As this week's Free Plug-in, we are featuring the Hammer Compressor from Vidar Audio, a flexible compressor plugin which covers more ground than just smashing drums. Though it great for that too.

What Is Hammer?

Hammer looks like a vintage design, but it’s well appointed with the features you’d hope to find on a modern compressor like a mix control, an external side chain, drive and a variable stereo linking control. One thing which is missing is a threshold. instead this compressor takes its cue from designs like the 1176 with a fixed threshold and the input being used to increase the compression.

It’s very fast and very capable of 1176 style drum abuse but it’s more flexible than that, with a variable knee and an RMS mode. There are no side chain filters so it might not suit complex amterial but as a channel compressor there’s more than enough here to cover lots of ground.

How Do I Get This Plug-in?

Hammer is available for free as a $0 purchase but there is the option to pay what you think is fair. Donations support small developers so at least consider paying something for the plugin.

Use the button below to go to the Vidar Audio website. Enter what you think is a fair price (you can put zero). Enter an email address. Click ‘I want this’ and download the appropriate installer.

Hammer is available as an AAX, AU and VST for Windows and Mac. No iLok required.

Install and enjoy.