OptoRED optical compressor plugin interface by Tone Empire

OptoRED: Optical Compressor Plugin by Tone Empire Free Download

Rated 4.7/5 on Plugin Boutique (309 ratings)

OptoRED is an optical compressor plugin from Tone Empire, based on a classic American tube optical compressor. It adds a sidechain circuit, a low-pass filter, automatic gain and wet/dry mix, and is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

OptoRED is the first release in Tone Empire's Enhanced Classics series. It starts from a 1:1 emulation of the optical compressor design that became a staple on many recordings and then extends it with features the original lacked. Its built-in sidechain, Lo-Cut filter, auto gain and wet/dry mix make it suitable for a wider range of sources than vocals and bass. The developer describes the processing as clean, with no unwanted coloration added.

Best for

Vocal tracking
Bass compression
Drum bus processing
Synth and percussion
Parallel compression
Low-latency tracking

Developer: Tone Empire
Category: Compressors
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Optical compressor based on a classic American tube optical design
Threshold range from +10 dB to -30 dB
Switchable compressor and limiter modes via Comp | Limit
12 dB Lo-Cut shelving filter up to 100 Hz
Wet/dry mix for parallel processing
Built-in sidechain with on/off switch
AutoGain circuit with on/off switch
Make-Up Gain from -48 dB to +24 dB

03In depth

Compression Controls and Sidechain Options

The threshold knob sets compression from +10 dB to -30 dB, and turning it clockwise adds more compression. The Comp | Limit switch toggles between a compressor mode with a smaller ratio and a limiter mode with a very large ratio.

The sidechain can be switched on or off. When active, the compressor is triggered by a filtered version of the incoming signal, which gives you control over how the detector responds to the input.

The In knob sets input level across a range of -48 dB to +24 dB and affects the threshold, while the Make-Up Gain control adjusts the processed output level from -48 dB to +24 dB.

Lo-Cut, Wet/Dry Mix and Tracking Use

The Lo-Cut is a 12 dB low-cut shelving filter that can be set from off up to 100 Hz. It is designed to remove unwanted low frequencies when tracking vocals, bass and other instruments, so you can record with a compressed signal that is free of rumble.

The wet/dry mix control runs from fully processed signal at the left position to a blend of processed and dry signal for parallel compression, which the developer presents as a way to shape tone while keeping the original character of the source.

The Auto switch enables the AutoGain circuit, which adds gain to the compressed signal as the threshold is turned further to the right.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Tone Empire
Type	Plugin
Category	Compressor
Formats	VST3, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats is OptoRED available in?

OptoRED is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats. It is a 64-bit plugin.

Which operating systems does OptoRED support?

OptoRED runs on Windows 10 or later and macOS 10.13 or later, including Intel and native M1 Macs. It will not function on 32-bit systems.

What do I need to run OptoRED?

You need a 64-bit host that supports VST3, AU or AAX, an AMD Ryzen or equivalent processor, 2 GB of RAM and 300 MB of hard drive space. The minimum screen resolution is 1024×768.

Can I use OptoRED for tracking?

Yes. The Lo-Cut filter removes unwanted low frequencies during tracking, and the developer describes the output as a low-latency compressed signal suited to recording.