BLEASS Compressor: Dynamics Processor Plugin by BLEASS Free Download

The compressor offers ratios up to 60:1 and a variable knee. A low knee setting, often called hard knee, applies full-ratio compression as soon as the signal crosses the threshold. A high knee, or soft knee, starts compressing gradually before the threshold is reached.

Attack and release set how quickly the compressor moves into and out of gain reduction. A look-ahead control delays the processed signal relative to the analyzed signal, so the compressor can respond slightly early to sharp, loud transients such as drums and percussion.

The high-pass and low-pass filters act on the sidechain, and both are resonant. Changing the cutoff and resonance determines how sensitive the compressor is at different frequencies, which is useful for frequency-dependent dynamics.

An external sidechain input lets one part control the dynamics of another. The developer gives the example of inserting the plugin on a synth pad, enabling the external sidechain, and sending the kick drum to the sidechain input so the pad pumps with the kick.

The Listen button passes the sidechain signal to the output, which helps when setting up the sidechain filters or confirming that an external signal is arriving. Compression and filter curves are edited with graphical widgets, and the threshold, ratio and gain-reduction meters give visual feedback on what the plugin is doing.

The Make Up control offers Passive mode, which applies a fixed gain increase, and Active mode, which adjusts make-up gain continuously to hold a steady output level. A Dry/Wet control blends the unprocessed and processed signal.