Woodstock Audio has released a free compressor plugin with a dynamic visualizer and VCA/Optical modes.
The compressor itself is highly flexible, with a high range of attack and release times from super fast (20 microsecond attack, 25ms release) to super slow (250ms attack, 5 second release).
This wide range in possible settings means you can use this compressor in any situation without limitations. Plus, with the knee control, you can achieve a wide array of different tones, and the detector high-pass filter allows you to control how the compressor reacts to low end information.
Waveform Compressor features
- Flexible compressor controls – Threshold, Ratio (1:1 to 24:1), Attack (20 microseconds to 250 milliseconds), Release (25 milliseconds to 5 seconds), Knee (0dB to 18dB).
- Regular/Optical modes – In Regular mode, attack and release curves are linear. In Optical mode, the attack time is variable, and the the release curve has two stages (50% in 1 second, then a slower tail for the remaining 50%).
- Detector HPF – Apply a high-pass to the detector/sidechain circuit to shape what the compressor hears.
- External sidechain – Sidechain the compressor to an external signal. HPF, LPF and Lookahead will now apply to the external sidechain audio.
- Free preset library – 10 free presets to recreate different classic compressors.
- GPU graphics – Waveform visualiser leverages GPU for increased performance.
- Value typing – Double click to type in values.
- Dynamic window resizing – Simply drag from the bottom right corner to resize the plugin.
- Feedforward design – The compressor operates in a feedforward design with peak detection. This emulates the characteristics of VCA compressors, known for their versatility.
- Delta listen – Hear exactly what the plugin is doing by listening to the delta (aka difference) between the dry and wet signal.
- Waveform visualiser – Before/after waveform, gain reduction lines and threshold line. Pause function to freeze waveform. Zoom in/out. Enable/disbale bar and beat lines.
- Built-in presets manager – Navigate included presets and save your own presets within the plugin.
- Value windows – Exact values of each dial shown on hover.
- Low CPU load – Optimized for efficient CPU usage, allowing a large number of instances. CPU load is lower than comparable compressors when optional modules are bypassed.
- No license or activation required – Simply download and run the installer.
The plugin is free to download in VST3, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.
More information: Woodstock Audio
