Audio plugins come in many different formats Vst,Au,Rtas etc. More info here:
[url=http://www.tweakheadz.com/software_plugins.htm]zZounds.com | Musical Instruments Music Store. Shop for Guitars, Drums, Amplifiers and Equipment.
The industry standard plug-ins that the pros are using are:
1.Waves
2.Sonnox
3.Universal Audio
4.Sonalksis
5.Solid State Logic
6.Softube
7.Massey plugins
8.Abbey Road plugins
These require purchase of iLok USB flash drive that holds your licenses.It must be plugged into your computer USB, without it you can’t use the software.The iLok is to protect from copyright because these plug-ins aren’t cheap.
The plug-ins that come with your DAW are ok sounding.People do use external plug-ins to shape and improve the sounds in their productions.External plug-ins (eq,compression,reverb,delay etc) are a necessity for better sounds - I must say.
*bad/free plugins crash sequencers
*bad plugin programming code slows down pc /hog cpu
*free is not as good as paid
If you are home user and want to get some more alternative compressor plug-ins check the list below:
Demo each plug-in to see what you like.
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1.The Glue
Sounds very close to waves and the price is right.No iLok required.
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2.PSP Vintage warmer 2
Nice.
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3.FabFilter Pro-C
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4.ArtsAcoustic CL Series is a bundle of 3 compressor/limiter plugins.
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5.Focusrite midnight suite (compressor & eq)
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5.The Rocked
The Rocket is a character audio compressor, singular in its extraordinary speed, responding in mere microseconds to variations in program level. Being in the order of several thousand times faster than most ordinary compressors, we respectfully submit that The Rocket kicks like a mf.
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6.TB compressor
Affordable.
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6.6030 Ultimate Compressor
AU,RTAS.Using the popular module format, the 6030 Ultimate Compressor offers ten different compressors in 1.
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7.Sidechain Compressor
Affordable.
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8.Pure Compressor
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9.BT compressor
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10.URS 1980
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11.Mellowmuse CP2 V
Affordable.
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12.Uranium
Affordable.
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13.NY compressor
Cheap.
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14.Fd4
Cheap.
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15.Brainworx VSC-2 Vertigo
Review.
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16.Elysia mpressor.
All plugin formats supported.
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17.MCDSP CompressorBank
[url=http://www.mcdsp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&Itemid=50]McDSP
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Free compressor plugins:
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1.Blockfish compressor
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2.kjaerhus classic compressor
- try Google or here
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3.Antaress Modern Plugins
The Antress Modern Plugins consists of 19 free VST effect plug-ins for Windows.
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-
Molot
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5.The Audiocation Compressor AC1
The Audiocation Compressor AC1 was developed by specialists and provides high-speed response times (attack time 10 µs – 500 ms, release 50µs – 2 s) and an input with analog transformer simulation.The fast control response times allow for subtly distorted sounds as well as strongly distorted sound effects.
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Let me know any other good ones.