Analog Obsession released dBComp, a freeware compressor/limiter plugin suitable for mixing, mastering, and live use.
dBComp was tailor-made for use on drums in live situations or in the studio. However, the developer states that you can also use the plugin for other instruments such as guitars, basses, and even vocals to give them a more “snappy” sound.
The control scheme is quite standard for a compressor plugin. dBComp lets you adjust the Attack and Release time, the compression Threshold, a high-pass filter ranging from 20 to 500Hz, and the Mix knob to control the wet/dry level.
Additionally, there is an option to engage the external sidechain input (EXT SC). And if you want higher processing quality, click the ‘Analog Obsession’ label to enable internal oversampling.
The attack time is program-dependent and you can set it at 15ms for 10dB, 5s for 20dB, and 3ms for 30dB. Slower attack time will let the transients through, which will increase the “snappiness” if you are using the plugin on a drum kit. This will definitely make the sound more punchy, but try not to overdo it (the Mix knob is your friend here).
For the release time, you can set it at 8ms for 1dB, 80ms for 10dB, and 400ms for 50dB. Setting a release time is equally important as the attack time. A fast release will enhance the room ambiance and decay, resulting in a “fuller” drum sound.
If you are a Windows user, then the installation should be quick and simple. For macOS users, you can run a search on Terminal after you have installed the plugin, in case you are unable to find it.
Analog Obsession has been making vintage-inspired plugins that clearly attempt to emulate analog technology and hardware.
The compressor/limiter is the newest addition to the list with a distinctly old-school interface design. The plugin itself is simple and great for beginners who may not have extensive knowledge of how compressors and limiters may work.
One of the major drawbacks of using a compression or limiter plugin on an instrument or drum kit is that it often makes them sound unnatural or too digitally processed. Having a specially dedicated plugin to avoid this can be a blessing if you incorporate a lot of live instruments into your music.
You can download the dBComp plugin for free (with optional donations) from Analog Obsession’s official Patreon page.
dBComp is available in VST2/VST3 and AU plugin formats for macOS users (macOS 10.9-11). For Windows 7, 8, and 10 users the plugin is available for download in the VST2/VST3 format.
The download file is 23.1 MB in size and the VST2/VST3 files require 54.3 MB of space on your computer. The plugin is 64-bit only and will not be compatible with your DAW in case you are running it on 32-bit.
Download: dBComp (23.1 MB download size, ZIP archive, 64-bit VST2/VST3/AU plugin formats for Windows & macOS)
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Last Updated on October 12, 2021 by Tomislav Zlatic.
