Best Mastering Compressor Plugin

Are you looking for the perfect mastering compressor plugin? With so many to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start.

We’ve done the research and gathered the best plugins to help you find the perfect one. From the classic UAD Capitol Mastering Compressor to the modern Brainworx AMEK Mastering Compressor, you’ll find the perfect plugin for all your mastering needs.

Take a look and find the one that suits you best!

UAD Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor

The UAD Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor is a plugin that provides character, cohesion, and charm to the signal, mimicking popular combinations of individual compressors.

It has two independent compression stages on each channel, plus a smooth and progressive optical compressor.

It also offers a choice of nickel, iron, or steel-wound transformer for coloration, giving you more control over the sound.

It’s great for enhancing the dynamics and flexibility of the audio, allowing you to inject different transformer characteristics.

It’s not the best choice for extreme compression, but it’s ideal for bringing out details and nuances in the audio.

Cytomic The Glue

Cytomic The Glue is a favorite SSL-style compressor with a wet/dry blend knob, perfect for making your material subtly breathe and sit within the mix. It has a simple yet functional layout that allows you to dial in your sound quickly.

The wet/dry blend knob gives you more than 3dB of gain reduction without compromising transparency. And you can find emulations of this compressor from Waves and UAD. It’s the perfect choice for adding color and glue to your mix without over-complicating your workflow.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, Cytomic The Glue is the perfect tool for your mastering needs.

PSP MasterComp

PSP MasterComp is a versatile compressor designed specifically for mastering. It offers precise digital controls and a warm, rich tone, making it a great choice for achieving the desired sound.

It has a simple and functional layout, allowing for quick sound dialing. Its unique feature is a mix knob for wet/dry control, as well as unique side-chaining options. It adds intensity without unwanted pumping, and can be pushed hard without compromising the mix.

Metering includes more detail than most other mastering compressors, so users can make informed decisions.

Waves

Waves is known for creating high-quality audio plugins, offering a range of products for various audio processing needs.

The Waves Abbey Road TG Mastering Desk plugin is a great choice for mastering compression. It’s modeled on a boutique hardware processor by Shadow Hills Industries and features two independent compression stages on each channel.

It offers a smooth and progressive optical compressor that can be combined with a responsive discrete VCA-style compressor. It also provides a choice of nickel-, iron-, or steel-wound transformers for coloration.

Abbey Road TG Mastering Desk is designed to provide character, cohesion, and charm to the signal. It offers a great way to enhance the dynamics and flexibility of the audio and provide high-quality compression for mastering purposes.

Brainworx

Brainworx specializes in modeling hardware processors and is known for creating high-quality audio plugins with innovative and unique features.

They offer the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A plugin, which is designed to provide character, cohesion and charm to the signal. It combines two independent compression stages on each channel and features a smooth and progressive optical compressor.

Additionally, Brainworx also provides a range of other plugins for various purposes, such as their bx_masterdesk PRO and Elysia Alpha Compressor.

Their plugins are reliable and come with support and updates, making them a great choice for audio processing needs.

Arturia – Bus Force

Arturia’s Bus Force is an advanced compressor plugin that offers an impressive level of control and flexibility. With two independent compressor stages and a smooth and progressive optical compressor, this plugin is a great choice for mastering purposes.

It also includes a responsive discrete VCA-style compressor to allow for more creative shaping of the sound. The plugin also allows you to choose between nickel, iron, and steel-wound transformers for added coloration.

With its comprehensive features, Bus Force can help you achieve the perfect balance and cohesion to your audio. It’s also capable of providing subtle tonal enhancements without compromising the overall mix.

Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, Bus Force is sure to take your sound to the next level.

Sonnox

Sonnox offers a range of audio plugins, from processors to compressors, to help you achieve the perfect sound. Their plugins are designed with innovative features and reliability in mind.

Their Oxford Inflator is a great choice for mastering purposes. It offers an easy-to-use interface with a range of customizable options, such as attack and release times. It also provides a variety of transformer types for adding coloration to the signal.

The Inflator delivers a smooth and transparent sound, allowing for subtle gain reduction without compromising the mix. It’s a great choice for adding punch to your tracks while preserving the original sound.

With Sonnox, you can rely on quality plugins to help you achieve the perfect sound.

Universal Audio

Universal Audio is renowned for its high-quality audio plugins, offering a range of options for your audio processing needs.

The Universal Audio Shadow H is a mastering compressor plugin that’s modeled after a boutique hardware compressor by Shadow Hills Industries.

This plugin combines two independent stages of compression on each channel to ensure a smooth and progressive optical compressor. It also includes a VCA-style compressor for more flexibility.

The Shadow H provides character, cohesion, and charm to the signal, while its transformer options give you a variety of tonal characteristics to choose from.

It’s also great for enhancing the dynamics and overall balance of the mix. The Shadow H is perfect for adding subtle details to the audio, but not for achieving a loud, brick-wall effect.

iZotope Ozone Vintage Compressor

iZotope’s Ozone Vintage Compressor gives you precise digital controls with a warm, vibey tone, plus a mid-side mode for added versatility. Its special Auto-Gain Compensation feature allows you to better assess the impact of compression.

The compressor adds noticeable high-end bump to the mix, giving your track more life and intensity. Its simple and functional layout makes it easy to dial in the sound you need, while the wet/dry blend knob adds subtle breathing and makes it easier to achieve a 3dB gain reduction without compromising the mix.

It’s a great choice for those looking to add color and texture to their material.

Vertigo VSC-2

The Vertigo VSC-2 offers you a different sonic flavor than the classic SSL buss compressor. It has stepped attack and release controls, a soft and brick ratio control, and a unique wet/dry blend knob. This gives you the ability to add texture and life to your program material.

