I'm just curious to hear your favourite compressors that listen to RMS instead of peak. AFAIK the only ones I have are Ableton's stock and Ozone, although it looks like Presswerk supports it, and I would assume that Waves Vocal Rider is doing something similar. I'm just wondering if there are other really good ones, maybe with a bit more character?

 

Ableton's stock compressor is great tbh. Super easy controls and does the job well. Fabfilter Pro-C would be my other favourite in Opto mode or vocal mode both are great. If you want extra control or "character" in Ableton Live you could combine the stock compressor with a tiny touch of OTT for some pumping effects.

 

Last edited: Dec 4, 2021

U-he Presswerk is a real compressor and a great one at that but Waves Vocal Rider is a fader rider plugin. It follows the intensity of the signal with the volume fader. It's great for tracking live as an extra helping hand.

I like the character of any Pulteq clone.

 

Last edited: Dec 3, 2021

Blue Cat's compressors: Dynamics, MB7, MB5..

 

Does Powair count?

 

Vertigo VSC-2

 

Tokyo Dawn Kotelnikov - extremely clean and versatile RMS compressor. And you can also do RMS and peak compression simultaneously. There is a free version, but you can get the enhanced "Gentleman's Edition" currently for 10 bucks.

 

REAPER's in-built ReaComp has a parameter named "RMS size", which can be adjusted from 0ms to 1000ms. So you have the option to adjust the window size for the RMS calculation. These in-built plugins can also be used in other DAWs. You can find them here:
https://www.reaper.fm/reaplugs/

 

I second Kotelnikov and Presswerk. Both can do RMS and Peak, both have lots of features and a customizable character.
Presswerk can process both channels entirely separately and work in mid-side mode, also have a simple negative sidechain offset aka lookahead. Kotelnikov is always fully stereo linked, with "Stereo Sensitvity" affecting only how it gets peak value, but it has frequency-dependent ratio and two detection circuits running in parallel, instead of just an "RMS Window" knob like in Presswerk.

Weirdly enough, SphereComp from W.A. Production also have RMS mode, but it's nothing special.
Except for it's W.A. and isn't shit. That's special in its own.

Oh, and both OTT and Pro-C 2 only utilize peak detection, however good they are. I don't know why would someone mention them in a context of RMS compressors.

 

Last edited: Dec 3, 2021

One that is an oldie but goodie 32bit which I still use on individual tracks before a buss is de la Mancha's GTX. She's fast as a greased lightening and low on consumption. If it ain't broke....

 

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 3, 2021

Any comp with adjustable RMS size will work. Some of my favorites are Klanghelm DC8C3, DMG Compassion and TrackComp, Presswerk (like you mentioned), TBProaudio Impress 2 and the iZotope Neutron/Nectar/Ozone comps.

DBX style compressors generally have RMS detection (as I believe they were the ones who pioneered RMS detection, but I could be wrong).

 

... and free https://plugins4free.com/plugin/2047/

 

...and No Avenger for the save!

 

Dyn3000 Midas tc electronic. For me one of the best goto plugins released in the last years.
A Workhorse with 4 modes.

Adaptive type with expontial RMS, corrective type with expontial peak, creative with linear peak and vintage mode with adaptive peak.

all in one plugin and one window. But not much character.

 

can someone explain to me whats diffr btween RMS and peak

 

In short: peak compressors react immediately to the amplitude of peaks (eg to catch transients), while RMS measures loudness levels over a few milliseconds and reacts smoother / less abrupt. One tends to use peak compressors on single tracks while RMS compressors tend to be used on busses / groups and during mastering. So RMS is commonly used on more complex material, while peak compression is used on individual tracks typically. (there are no absolute rules here of course). Many digital compressors can do both: react to peaks and to the overall loudness level of the material. Kotelnikov is great in that regard with it's peak crest function.

Watch this short segment here (from: 4:58):

 

Last edited: Dec 4, 2021

With peak detection the compressor determines the amount of gain reduction based on the level of a very short (micro to pico second) period of the signal. With RMS detection it measures a longer period of time and then determines the amount of gain reduction based on the average (Root Mean Squared) level of that period.