PSP Impressor compressor plugin interface by PSP Audioware

PSP Impressor: Compressor Plugin by PSP Audioware

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (98 ratings)

PSP Impressor is a compressor plugin from PSP Audioware for processing whole mixes, busses and single tracks. It is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS

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01Overview

PSP Impressor is a compressor built for mix bus and track-level dynamics work. It offers a wide range of soft knee characteristics, peak or RMS level detection, and an output stage that can act as either a brick wall limiter or a soft saturation algorithm. The developer describes it as emulating the character of classic valve and opto-electronic compressors alongside modern designs. Its side-chain can take an external or internal signal and includes a bell-type filter that shapes how the compressor responds.

Best for

Mix bus compression
De-essing
Kick pumping control
Track-level dynamics
Analog-style glue

Developer: PSP Audioware
Category: Compressors
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Wide range of soft knee characteristics
Peak or RMS level detection
External or internal side-chain signal
Bell-type side-chain filter
Output algorithm switchable between brick wall limiter and soft saturation
Preserves peaks above 0dBFS in limiter mode
Designed for mixes, busses and single tracks

03In depth

Side-Chain Filtering and Sound Shaping

The side-chain is central to how PSP Impressor behaves. Its filter changes both the sound and the way the compressor reacts to the signal. Depending on the filter settings, the compressor can be used as a de-esser, or it can reduce the pumping caused by heavy kick drums.

The side-chain can be fed from an external or internal signal, which makes it possible to key compression from a different source than the one being processed. Combined with peak or RMS detection and a range of soft knee settings, this gives you control over how aggressively the compressor engages.

Working With PSP Impressor and PSP Saturator

PSP Audioware suggests pairing PSP Impressor with its PSP Saturator. Placing PSP Impressor before PSP Saturator in the signal path, much like a bus compressor ahead of a tape machine, lets both plug-ins work together with subtle settings to give the mix a cohesive sound.

The order can also be reversed, with PSP Saturator placed before PSP Impressor, so you can test both chains on the same material.

04Specs