It’s also great for adding coloration and glue to your two-buss and masters. With its vintage flavor, this compressor can help you achieve the sound you’re looking for. The blend knob allows for more than 3dB of gain reduction without compromising the mix.

You can also use its mid-side mode for more versatility. The VSC-2 is an essential tool for adding character to your sound.

UAD SSL G-Buss

UAD’s SSL G-Buss is the ultimate glue compressor for your mix buss duties. It offers an end-to-end emulation of the legendary hardware unit, plus bonus features like internal sidechain filtering, mix control, and headroom control.

With stepped attack, release, and ratio controls, you can quickly achieve the SSL glue you need. It’s a popular choice for both mix buss duties and enhancing mix cohesion, as it adds intensity without any unwanted pumping.

Plus, the bonus features let you tailor the results to your track, giving you more control over the sound. The internal sidechain filter is great for removing excess low-end, while the mix control lets you blend the compressed and uncompressed signals.

Try UAD SSL G-Buss for your mix buss duties and hear the difference!

DynOne by Leapwing Audio

DynOne by Leapwing Audio is a great choice for mastering. Recommended by Bob Katz, it preserves transients while still boosting loudness. It offers an open sound with unique features like adaptive attack and release times, and parallel multi-band compression.

It’s clean and unobtrusive, letting the source material shine through. You’ll get a great sound with DynOne, and it’ll be sure to take your mastering to the next level.

Try it today and hear the difference it can make in your mixes.

Brainworx

Check out Brainworx for their high-quality audio plugins, specializing in modeling hardware processors and offering innovative features.

They offer the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Class A plugin, which combines two independent compression stages, offers a choice of nickel, iron, or steel-wound transformer for coloration, and allows for injection of different transformer characteristics.

Brainworx plugins provide character, cohesion, and charm to the signal, mimicking popular combinations of individual compressors. They provide great benefits for mastering purposes, but may not be suitable for extreme compression needs.

In addition, Brainworx provides support and updates for their plugins.

Get the most out of your audio with Brainworx!

Softube

Experience state-of-the-art audio processing with Softube’s range of plugins for different audio needs.

Their selection includes the ICONS Compressor Collection, boasting four of the most sought-after vintage compressors. It also features the modern Tube-Tech CL 1B compressor, renowned for its warm and punchy sound.

For mastering purposes, the Weiss DS1-MK3 is a great option for achieving a smooth and transparent sound. All of these compressors have been meticulously modelled to give you the same sonic characteristics of their hardware counterparts.

Softube’s plugins also offer innovative features, such as the parallel multi-band compression of the DynOne. In addition, the user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make them easy to use.

With Softube’s compressor plugins, you can achieve professional-sounding results in no time.

PSP

You may want to consider PSP Audioware for your mastering compressor plugin needs.

PSP OldTimer MB is a great choice for users who are looking for a classic, vintage-style compressor. It features two compressors in one, with separate attack and release controls on each one.

With this plugin, you can achieve a classic sound with a warm, analog feel. It also has a unique ‘Mix’ knob that allows you to blend the compressed signal back in with the original.

It’s great for adding subtle touches to your mix, and its low-latency processing makes it perfect for live performance.

Give PSP Audioware’s OldTimer MB a try and find out why it’s a favourite among mastering engineers.

Unisum Mastering Compressor

Discover the Unisum Mastering Compressor for its versatile features and transparent sound. This plugin is an emulation of the classic British compressor and is known for its wide range of compression settings and flexibility.

It offers an adjustable sidechain filter, three compression modes, and mid-side options. The compressor has a fast attack and release time for a smooth, punchy sound. It also includes an auto-gain compensation feature which helps keep the output loudness consistent.

The Unisum Mastering Compressor is perfect for adding subtle texture to the mix without compromising the audio quality. It’s a great choice for mastering engineers who want to achieve a full, balanced sound.

IK Multimedia T-Racks One

Get a professional sound with IK Multimedia T-Racks One, a mastering compressor plugin. It offers a wide range of features and flexibility. It’s an easy-to-use plugin with a simple UI and a comprehensive set of controls.

You can dial in the sound you want with its transparent compressor, tube-style amplifier, and dynamic EQ. It also has advanced multiband compression and sidechain features for advanced sound sculpting.

T-Racks One comes with a library of presets to get you started and you can also save your own settings. Whether you’re mastering a track or adding subtle compression to a mix, this plugin will give you the professional sound you’re looking for.

Brainworx Elysia Alpha Compressor

You’ll love the Brainworx Elysia Alpha Compressor! It’s a modern compressor that’s modeled on a boutique hardware processor by Shadow Hills Industries.

It offers two independent compression stages, an optical compressor, and a discrete VCA-style compressor. You can choose between nickel, iron, and steel-wound transformers for added coloration.

It provides character, cohesion, and charm to your sound while enhancing the dynamics and flexibility of the audio.

It’s not the best for extreme compression needs, but it’s perfect for mastering purposes.

Download it today and hear the difference it makes in your audio!

Conclusion

You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to mastering compressors – from classic plugins to modern advances. Regardless of your style or budget, there’s a plugin that’s perfect for you.

UAD Shadow Hills, Cytomic The Glue, Waves, Brainworx, PSP, Unisum, IK Multimedia T-Racks One, and Brainworx Elysia Alpha Compressor are all excellent choices.

So take your time and pick the one that best fits your needs – you’ll be glad you did!

Also, if you want to know more about compression in mastering, check out our guide.

Daryl Levy

I’m thrilled to be able to share my passion for music with others through this audio blog, and I can’t wait to connect with fellow music lovers from all around the world. Let’s rock on!