Audio Damage Rough Rider is free compressor
Developer lets you have this one for nothing
Audio Damage is known for making its plug-ins affordable, but the great news is that Rough Rider, the company's latest release, won't cost you anything at all.
This is described as a "modern compressor with a bit of 'vintage' style bite and a uniquely warm sound". It's said to be suitable for use on your drum buss, and also on synth bass, clean guitar and backing vocals.
Despite this apparent versatility, Rough Rider certainly isn't a general-purpose compressor - Audio Damage stresses that its forte lies in adding pump to rhythmic tracks. It sports Ratio, Attack, Release, Sensitivity and Makeup controls, with the VST version also supporting MIDI learn.
Rough Rider is available as an AU plug-in, too, and works on Mac and PC. Given Audio Damage's fantastic track record, our advice is to go and download it now.
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I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.