Woodstock Audio debuts with Open Compressor – a plugin that lets you “see” your compression in real timeWoodstock Audio – the new company from the team behind Mastering.com – has launched its debut plugin, Open Compressor, a dynamics processing tool designed to demystify the art of compression.
Core to the Open Compressor user interface is the variety of enhanced visualisers, which show the type and amount of compression, EQ and saturation being applied, in a granular way that goes beyond existing compressors on the market.

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A central waveform display shows gain reduction, clipper and limiter thresholds, and before-and-after waveforms, while additional displays reveal everything from the shape of the compressor’s knee to the ratio of odd and even harmonics in the signal. The Oscilloscope gives a snapshot of waveshape and, together, the real-time displays help users identify pesky areas faster and make better mix decisions, improving overall workflow.
According to founder Rob Mayzes, the plugin continues the educational philosophy that drives Mastering.com: “I built Mastering.com on the principle of objectivity, and we’re taking the same approach with Woodstock Audio,” he says. “By giving engineers and producers the knowledge and understanding of technical processes, they can make more informed and objective decisions using any tools, and apply their skills wherever they find themselves.”
Functionally, Open Compressor combines a modular design with extensive visual feedback. Users can switch between Peak or RMS operating modes, feed-forward or feedback architectures, and Regular or Optical ballistic models – covering a wide range of creative processing styles.
There’s also built-in saturation with separate drive controls for odd and even harmonics, a Low Level control that sweeps between downward expansion and upward compression, and an auto-threshold mode that applies source-dependent gain reduction, regardless of the input level.
Mayzes adds that Open Compressor is the first of a range of tools planned by Woodstock Audio: “I already know that I want to develop an EQ next. It will follow the same approach of providing building blocks and revealing first principles.”
Priced at £72 (U.P £89), Open Compressor is available now for macOS and Windows in VST3 and AU formats.

Learn more at Woodstock Audio.
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