Woodstock Audio, the new pro audio software company founded by the team behind Mastering.com, has unveiled its first plugin: Open Compressor.

Designed to bring clarity and objectivity to dynamics processing, the plugin helps producers and engineers understand exactly what is happening under the hood while shaping their sound.

Built on the same principles that guide Mastering.com’s teaching, Open Compressor is designed to reveal technical processes in real time. By giving users visual feedback on compression, saturation, EQ, and limiting, it equips them to make more informed creative decisions without interrupting workflow.

Key Features:

  • Open-Worked Interface: Visualise every aspect of compression, saturation, EQ, and limiting as you tweak parameters.
  • Modular Dynamics Processing: Peak or RMS modes, Feed-forward or Feed-back architecture, and Digital or Opto ballistic models provide flexible starting points for a range of processing styles.
  • Auto Threshold Mode: Applies source-dependent gain reduction regardless of input level for consistent tone.
  • Low Level Control: Seamlessly blends downward expansion and upward compression for expressive dynamics.
  • Saturator: Separate controls for odd and even harmonics allow precise tonal shaping.
  • Lookahead Function: Anticipates transients to control levels without altering tone.
  • Waveform Display: Shows compressor, clipper, and limiter thresholds with gain reduction, plus before-and-after audio waveforms.
  • Pre-Compressor Limiter and Clipper: Catch peaks early to tame and shape your signal.
  • Post-Compressor Tone Control: Fine-tune timbre for the final output.
Woodstock Audio

Founder Rob Mayzes explains, “I built Mastering.com on the principle of objectivity, and we’re taking the same approach with Woodstock Audio. By giving engineers and producers the knowledge to understand technical processes, they can make better, more informed decisions with any tools, in any context.”

Open Compressor is the first in a planned series of tools from Woodstock Audio, with an EQ plugin already in development. Each tool will follow the same philosophy: provide building blocks and reveal first principles to give users ultimate control over their sound.

Compatibility and Availability

Open Compressor is available now as a VST3 and Audio Units plugin for both Mac and PC.

For more information, visit www.woodstockaudio.com