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Your Questions About 1176 Compressors Answered:
With so many emulations of the faithful 1176 compressor plugin on the market, it can be difficult to choose exactly which one is best when considering the price, hardware accuracy, and more. That’s why we spent weeks testing the best 1176 compressor plugins and left our thoughts below, with sound examples of each plugin, so you can use your own ears to decide.
Contents
What Is An 1176 Compressor Plugin?
An 1176 compressor plugin is any plugin that emulates the classic compressor by Universal Audio. This FET compressor became extremely popular, and eventually legendary because of its incredibly fast attack and release times, among other things.
Although there are several plugins that can technically do the same thing, the digital models of this hardware unit try to emulate its unique sound, behavior, and near-transparent compression, which are some of the unique qualities that made this compressor so acclaimed by engineers.
What Is The 1176 Compressor Best To Use On?
The 1176 compressor works best when you need to add a gritty compression effect or if you have a signal which would benefit from a more distorted sound. 1176 is the best compressor to use on almost any vocal chain, bass, and drums.
One of the most common ways you can benefit from this compressor is by using it on a bass signal to compress and colour. With fast attack and release settings, you can quickly balance the tone and dynamics of a bass guitar.
Additionally, the harmonic distortion will round up the low end, making it sit much better in the mix.
What Are The Best 1176 Compressor Plugins?
Here’s the complete list of the best 1176 compressor plugins:
- Waves CLA76
- Softube FET Compressor
- UAD 1176
- Slate Digital FG-116
- T-Racks Black 76
- PSP FETpressor
- Pulsar Audio Smasher
- Overloud GEM comp76 v2
- Avid BF-76
- NI VC 76
1. Waves Audio CLA 76
Compatibility: Win10+, macOS 10.15.7+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit
Price: $249 (usually on sale for $29)
Pros
✅ Brings two revisions with different colours
✅ The Blue stripe revision is great for aggressive mixes where you can benefit from the British mode
✅ The blackface edition can retain the low end of different signals, making it a great choice for bass guitars, kicks, and subs
✅The non-compression mode offers a very natural harmonic distortion
Cons
❌ There aren’t any extra features, but rather focused on making it as similar to the hardware as possible
Waves Audio with Chris Lord Alge made one of the best and most faithful models of this famous FET compressor with two of the original revisions labelled as Blackey and Bluey, referring to the Rev A and the blue stripe respectively.
This model includes all of the classic settings and buttons from the original gear, including all ratios in mode, and the no compression mode, to exclusively add the colour of the equipment without compressing the signal.
Overall, this plugin has a rich sound and the blue stripe is amazing to use on vocals, and the Blackface works great on drums, especially if you’re looking for an aggressive sound for genres like pop, hip-hop, and rock/metal.
2. Softube FET Compressor
Compatibility: Win10+, macOS 10.13+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit
Price: $199
Pros
✅ CPU friendly
✅ The additional controls allow more control over different aspects of the compression, including attack and release, parallel compression, and signal detection
✅ Offers you the possibility of compressing at lower ratios and higher ratios.
✅ Signal detection allows a very accurate compression
Cons
❌ Couldn’t find any
This is a very innovative model of this classic unit with a bunch of additional features to give you more control over the signal without losing its unique harmonic distortion and character.
Softube stayed true to the original hardware’s circuitry but added its own twist, renewing the GUI and making it more adjustable. This model features a mix knob for parallel compression uses and extra routing capabilities with sidechain options and filters (HPF & LPF), as well as a lookahead for a smoother compression.
This modern-looking compressor plugin also brings a ratio knob control, which includes a 1:1 value to add the modelled pre-amp distortion without adding compression.
3. Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter
Compatibility: Win7+, macOS 10.11+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit
Price: $299
Pros
✅ Includes new features such as a mix knob for parallel processing and a sidechain filter
✅ Thorough recreation of the classic hardware unit
✅ Each modelled revision has an incredibly natural colouration and superb sound quality
Cons
❌ You can’t access UA plugins without their hardware, so it might require a greater effort to get this plugin if you don’t own any.
