ROUGHRIDER3
Free Compressor
RoughRider3 is our free compressor, and it's the one that's been flattening drums since 2008. It's a character box, not a clean one — it colors, it warms, and at the far end of the ratio knob it does something closer to demolition than compression. You get a logarithmic ratio that runs from gentle all the way to 1:1000, attack and release set by ear, a sidechain input with its own HPF, and a FULL BANDWIDTH switch that pulls the warming filter out when you want the squeeze without the color. Park it on a drum bus, a synth, a bassline, or a whole mix.
It's free. Actually free, on every desktop platform and on iOS. No trial, no nag screen, no dongle, and no copy protection — and unlike the rest of our free stuff, we're not even going to ask for your email. Download it, install it, get on with your day. The native Linux build ships right alongside macOS and Windows, same as everything we make.
Desktop installers include a VST2 build in addition to VST3, CLAP, AAX, and AudioUnit. If you're running RoughRider3 outside a DAW — in Equalizer APO to even out game audio, tame footsteps, or ride a stream — VST2 is the one your host wants. Grab it below and you're set.
Platforms & Downloads
Free download. No email, no DRM, no expiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RoughRider3 free?
Yes. The desktop versions for macOS, Windows, and Linux are a free download, with no email, no DRM, and no expiration. The iOS AUv3 version is also free, in the App Store.
Can I use RoughRider3 in Equalizer APO for game audio or footsteps?
Yes. Install the VST2 build and point Equalizer APO, or any VST2 host, at it. Set the ratio high and the sensitivity to taste, and it will clamp down loud transients so the quieter stuff stays audible. That is the whole job.
How is it different from the original Rough Rider?
Same compressor at the core, plus an external sidechain input with an HPF, the FULL BANDWIDTH switch that turns off the built-in warming filter, input and output level controls, and proper gain-reduction metering.
What does it sound like?
Dark, warm, and aggressive. It is built for drums and electronic material, but it will happily wreck a bassline or thicken a vocal too. Push the ratio toward 1:1000 for full atom-bomb squish.
What formats and platforms does it support?
CLAP, VST3, VST2, AAX, and AudioUnit on macOS (Universal Binary 2); CLAP, VST3, VST2, and AAX on Windows 10 or newer; CLAP, VST3, VST2, and LV2 on Ubuntu 20 or later; and AUv3 on iOS 13 or newer. A 64-bit host is required on desktop.