Recently I just got the Pulsar Audio 1178. Clean interface with really easy to understand controls and meters, can’t believe how readable this is compared to most other plugins. Also has a fun “All ratio” setting and adjustable saturation settings, from clean to clipping and a few in between.
I am like the Toy Story meme of “I don’t want to play with you anymore” with all of my other compressor plugins right now.
For what it essentially entails, Analog Obsession’s busterSE does quite a bangin’ job at being a analog-style stereo compressor, with the ability to tilt whatever part of the frequency spectrum you wanna have spread out, in spite of its limitations on the surface. Kicks, snares, pads, even the entire mix, you name it.
Of second, yet equal, mention, is ChowDSP’s Chow Tape Model. which I’ve found so far to be both versatile and not that CPU-hungry. not only at those tape-esque warm flavors, but also at aiding modern, multigenre music compositions. I use them both, or either one of them, depending on the situation, and both are forever free high-quality.