It was expected for Universal Audio, as the original manufacturer, to have its own take on the digital realm for its legendary piece of equipment. In fact, they have a whole bundle with all three revisions of the unit, including Rev A, E, and blue stripe.
These are faithful digital recreations of the hardware compressor without any other additional features. It’s pretty straightforward, sounds really natural and you could hardly tell the difference when compared to the hardware, as expected.
4. Slate Digital FG-116
Compatibility: Win8+, macOS 10.14+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit
Price: $149
Pros
✅ Unique-sounding emulations with three different characters
✅ Sensible, automatable controls
✅ Extremely fast attack times are great to shape drums and vocals
✅ You can use these emulations with Virtual Mix Rack and as separate modules
Cons
❌ Requires an iLok dongle to activate the license
❌ No high-pass filters
❌ Lacks output level control for gain staging
Slate Digital’s FG 116 is their take on the classic compressor. Differently, from other models, it has fewer ratio controls, as it doesn’t have the all buttons separately, so you have to press all buttons at once for this purpose.
These emulations don’t have the no compression mode either, although they did include a mix knob for parallel compression and 2 circuitry responses for the Vintage and Modern models.
The FET compressor reminisces on the Blackface revision of the classic, which has a lower noise level and produces less harmonic distortion. The Vintage model emulates the blue stripe with the addition of a high-pass filter, and the Modern one is more of a digital adaptation of this compressor.
5. IK Multimedia T-Racks Black 76
Compatibility: Win7+, macOS 10.10+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit
Price: $79.99
Pros
✅ Stereo link and M/S processing possibilities make it better suited for bus compression
✅ It’s the closest sound to the physical UA hardware
✅ Very user friendly
Cons
❌ Doesn’t include a mix knob for parallel use
This version of the Blackface revision by IK Multimedia is a faithful recreation of the classic and has some additional features that are great to adapt this amazing unit to any situation.
The TRACK Black 76 introduces stereo-linking possibilities, which can be L/R or M/S. These additional controls enable you to use this unit for bus compression and can be particularly beneficial to enhance the stereo image.
It also works with very high sample rates, all the way to 192KHz, and includes all ratio, attack and release controls, just as the original unit. In terms of the sound, it’s very transparent and crisp, even when you push it hard. It’s a really good one to use on your vocals for a crisp upfront sound without much harmonic distortion.
6. PSP FETpressor
Compatibility: Win7+, macOS 10.10+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit
Price: $99
Pros
✅ Ultra-fast attack and release times enable a faster and more accurate compression
✅ Sidechain HP allow you to prevent low-frequency information from triggering the compression
✅ Dual mono and stereo processing possibilities
✅ The ratio buttons are summed up into a knob allowing you to freely select it and minimize distortion
Cons
❌ Couldn’t find any
Here we have another true-to-the-original model by PSP, and they’ve included new features to give you more control over the compression.
This is one of the very few emulations of the 1176 compressor that includes a fully adjustable threshold, stereo linking possibilities, mix knob, sidechain high-pass filter, and fully adjustable ratio controls, all in the same plugin.
The one thing it doesn’t seem to have is the classic all buttons in feature, and the non-compression mode, which would’ve been great to have as well. Nevertheless, this is a great-sounding emulation and can deliver amazing results on almost any source.
7. Pulsar Audio Smasher
Compatibility: Win7+, macOS 10.10+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit
Price: $49
Pros
✅ Great for an aggressive pop, rock, or rap vocal sound due to the British mode’s particular distortion
✅ Offers a rich sound with a very pleasant distortion
✅ Incredibly simple-to-use plugin
Cons
❌ It has a fixed threshold and ratio, which limit the possibilities of use for this unit
❌ The British mode might not work well with some signals, so it’s not a very versatile plugin
Smasher distinguishes itself from just about any other 1176 emulation because it has all buttons at all times. It’s worth mentioning that it emulates the sound and behaviour of the blue stripe, which is more midrange-focused and has a more noticeable character.
This plugin is great for gritty and distorted compression and gives you the ability to blend it with the dry signal with the mix knob. It’s a pretty straightforward, yet powerful plugin to achieve stuff like a very aggressive vocal, or a pretty nasty-hitting rock kick or snare.
