ReContour: Draw-to-Shape Compressor Plugin by Stagecraft Software

The core of ReContour is its curve editor. By drawing and adjusting the curve, you control how the signal is compressed, and the same tool covers both ends of the range. Used as a conventional compressor, it can carve out space for individual instruments in a mix, for example by bringing forward drums that sit too far back.

Driving the signal harder changes the character of the processing. Stagecraft Software describes the plugin as able to produce a range of distortions, from hissing high-frequency textures to heavy, boomy tones. Because the curve is drawn by hand, these results can be explored quickly.

ReContour gives you control over attack and release times, as you would expect from a compressor. You can also adjust how much the changes are smoothed, which shapes how abruptly the processing responds to the input.

The compression graph displays what the plugin is doing to the signal over time. Hover over it during playback to read specific values, or click and hold to freeze the display at a particular moment. This makes it easier to see exactly where the curve is affecting the sound.