: Often included in free versions of Komplete Start or available as a trial. Ableton Glue Compressor

: Widely considered the best free SSL alternative.

That said, I can give you an of the plugin, its sound, its uses, and then—most helpfully—point you to several excellent free alternatives that capture the same vibe.

Once you have downloaded your chosen plugin, use these classic settings for a starting point on your master bus: : 4:1 Attack : 30ms (to let transients through) Release : Auto (or 100ms for faster response)