Kiive Audio released XTMax, a freeware drum compressor plugin based on the Distressor hardware compressor.
XTMax is a drum compression tool inspired by the Empirical Labs Distressor and similar hardware units.
However, it’s not a direct emulation of any particular hardware. Kiive Audio states that it analyzed various compressors and used those findings to create an original compressor.
As expected, the control scheme is straightforward, which is my preferred option when compressing drums. I like plugins that can quickly enhance a drum track, and the latest freebie from Kiive Audio definitely fits that description.
XTMax features two main knobs (Input and Output), a couple of three-way switches for controlling the Attack and Release times, and two more knobs for controlling the Knee and SC Filter Cutoff.
The plugin also has an Auto Gain feature, which significantly speeds up the compression workflow. You can simply load XTMax on a channel and adjust the Input Gain knob while the plugin takes care of the rest.
XTMax is free to download from Kiive Audio.
Download: XTMax
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