Rough Rider 3
by Audio Damage
5.0 / 5     (9 votes)
Win64 OSX Linux
   
VST AU AAX
Rough Rider is a sidechain compressor with a bit of "vintage" style bite and a uniquely warm sound.

The front panel layout is done the same as many hardware compressors, so it will be immediately obvious how to use it. A brief overview of the controls:
  • Ratio: The ratio knob is logarithmic in operation. Completely anti-clockwise is 1:1, and completely clockwise is 1:1000. The 12 o'clock position is 1:10, so everything to the left of center is single digits, and everything to the right is "atom bomb squish," essentially.
  • Attack and Release: We left off the actual time values, so you're gonna have to use your ears, like the he-men did it in times of myth.
  • Meter: That honking big dial in the middle of the UI is the gain reduction meter. It basically shows how much compression is occurring.
  • Sensitivity: usually called "threshold" now, but we think "sensitivity" always made more sense. Turn to the right, you get more compression, essentially. Turn it all the way to the right, and you've got a distortion box, the sound of which is tuned by Ratio, Attack, and Release.
  • Makeup: 30 dB of gain to compensate for the attenuation caused by the compressor.
  • Active: From the front panel, this is simply an off/on switch, but if you automate it, strange things happen...
  • MIDI Learn: Like all of our products, the VST version has MIDI Learn. Download any manual from the current product line for an explanation of how this works, as it is common among all our VST products.
  • FULL BANDWIDTH button : turns off the built-in "warming" filter.
  • External sidechain input + HPF filter.
Downloads
Which do you prefer? Jun 08 2023
Jun 08 2023
This or... 1.- S.L.A.X 2.- MJUC jr. 3.- DC1A or another?
John Burns Jul 11 2023
Jul 11 2023
I don't use any of them. I use Reacomp, Specomp and DD compressor as my "does everything I need it to" compressors.
dmt Aug 01 2022
(5 / 5)
Aug 01 2022
simply amazing, i love it
Alex Santos Oct 14 2020
(5 / 5)
Oct 14 2020
Excellent. Very good like NY compressor style.
Audio on Linux Mar 11 2020
(5 / 5)
Mar 11 2020
Thanks for the Linux version :D
Anonymous Feb 28 2020
(5 / 5)
Feb 28 2020
The best compressor for absolutely smashing drum tracks
eran84 Feb 04 2020
(5 / 5)
Feb 04 2020
This plugin is the best as a master buss compressor ever made 4 free. A D you are the best, love u!!!
Rockkley Jan 31 2020
Jan 31 2020
Got black window instead of plugin in REAPER. Switching presets is working, but the plugin windows is black
Proper Feb 01 2020
Feb 01 2020
You should report it to Audio Damage directly so they'll be able to fix it in the next update.
TA-AT Jan 30 2020
(5 / 5)
Jan 30 2020
Super big THANKS, you're the best!
ALEX Jan 30 2020
(5 / 5)
Jan 30 2020
SUPER BOMB !!!
Proper Jan 30 2020
(5 / 5)
Jan 30 2020
Best free compressor ... as good as commercial one... now with sidechain !! Thanks !!