Pure DCompressor

Name: Pure DCompressor
Price: 69 USD
Author: FLUX::

by FLUX:: · Gate · De-compressor (upward expander)

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Pure DCompressor is a de-compressor: it raises peaks above the threshold to bring back dynamics on over-compressed tracks and mixes.

It shares the Solera engine's detection modes, M/S width and external sidechain, and costs $79.

Best for: Mastering, Mix Bus, Drums, Drum Bus. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: upward compression, repair, external sidechain, mid/side, sidechain input, wide, bus processing, full mix, built-in mix knob, AAX, A/B compare, dialogue, downward expansion, drum bus, drums, mastering, mix bus, mixing, parallel processing, perpetual licence, samples & loops, single-band, subscription, utility, vintage.

What it does

Pure DCompressor is a de-compressor: it works like a compressor in reverse, raising peaks above the threshold to bring back dynamics. FLUX:: says it is meant to "restore a smashed mix" to more natural dynamics.

Upward expansion: signal above the threshold is expanded, so peaks that were squashed by compression or limiting get more height again.
Detection: eight detection modes, including vintage-style Feed Backward modes, plus Dynamic Factor and Dynamic Velocity controls for shaping how the detector reacts.
Auto ratio and L.I.D: Dynamics Ratio sets the ratio automatically from the signal's own dynamics, and Level Independent Detection (with a Maximum mode) makes the detector respond less to absolute level.
Envelope: Attack, Hold and Release, with manual, auto and advanced release modes, and an auto delay function that allows zero attack time.
Gain and mix: input and output gain of ±48 dB, a dry/wet control for parallel processing, and a phase invert for the processed signal.
Stereo and routing: M/S width control, linked or unlinked channels, true bypass, external sidechain (AU, VST3, AAX) and up to 16 channels in and out.
Safety and presets: a discrete peak limiter catches the raised peaks; A/B preset slots with an automatable morphing slider.

The current release is labelled 2023. It is sold as a perpetual license, or comes in the FLUX:: All Plugins Pack subscription. A free 30-day trial is offered.

Source: FLUX:: product page

When to use it

Pure DCompressor is the pick when the job is undoing compression on a whole file rather than shaping single hits. Compared with Pro-G, whose upward expansion is one style among many gating styles, it is built around de-compression, with eight detector modes and an auto ratio aimed at that task. Unlike smart:gate, it does not analyse the source to set itself up, so it takes more listening and tweaking. It is also broader than a transient designer such as SPL Transient Designer Plus, which reshapes attack but does not track a threshold. Its main limit is scope: it does one thing, and the larger Solera from the same developer combines it with the other Pure processors.

Best for: restoring dynamics to over-compressed recordings, samples, stems and mixes, and improving intelligibility of squashed speech.
Genres: any style; also restoration and forensic audio.
Look elsewhere if: you want to shape attack on single drum hits (a transient designer is quicker) or want gating and expansion in one plugin (Pro-G).
Tip: Sound On Sound used it to make over-compressed recordings easier to understand; the dry/wet control lets you dial in only part of the effect.

What producers say

Reviews are old but positive: Sound On Sound called it the best de-compression plugin its reviewer had found.

Sound On Sound (2008) called it "the best decompression plug-in I have found", saying it works "exactly like a compressor, except in reverse" and helped intelligibility in forensic work.
Criticisms: the same review missed Solera's sidechain EQ and found no external key input; current versions list an external sidechain. It also found the Pure range's portrait layout and small dynamics curve display cramped.