Kiive Audio released XTMax, a freeware drum compressor plugin based on the Distressor hardware compressor.
XTMax is a drum compression tool inspired by the Empirical Labs Distressor and similar hardware units.
However, it’s not a direct emulation of any particular hardware. Kiive Audio states that it analyzed various compressors and used those findings to create an original compressor.
As expected, the control scheme is straightforward, which is my preferred option when compressing drums. I like plugins that can quickly enhance a drum track, and the latest freebie from Kiive Audio definitely fits that description.
XTMax features two main knobs (Input and Output), a couple of three-way switches for controlling the Attack and Release times, and two more knobs for controlling the Knee and SC Filter Cutoff.
The plugin also has an Auto Gain feature, which significantly speeds up the compression workflow. You can simply load XTMax on a channel and adjust the Input Gain knob while the plugin takes care of the rest.
XTMax is free to download from Kiive Audio.
Download: XTMax
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11 Comments
Steffen
onThis was available a year ago?
I just logged into my Kiive account and downloaded XTMax from a previous order dated 01-Jan-2023.
El°HYM
onThe Emperor’s New Clothes; yet in a good way: GUI needed to be changed because of being to close to the original Hardware. Modelling was also improved and a few further Features were added, according to Developer. Pretty good Update actually.
Tory
onOh, I see:
it’s the successor to Kiive Audio Xtressor NUKE?
Konstantin K
onInteresting:
“Korneff Audio El Juan Limiter
We’re doing a public beta test of our new licensing system and our new plugin, the El Juan Limiter. You’re invited to help us, and we’ll give you an EJL as a thank you gift.
All public beta licenses will expire on January 9th, regardless of the date of plugin installation. We will be issuing perpetual licenses for no charge to everyone who downloaded an EJL public beta plugin. If your EJL beta license has expired already, please reset it by going to the licensing section of the plugin, deactivating it, and then reactivating it. This will reset your license.”
El°HYM
onCan highly recommend this one!
Tory
onIf you want a limiter that sounds like L1 from late 1990s, I would highly recommend this too, Otherwise you are probably better off with the stock limiter of your DAW!
alex
onNice. Thx.
alex
onI found out too late that it requires iLok. No go for me. It’s a pity, tho.
Konstantin K
onAs I understand, they moving to new authorisation system and El Juan is first of its kind. So no iLok after beta closes. In I’m not misuderstood from GS forum developers explanations =)
JJ
onNo I-LOK needed alex and its a banger
alex
onOK, that’s a great news. I just thought what I read on their website was true :)