Best Opto Compressor Plugins 2020

[@nj1255]

Completely agree on Rcomp! A plug-in I had totally overlooked but started using like a year ago and now it is in all of my projects!

[@mvh2275]

IK Multimedia Opto is my go to vocal compressor. Great to hear you mention it. Thanks David

[@trueblastmixingmastering7269]

This guy is fuckin AWESOME! I've been following him from about 3 years on my other account and he just gets straight the point and gives you really good solid information. because of his explanations, I've started my own channel about audio mixing and engineering. ALWAYS GLAD to see his videos. HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK BRO!

[@AironExTv]

Optos are by far my favorite dialogue compressors. Good old RComp. Isn't it 20 years old by now ? I do remember using it in 2001 in PT5, but oh boy did we have NO DSP power to spare. I could use this on my dialogue bus, but not on every track. Opto 6:1 2.5 attack, 300-600 release on auto. I still use it today. Awesome. I do use a variety of tools, including the Pro-C2. It's great to have so many flavours in one plugin. I also started using the Blackroosteraudio VLA-3A. You can get away with a lot of gain reduction on that one. It's perfect for some VO voices, and I might use it on dialogue busses from time to time. Just reinstalled the IK Opto too. Harder to use than RComp, so I often just used RComp to save time.

[@meatballsubsandwich]

Great video. I have been using the thrillseeker a lot lately. Definitely a great plug-in for sure.

[@heavymetalmixer91]

Even today, the Variety of Sound (VOS) plugins are outstanding. Sadly, the developer abandoned them years ago, that's why they only exist as 32 bits VSTs. Btw, this same dev collaborated with Tokyo Dawn Labs (TDR) to create TDR SlickEQ, which has a free version too.

[@demodeiowa]

I used them a lot some years ago. Amazing plugins

[@AudiosphereX]

He's going to remake his plugins for 64 bit. They will be free too.

[@zachary963]

They have been remade! Some of them.

[@Jimbo386000]

I have the McDSP bundle subscription, and it is fucking awesome. Everything they have sounds good and is very useable. I switched from slate and I’m not going back.

[@mixbustv]

Their stuff is amazing

[@kdelavirgen]

Hmmmm when speaking of the Softube Tube-Tech emulation do you have a preference between the mk1 and mk2?

[@shane2973]

I’ve only played around with m1, but I read a review saying that the m2 is more authentic sounding to the hardware. Still not 100% on mixes that aren’t dense, but in a dense mix the reviewer wrote it was hard to hear a diff between the mk2 and the hardware fwiw

[@demodeiowa]

Thanks for including McDsp Opto-C. Killer opto plugin. I have a hardware clone n this is typically my second grab to throw around on other tracks when the hw is busy

[@ronson795]

You´ve missed the opto mode in the Pro C2. It has a cool color as well and with the detailed sidechain function etc it has some advantages over all the others

[@ronson795]

@@mixbustv Maybe it´s just subjective perception but for me it feels like a la2a kinda mid sound but maybe it´s just about the curves.

[@GoodVibeTribe]

This is a great resource. Thank you so much!

[@carlosp.1846]

In the middle of the video I was thinking why nobody ever talks about IKM Opto. And bam it was the last one on the list !

[@AutoclaveBeats]

Thank you sir for sharing of your knowledge. Am always confident in your software recommendations because of your extensive experience with hardware...is this list in order of preference with no. 1 one being your most recommended? And also what's your view on using compression in genres of music like hip hop outside of the vocals...is compression something you use often on things like electronic drums, 808 and synths?

[@infesticon]

Wait the 30ish doller one is one of the number 1 plugin compressors? NICE!!

[@5.126]

Oh hell yeah brother, keep dropping more knowledge.

[@demodeiowa]

Another radical plugin comp is the Rough Rider by audio damage

[@vikramjitbanerjeetuki]

I use the IK multimedia opto compressor its the bomb, I use it on all my projects,great to see it on your list👍

[@ricardoayala2023]

I "bridge" my Variety of Sound plugins with the jBridger software so I can use them on Studio One. Thanks for the video, very nice selection of compressors.

