presswerk - Compression with musical soul

Compression with musical soul

129 €

Please be aware the Linux versions of our plug-ins are still considered beta. While the plug-ins are stable, we are not able to provide the same level of support for these products as we do for the macOS and Windows versions. Support is provided via the Linux and u-he communities on our forum.


Presswerk: Dynamics processor with musical soul

Presswerk is more than an emulation of a single hardware compressor. Like Satin, Presswerk is a toolkit, drawing ideas and inspiration from a number of sources. It starts with warmth of classic analogue units and adds features only possible in the digital realm. The result is a powerful compressor with a rich feature set and a very musical soul.

Presswerk was designed to fit into any workflow, no matter what task you throw at it. Presswerk gives you the tools for better sound.


Presswerk in the spotlight…

Hover over the dots Dot below to learn about Presswerk’s features

Presswerk UI

See all features

  • Dual channel (stereo) or 2 independent channels
  • Compression ratio from 1:1 to 20:1, adjustable linearity and knee, auto-makeup option
  • 6 special views for better workflow: Easy, Vocal, Drum, Bus, M/S and Limiter
  • Capable of internal sidechaining, with bipolar delay, low cut and high cut filters (6 or 12dB per octave)
  • Internal parallel (New York) compression
  • M/S mode
  • Dual Phase Rotator (DPR) emulates classic broadcast transient option
  • Variable detection topologies: Feed-forward, Feed-back or Interactive
  • Complete set of response controls: attack, release with adjustable auto-adapt, RMS window time
  • Saturation before or after the compressor, with variable warmth and dynamics
  • Dry / Wet mix controls with highpass filter, downward expander option
  • Global preferences page
  • MIDI learn page and editable list
  • Resizable UI from 70% to 200%
  • Skinnable UI
  • Over 120 factory presets for common compression tasks

At the time we released our current plugin versions, Avid could not provide an AAX SDK that would let us build Universal Binary AAX plugins. For this reason, we currently cannot support Pro Tools for Mac. Pro Tools for Windows is still supported.

For the time being, macOS Pro Tools users who are not running the native Silicon version should use the previous versions of our plugins, available from the Release Archive.

We hope to start work on native Silicon AAX support this year, as soon as our tight schedule allows. No ETA can be quoted yet.

Sights and sounds

Presswerk is a powerful dynamics processor with a musical soul. An easy-to-use interface and a rich feature set give you hands-on control over all details of your sound. Presswerk doesn’t emulate famous compressors, it blends the warmth of classic hardware models with developments that are only possible in the digital domain.

Presswerk has all the features you expect in a compressor…

  • Sidechaining: Use ducking to create more space in your mixes, or get creative with keying and pumping effects.
    Note: For help on how to get Presswerk sidechained in your DAW, please read these instructions Link compiled by our KVR forum members.
  • Adjustable compression curve and envelope: Find the best settings, get the most out of your audio using the soft knee, compression ratio, attack and release and other controls.
  • Loud: Oh yes, Presswerk is more than capable of making your tracks louder.
  • Soft clip: Roll off those harsh peaks and avoid distortion when output levels get too high.

…plus what we added to enhance Presswerk’s capabilities:

  • 6 special views for better workflow: Drum Compressor, Vocal Compressor, M/S Program Compressor, Easy Compressor, Bus Compressor, Limiter (see the screenshots above).
  • M/S mode: More detailed stereo signal processing
  • Dual Phase Rotator (DPR): applies a radio broadcaster’s trick to reduce unwanted asymmetries in the signal. It smears phases, increases headroom a little and adds bass ‘oomph’.
  • Saturation: This is where Presswerk really shines—adding colour and character to your audio. Apply Saturation sparingly for subtle warmth and transient-taming, or crank it up to create tape overdrive-like effects.
  • Internal parallel compression: The Mix controls let you blend the compressed and uncompressed signals. This helps preserve some of the original, natural dynamics.
  • Variable detection topologies:
    • Feed-forward is modern and ‘surgical’, it tracks the input very precisely.
    • Feed-back is ‘musical’, loose-sounding and forgiving—like classic hardware.
    • Interactive continuously analyzes the signal and blends FF and FB accordingly.
  • Adjust and store global preferences
  • New MIDI learn controls

Operation Modes

Dual channel (stereo) or two independent channels

Compression

Compression ratio from 1:1 to 20:1, adjustable linearity and knee, auto-makeup option

Dual Phase Rotator

DPR emulates classic broadcast transient option

Mix

Dry / Wet mix controls with highpass filter, downward expander option.

Detection

Variable detection topologies: Feed-forward, Feed-back or Interactive

Configuration

  • Resizable GUI from 70% to 200%
  • MIDI learn page and editable list
  • Global preferences page

Response

Complete set of response controls: attack, release with adjustable auto-adapt, RMS window time

Saturation

Saturation before or after the compressor, with variable warmth and dynamics

129 €

Download the demo and enter your serial number to unlock the full version. The demo version emits crackling sound at irregular intervals.

Presswerk 1.1.5 (revision 12092)
Released August 10, 2021
Release notes

* About Linux: Before purchasing, please be aware the Linux versions of our plug-ins are still considered beta. While the plug-ins are stable, we are not able to provide the same level of support for these products as we do for the macOS and Windows versions. Support is provided via the Linux and u-he communities on our forum Link.  

Requirements

Apple logo Mac OS X 10.10 or newer
or
Windows logo Windows 7 or newer
or
Linux logo Linux


  • Host software / DAW
  • 1GB RAM, more recommended
  • 1000 × 600 or larger display
  • 45-110 MB free disk space
  • Modern CPU required:
    Windows/Linux: Intel Nehalem or newer, AMD Bulldozer or newer
    Mac: Intel Nehalem or newer, Apple M1
  • Linux: glibc version 2.28 or newer

Formats

Presswerk is not a standalone product, it requires host software. Presswerk is compatible with nearly all DAWs.

macOS:
AUv2, VST2, VST3, 64-bit only
temporarily no AAX (read more)

Windows:
VST2, VST3, AAX*
32-/64-bit

* AAX requires Pro Tools 10.3.7 or later

NKS-ready
This product is Native Instruments NKS-ready and compatible with Maschine and Komplete Kontrol hardware.

VST compatible
VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, registered in Europe and other countries.

User Guides


Presswerk user guide

Downloads for Presswerk

Try the latest builds of Presswerk, which include improvements and bug fixes. Note: these are stable, but still beta versions.

Older Presswerk installers are in our release archive (for legacy systems).

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