Cockos ReaComp

ReaComp is Cockos’ native compressor for REAPER, packaged in the free ReaPlugs bundle that runs in any VST host. You don’t need to use REAPER to install or use it. ReaPlugs is a separate free download that puts all of REAPER’s internal effects into your plugin folder, and ReaComp is the most useful of the bunch for daily mixing work. It’s more of a workhorse than a character compressor. The feature set covers feedback compression, soft-knee support, oversampling, auto-release, and auto makeup gain, a sidechain input with filtering, lookahead, and detailed gain reduction metering.

The interface is plain, and the CPU footprint is so light you can put it on every channel of a 60-track session without noticing. I reach for ReaComp when I need a clean compressor with no surprises. It’s useful for sidechaining without pumping, surgical channel compression, and utility leveling on stems.