Jon V Audio released FirComp, a freeware compressor effect in VST3 and AU plugin formats for digital audio workstations on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
FirComp is a zero-latency compressor designed to sound musical and transparent. The plugin can handle fast attack settings (down to zero milliseconds!) with a high compression ratio. It sounds clean at moderate settings while applying gentle distortion at high compression levels.
See also: Best Free Compressor VST/AU Plugins!There’s a lot to like about FirComp. The plugin was designed to add punch without distorting the signal. On the other hand, FirComp also features an optional look-ahead feature for smooth compression on instrument busses and the master channel.
The controls are pretty much standard for a peak compressor. The user can adjust the compression ratio, compressor knee, attack/release times, dry/wet mix, threshold, and makeup gain. You can also fine-tune the side-chain filter by applying one of the preset settings (de-harsh, de-ess, natural, or off).
One of FirComp’s secrets is the dual parallel release stage. Adjust the release time in milliseconds, then use the slider to fine-tune the program-dependent behavior. This will smooth out the signal without having to use multiple compressors simultaneously.
As for the user interface, FirComp features a minimal design with a dark color scheme and simple graphics. The gain reduction meter on the right shows the compression level in real-time. The labels are easy to read, the knobs are large enough, and there’s really nothing to complain about here.
Check out the FirComp user interface below (screenshot taken in Studio One).
FirComp sports a minimal user interface with a dark color scheme.
It’s also worth noting that FirComp is well-optimized for low CPU consumption. You can use the plugin on all channels across the mix without noticing a performance hit.
Some users are comparing FirComp with the popular TDR Kotelnikov compressor plugin by Tokyo Dawn Labs. Both plugins deliver transparent compression, whereas FirComp seems to be more oriented towards compressing drums and other percussive audio material.
Coincidence or not, we featured another excellent freeware compressor yesterday. Check out the TLS 1295 LEA plugin by Tin Brook Tales for a more gritty and distorted approach to gain reduction.
You can download FirComp completely free of charge from the product page linked below. Keep in mind that two versions of the plugin are available at the moment. The second version, called “FirComp Low Ratio,” adds more compression ratio options (1.2 and 1.5) and a 100 Hz sidechain high-pass filter option.
More info: FirComp (1.93 MB download size, ZIP archive, 64-bit VST3/AU plugin format for Windows, macOS, Linux)
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19 Comments
Tomislav Zlatic
onA big THANK YOU to BPB readers Ambedo and Christian for the info about FirComp!
PureFire
onThanks Tomislav, hope your keeping well.
Happy New Year & best wishes for 2021.
Respect BPB & readers / contributors.
Tomislav Zlatic
onThanks for the kind words! Happy new year and all the best. :)
ambedo
onI have been really loving this compressor and that TLS one posted recently, fun to work with and the results are A+
K.S.S
on“FirComp is a zero-latency compressor designed to SIGN musical and transparent. ”
Just pointing out an error
Tomislav Zlatic
onHey, thanks for that. Fixed! :)
Tomislav Zlatic
onIndeed, two great compressors to start the year.
El°HYM
onFirComp is a fire comp.
Praneet Choudhary
onhttps://harrisonconsoles.lpages.co/free-plugin-pte/
Check this out!!
Wagner dos Santos Cezar
onVery cool, Hey Tomislav look at this https://harrisonconsoles.lpages.co/free-plugin-pte/
Tomislav Zlatic
onOn it! Thanks!
Tomislav Zlatic
onPosting this today, thanks!
Aris
onHappy New Year.
Harrison Ava Mastering Eq is free for a limited time.
Aris
onSo sorry if there has been a misunderstanding. I’m not lying. I’m not sure if it’s right to post a link here so i’m not going to do that.
Just go to the latest video on BenoniStudio youtube channel and you will find the link in the description. Cheers!
Aris
onI’m from Greece. Where are you from?
Aris
onNice! 👍
Aris
onNo, I’ve never been to America/USA but i hope some day i will. Yeah i think the time clock is wherever BPB base is.
Nice to meet you too!
Yes , Greece is a very beautiful country but it has its problems too.
Yes, i’ve seen some stuff about the elections and i don’t know what to say but wishing you all the best!
I’ll steal one of your sentences and say that Greece is not the FAIRYTALE of perfection that some of our media, and Government purports it to be.
With that being said whising you all the best and a happy new year to you and your beloved ones.
Eric Marquez
onDon’t know about others but for me it gets blacklisted by Ardour in linux (I downloaded the linux version, .so).
C
onAuthor of the plugin has since released a new version (paying), Fircomp 2. Maybe update the article with this or make a new one.