VICEGRIP — Free OTT-Style Multiband Compressor Plugin (VST3, Windows)
VICEGRIP is a free OTT-style multiband compressor plugin for Windows 10/11 (64-bit), available as a VST3 and a standalone app. Three bands with upward and downward compression on each: quiet details get lifted, peaks get clamped, everything gets dense. One DEPTH knob scales the whole squeeze and TIME makes it pump or breathe, from subtle glue to full crush. It is the modern trap sheen inside BSMT.DSP, the free suite by Dr.dawgOG from Anand, Gujarat.
What VICEGRIP does
Ordinary compression is downward: it turns loud things down. Upward compression does the opposite, turning quiet things up toward the threshold. Do both at once across three frequency bands and you get the OTT effect, the dense, hyped, every-detail-forward sound that defines modern trap, hyperpop and a lot of rap vocal production. VICEGRIP applies upward and downward compression to a low, mid and high band independently, so the lows stay steady while the highs get the sheen.
The interface is two decisions. DEPTH scales the entire squeeze at once, the way the classic OTT preset's depth control did, so ten percent is a polish and one hundred is a crush. TIME sets how fast all three bands react: fast for a pumping, aggressive texture, slow for a smoother breathing density. Everything else has sensible defaults tuned for vocals and drums.
Trap vocals, hi-hats, 808s and full beats
On a rap vocal, ten to thirty percent DEPTH after the compressor adds the bright, dense, expensive-sounding top end without an EQ boost. On trap hi-hats and percussion loops, higher DEPTH with fast TIME brings every ghost note forward. On an 808, use it gently to even out the note-to-note level while the low band keeps the sub steady.
On a full beat, a light VICEGRIP pass on the bus adds cohesion and loudness before OVERBITE and CEILING; keep an eye on the low band so the 808 does not pump. VICEGRIP runs as a VST3 in FL Studio, Ableton Live, Reaper, Studio One, Cubase and Bitwig on Windows.
How to use VICEGRIP
- Insert VICEGRIP after the compressor on a vocal, or on a drum loop, 808 or beat bus.
- Raise DEPTH until the quiet details come forward and the peaks settle; ten to thirty percent for polish, more for crush.
- Set TIME: fast for pumping trap textures, slow for a smoother, breathing density.
- A/B at matched loudness so the density, not the volume, is what you are judging.
VICEGRIP features
- Three bands with independent upward and downward compression
- One DEPTH knob scales the whole squeeze
- TIME control from pumping to breathing
- From subtle glue to full OTT crush
- Tuned defaults for vocals, hi-hats, 808s and beat buses
- VST3 and standalone for Windows 10/11 64-bit, free with no signup
VICEGRIP vs the alternatives
How VICEGRIP compares with the free and paid 3-band OTT compressor plugins producers usually shortlist. The row for VICEGRIP is highlighted.
| Plugin | Price | Windows formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VICEGRIP (BSMT.DSP) | Free, no signup | VST3, standalone | Three-band up and down compression with DEPTH and TIME macros |
| Xfer OTT | Free | VST2, VST3, AAX | The original free OTT plugin, based on the Ableton multiband preset |
| Multiband compressor built into your DAW | Free (built in) | Any DAW | Can do upward compression in some DAWs, with a lot more setup |
| FabFilter Pro-MB | Paid (around USD 199 list) | VST2, VST3, AAX | Paid anchor: up to six bands with full dynamic control |
Prices are vendor list prices as seen in August 2026. Formats listed for Windows only.
VICEGRIP specs
| Plugin | VICEGRIP (3-band OTT compressor) |
| Category | DYNAMICS |
| Price | Free. No account, no email, no trial, no watermark. |
| Formats | VST3 (64-bit) and a standalone app |
| Operating system | Windows 10 / Windows 11, 64-bit. macOS build in progress (the download button switches when it ships). |
| Works in | FL Studio, Ableton Live, Reaper, Studio One, Cubase, Bitwig and any other VST3 host on Windows |
| Installer | One BSMT.DSP installer for all 27 plugins; tick the ones you want. It detects and updates older versions in place. |
| Version | Shown on the download button, fetched live from the releases repository. |
| Developer | Dr.dawgOG (BSMT.DSP), Anand, Gujarat, India |
| Support the project | buymeacoffee.com/dawgog (optional) |
VICEGRIP FAQ
What is OTT compression?
Over-the-top multiband compression: upward and downward compression applied together across several frequency bands, so quiet details get lifted and peaks get clamped in every band. It produces the dense, bright, forward sound common in trap and modern vocal production. VICEGRIP does this across three bands with one DEPTH control.
Is VICEGRIP a free alternative to Xfer OTT?
Xfer OTT is itself free, so VICEGRIP is an alternative rather than a replacement: three bands, a DEPTH macro, a TIME control from pumping to breathing, VST3 and a standalone build, with defaults tuned for rap vocals and drums.
How much OTT should I use on vocals?
Less than you think. Ten to thirty percent DEPTH after the compressor adds sheen; higher settings are a creative crush for hooks and ad-libs. Check the result at matched loudness so the extra density is not just extra volume.
Is VICEGRIP really free?
Yes. Completely free, no account, no email gate, no trial. It ships inside the BSMT.DSP installer on GitHub Releases, and you can install just VICEGRIP.
Does VICEGRIP work in FL Studio and Ableton Live?
It does. VICEGRIP is a 64-bit VST3 for Windows 10/11 and loads in FL Studio, Ableton Live, Reaper, Studio One, Cubase, Bitwig and any other VST3 host on Windows.
Install, SmartScreen and Mac questions are answered on the BSMT.DSP suite FAQ.
More from BSMT.DSP
See all 27 free BSMT.DSP plugins, the guide to mixing rap vocals with free plugins, and the list of free alternatives to paid vocal plugins. Need the vocal mixed by the person who built these? Mixing and mastering is open.