[@nicholasparis5281]

Those Softube Summit Audio Grand Channels are really great, but especially that TLA-100!! #SecretSauces

[@LuisM_Piozza]

¡Plugin Alliance ACME Opticom XLA-3! For me, the best opto compressor plugin...

[@eliashowe7115]

Yeah... It's a killer. Even if you don't need a compression you can use it as a color box

[@LuisM_Piozza]

@@eliashowe7115 Exactly!

[@BobbyBriscoeBeats]

The bx_opto is great too

[@MikeLuke]

Can’t agree more on the RComp. I often find myself thinking „Which fancy compressor I shall use?“, but this thing simply works all the time. Like to add the RVox for vocals here, though I am not quite sure on which compressor it’s based on (but even easier to use). Thanks for this, David. Always great content.

[@jmarvelous9470]

The new one not so much..

[@AnimusInvidious]

Cakewalk's CA-2A. SDC by Sknote's Opto section. Both lovely.

[@Bonzvy]

I love this video series! I am everytime excited!

[@MustacheVerra]

Thank you David.

[@soulsantoro]

I’m not crazy about how the new waves Rcomp sounds either, is there a way to uninstall the update I did ?

[@amillio1612]

What spectrum analyzer is that over on the left?

[@sgfdancecompany]

great review maestro, can be great if you have the time to get a tutorial running the top 3

[@DrDeese]

Could you please do a video about getting harshness out of vocals

[@lolaurent5606]

Great video...👍🤟

[@DavidSJ_DAP]

Another free opto-comp that I LOVE on vocals is the Sonic Anomaly S.L.A.X. ... The Variety of Sound plugins are only available in 32bit versions, and have basically become abandon-ware...it would be great if someone would pick them up and develop 64bit versions of them as the original creator apparently has no interest or intention to continue to develop or update them...

[@sevenhxrecords677]

good job.good info bro

[@lastcall9998]

For me first thing that makes me look the other way when it comes to PSP plugins is the GUI.

[@palitoonthebeat]

Yo. Where are the links to the plug ins? Would you please add them 😁

[@王竑哲]

prodbypalito I’m pretty sure you can get most of them from his first “discount” link which called “plugin boutique” website

[@15bleach51]

I wish PSP to release LA-2A emulation. BTW, they have Opto compressor inside new InfiniStrip plugin.

[@ארזברון]

There is one i like thats kind of new and has really great features and sound overloud la comp ,its la2a and la3a emulation ,with saturation knob and compression bypass .really like it try it

[@adamfox9651]

I almost forgot that I have the IKM Opto. I guess I should be using it more.

[@Am6-9]

Adam Fox I do forget about it, too, but my main problem with it is usability. You have to drive it really hard or fiddle with the input and output knobs to get some gain reduction, especially if one does the -18dBFS=0VU gain staging which a lot of analog emulation plugins adhere to, you have to jump through hoops to make the IK Opto work... Which is probably why I usually reach for the IK white or the DMG track comp more often. Just easier to use for us lazy fucks...

[@zachary963]

I learned compression by destroying things with my RComp. Great tool.

[@jsaulkane5893]

Once again DMG overlooked..

[@mixbustv]

Why again you think it's overlooked and just not better then the ones mentioned?

[@jsaulkane5893]

DMG are never mentioned on any plug comparisons.. and they are better than most.. not sure why they are overlooked.. I would say waves are pure hype and a few others..

[@jsaulkane5893]

another you did mention that very few do.. the audiority... is very good.. not oft mentioned..

[@mixbustv]

@@jsaulkane5893 I featured audiority stuff more than anyone, several times made them in many of my top of vids.

[@yembalaa]

I cant believe you considere Softube CL1B a good compresor. Its a realy bad emulation, pumps too much, even you can compress and get it more dynamic after compression, because its bad algorithms. Waves Rvox its 10 light years away... I really wanted to tear my ears when I heard it. I consider its the great emulation for eyes and worse for ears..

[@aleksandarpetrovic2352]

BX_opto