LDC2 Compander: Analog-Modeled Optical Compressor and Expander Plugin Free Download

The compressor section uses a fixed 4:1 ratio with up to 40dB of gain reduction. The expander section uses a fixed 3:1 ratio with up to 30dB of gain reduction. Because the ratios are fixed, the main shaping choices come from the choice of optical circuit model and from how hard the signal is driven into the gain reduction range.

Audiority describes the processing as analog-modeled, with a smooth and warm character. The 17 circuit models are the main way to tune that character, so it is worth auditioning several on the same source to hear how each one responds.

LDC2 includes independent side-chain gain and high-pass filters. These let you control how the detector responds to the signal, for example by filtering low frequencies out of the detection path so that bass content does not dominate the gain reduction.

The signal path runs through a diode-based preamplifier before the optical stage, followed by a solid-state output stage. Together these define the plugin's tonal color beyond the dynamics processing itself.

LDC2 Compander is offered in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on 64-bit systems only and will not function on 32-bit systems. On Windows it requires Windows 7 or later. On Intel Macs it requires OS X 10.8 or later, and on Apple Silicon Macs it requires macOS 11.0 or later. A trial version is available.

The developer positions the plugin for tracking, mixing, mastering and live performance, so it can be placed on individual instrument channels, on buses or on a master channel depending on the job.