Slate Digital FG-2A Opto Compressor (Download)

Modeled on one of the most notable opto compressors of all time, the Slate Digital FG-2A is designed to give you some of the most musical compression and dynamics-taming available. Slather it on vocals, electric basses, electric guitars, horns, or any other instrument that could benefit from a more fluid hand, rather than a strict time-constant approach. Modeling everything from the T4 optical circuit to the tubes, the FG-2A gives you a smooth glassy tone in addition to its dynamics control. The controls are simple: Gain and Peak Reduction are your main knobs. A less prominent mix control allows you to blend dry with wet signal. A Limit/Compress switch roughly dictates the ratio of compression (everything with an opto compressor is designed to be approximate). A Bias control changes how the compressor reacts to the low end, and a stereo-link switch lets you compress two sides of a stereo track either independently or together. Formatted for AU, VST, VST3, and AAX hosts, the plug-in works in Mac and Windows operating systes, and is available as part of Slate’s All Access Pass.