD's for example).
The Timeworks that came with Sonar (1?) or BlueCat (that one's actually a bit over featured for most apps.
Then the standard 'this one does that' stuff. 33609's fun lately, La2a. Fairchild. 1176 and the rest less often.
There's this cheap 'VocalSteady that's really cool -more of a rider' sound than of a comp effect.. but it glitchs on my rig so it's only cool if someone paying ain't around. :)
 
This is cool thanks for the tips. I have now just changed my plugin compressor desire to one that can function WITHOUT an ilok. I came back to my computer the other day, and somehow my ilok was slightly bent. Part of the plastic seemed to have broken. It still works, but I am very worried about it. I want to start looking at plugins that don't need one, for obvious reasons.

BTW I mainly intend to use this for vocals and guitar, acoustic and electric.
 
Thanks guys I'm definitely going to check out the kjaerhaus. I'll also check out the one called "the rocket" that seems to be pretty inexpensive. Cheers.
The music store near my place is having a sale now and I could pick up a dbx 160x for $200. The problem is while I'm sure it sounds good, it has no attack setting.
 
dbx automatic. It does what it does well. If you want to roll your own, that ain't it.
La2a doesn't either.
 
The best compressor plugin is the one that works well with what you put it on and fits the needs of the production.

99% of compression duties could feasibly be handled by the native compressors in your DAW. The rest is all character and there are emulations for that. Unless you have the real thing, of course, which is infinitely better.

That being said, here are a few free VST compressors that I really like and use:

Antress Firechainer - a pretty good free Fairchild emu that I use on acoustic guitars.
Antress Deathcore - a decent Distressor emu that's great on drum room verb.
(http://antress.blogspot.com/
Bootsy Density MkII - a unique stereo/MS compressor with parallel capability. Good on anything.
Bootsy FerrcTDS - a great and smooth saturation effect plugin
(varietyofsound.wordpress.com/downloads/
Nebula 3 Free - has got some great free emulations of classic gear.
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/4726.html
Digital Fish Phones Blockfish - a good, simple, compressor with "soul"
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/861.html

There are more but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

Hope that helps.

Cheers :)
 
Mo Facta said:
Digital Fish Phones Blockfish - a good, simple, compressor with "soul"
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/861.html

There are more but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

Hope that helps.

Cheers :)
Click to expand...

I dont have a million data points, but I really liked the sound of Blockfish,,..but then I like Joe Meek tones, so maybe their similar.

free is always cool! donate if you can.
 
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I've never been impressed with IK's stuff but their latest 1176 and LA2A emulations are pretty decent, IMHO. And they're 64-bit.
 
I personally love the Waves Studio Collection compressors, the SSL, API, and V-Series all sound excellent. I also like the Waves CLA Classic Compressors. You should check them out at the Waves Website. Audio Plugins for Mixing, Mastering & Recording.
 
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