This week's featured free plug-in from our free plug-ins database is an emulation of a tube compressor. Leveling Tool from AdHd Audio Tools is a fully-featured compressor/limiter with a bit of character and best of all, it’s free.

What Is Leveling Tool

You might mistake Leveling Tool for yet another 1176 clone but that would only be because of design similarities. It’s not a fixed threshold design, instead, it has a conventional threshold or in this case “Peak Reduction” control. It has fully variable ratio controls and the usefully fast attack and release controls are the right way round so it’s definitely not an 1176. It’s also a tube emulation with a nice fuzzy character to it when driven hard. There is a side chain filter and dry wet control too so this can be anything from a tone box to a gentle leveler to a peak limiter.

How To Get Leveling Tool

Go to the AdHd Audio Tools site and name your price. if you want to, you can make a $0 purchase but if you pay what you can afford you are supporting the developer. This is a great plug-in so at least consider naming a price other than zero - they deserve it!

You don’t have to sign up for their newsletter, though you can. Supply your name and email address and get your download.

Leveling Tool is available in AAX, VST and AU for Windows and macOS.