Home › Plugins › Contortionist Comp

  • Formats Mac: AU and VST3 · Windows: VST3
  • Perpetual licence 3 computers, offline after activation
  • 14-day trial every control working, no card

Compressor plugin

Contortionist Comp

Optical leveler with two knobs and a limit switch

SQUEEZE sets how hard she compresses, with the slow, program-dependent release of an optical leveler. HOLD switches between BEND, compression at about 3:1, and KNOT, limiting. Inside, BLEND gives you parallel compression and SC FILTER keeps the low end from pumping the detector.

USD 29.90 until 31 December 2026, then USD 59.90

Buy · USD 29.90 Try free for 14 days

What it does

Simple and under control. The basics outside the box, the advanced controls inside.

On the front

Two knobs and a switch, enough to get the sound without reading a manual. One knob does most of the work and the switch picks the character.

  • SQUEEZE how much she compresses
  • LEVEL output volume
  • HOLD BEND or KNOT

Inside the pedal

Click the panel and the pedal opens on the controls an engineer looks for, and a battery. Every one of them works in every mode, so the same front settings can go many ways. Opening it doesn't change the sound.

  • BLEND parallel mix
  • RECOVERY release speed around the classic opto release
  • SC FILTER high-pass on the detector
  • EMPHASIS makes the detector hear the highs more
  • IN and OUT TRIM gain staging before and after the pedal

Where the analog feel comes from

Contortionist Comp in a session

presentation video for Contortionist Comp

Overview

There's no main knob: her illustration takes the middle of the pedal, with a knob on each side. SQUEEZE sets how much she compresses. The attack is fixed and the release follows the material, like an optical leveler.

HOLD has two positions. BEND is compression at about 3:1, for vocals, bass and acoustic instruments. KNOT is limiting, for drums and anything that needs to stop where it is. LEVEL sets the output, which is matched to the input as you squeeze.

Open the pedal for BLEND, parallel compression; RECOVERY, to move the release by hand; SC FILTER, so a kick or a bass note doesn't pump the rest; and EMPHASIS, which makes her react more to sibilance and cymbals.

What it isn't for. The Contortionist has no attack knob. If you want to shape transients, use a VCA compressor.

Measured before release

the measured numbers from this plugin's report: loudness against bypass, clicks, aliasing

Presets

36 factory presets in folders: Mix, Vocals, Drums, Bass, Guitar and Keys. The trims and bypass stay out of presets, so your gain staging survives a preset change.

Specs

  • Formats Mac: AU and VST3 · Windows: VST3
  • Systems macOS and Windows versions
  • CPU and latency measured on the C++ build
  • Also in the window preset browser, A/B compare, loudness-matched bypass, short-term LUFS meter

How to install

  1. Buy or start a trial. Pay at checkout, or make a free account for the trial. The receipt arrives by email. payment methods Moonbase offers
  2. Download. Sign in to your Circus Audio account. One download has every plugin; your licence decides which ones open. Mac: run the installer. Windows: unzip the download and copy the .vst3 files to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3, then rescan plugins in your DAW.
  3. Open it in your DAW. Load Contortionist Comp on a track and sign in, or paste your licence key. It works on 3 computers, offline after the first activation.

Stuck? Write to [email protected]. reply-time promise we can keep

Reviews

Reviews from people who bought Contortionist Comp show here. review tool, and the first verified reviews after launch

Contortionist Comp

Optical leveler with two knobs and a limit switch

USD 29.90 until 31 December 2026, then USD 59.90

Buy · USD 29.90 Try free for 14 days

Mac: AU and VST3 · Windows: VST3 · perpetual licence · 3 computers

Questions

Do I need internet to use it?

Only to activate. After that it works offline.

How many computers?

3 at once, Mac or Windows. You can free a seat from inside the plugin.

Which DAWs?

Any that loads AU or VST3: Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Reaper, Bitwig Studio. list of DAWs we tested Pro Tools needs AAX, which comes later.

How does the trial work?

Every control works for 14 days, one trial per computer, and you don't need a card. You start it from inside Contortionist Comp with a free Circus Audio account.

What happens when the trial ends?

decide in step 21 of setup.md, for example: the plugin passes the sound through untouched and asks you to buy or sign in, and your sessions keep their settings

I own a plugin already. What does the bundle cost me?

The Circus Bundle is USD 109.90 until 31 December 2026, then USD 199.90, minus what you paid for the plugins you own. Sign in before checkout and the price adjusts.

Can I get a refund?

Yes, see the refund policy.

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