8. Overloud GEM Comp76 v2
Compatibility: WinVista+, macOS 10.6+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit, 32-bit
Price: $119
Pros
✅ Offers the largest amount of control over the processing and behaviour of the plugin
✅ Lets you choose between three revisions of this classic UA hardware
✅ Universal output and input level, stereo/dual mono, and low-frequency sensibility enable you to achieve a more precise compression
✅ You can control the amount of saturation coming out of the unit, which lets you decide how you want to affect the input signal
Cons
❌ Couldn’t find any
This is our favourite 1176 model because it has everything that the other plug-ins have and combines it with a true-to-the-original sound quality.
This model includes the three classic revisions of the 1176 and matches their original response, for instance, the RevA is the blue stripe with a grittier compression and more present colouration, Rev D is the blackface with low noise and colouration, and lastly, Rev F is the latest version of the hardware with complete transparency.
You can use it for bus or parallel compression, or even for stereo imaging, as it offers stereo linking and mid/side processing possibilities. It also brings a bunch of other extra controls to fine-tune how the unit responds to the input.
9. Avid BF-76
Compatibility: WinXP+, macOS 10.11+, RTAS, AAX, 64-bit, 32-bit
Price: $Free (comes with the Pro Tools software)
Pros
✅ It offers very low colouration to the input, so it’s great for clean compression
✅ Sounds pretty similar to the UREI 1176 when used in extreme settings
✅ Little to no CPU impact
✅ Really good to use on bass to round up the lower frequencies
Cons
❌ Doesn’t allow all buttons in function
❌ It lacks a mix knob for parallel compression
Yet another 1176 Blackface emulation, Avid’s BF-76 model is one really good and extremely overlooked plugin that comes with Pro Tools.
This one’s pretty straightforward, as it gives you the same setting and controls as the original hardware, except for the all buttons in and no-compression mode.
However, it offers you a really nice and gritty compression and distortion that works amazingly on bass, drums, and pianos.
10. Native Instruments VC76
Compatibility: Win10+, macOS 10.15+, VST, AU, AAX, 64-bit
Price: $99
Pros
✅ Works as a limiting amplifier and as a compressor
✅ Easy to achieve a broad range of sounds and textures
✅ Simple to use GUI
✅ Can accept an external sidechain input
Cons
❌ You have to use it in Guitar Rig
❌ Parallel compression works odd
Last but not least, the VC 76 by Native Instruments is another true-to-the-original model that offers you the same settings as the original unit but with a mix knob and sidechain with gain control.
It also features both all buttons in and no buttons in modes and delivers a really nice gritty distortion that could really help make any signal more aggressive. It’s very simple but still pretty effective.
Summary
To recap, here is the complete list of the best 1176 plugins:
- Waves CLA76
- Softube FET Compressor
- UAD 1176
- Slate Digital FG-116
- T-Racks Black 76
- PSP FETpressor
- Pulsar Audio Smasher
- Overloud GEM comp76 v2
- Avid BF-76
- NI VC 76
1176-style compressors are amazing to add aggressiveness to a source and are incredibly adaptable and simple to use, due to their few controls. These compressors aren’t usually good for your 2-buss, but they can deliver incredible results and quality enhancements all across a mix.
Our absolute favourite one was the GEM Comp76 v2 by Overloud because it offers the highest amount of control over the compressor’s behaviour and tonality.
Besides, the other extra features like a high pass filter, mid/side processing, and harmonic level controls make it an extremely efficient plug-in to add to your workflow.
FAQ
Is The 1176 A VCA Compressor? What Style Compressor is it?
No, the 1176 is a FET compressor, not a VCA. The main difference being that the FET reduces gain with transistorts, providing a grittier and more distorted compression, whereas a VCA would uses a control signal to determine whether gain reduction will be applied.
VCA compressors are usually a lot smoother and brighter than FET compressors. An iconic example of a VCA unit is the classic SSL bus compressor. These two types of compressors are both incredibly fast in action, but the way they react and sound is very different.
Is The 1176 Hardware Better Than A Plugin Emulation?
Not necessarily. Although it’s true that hardware gear offer a sound that’s unique to each unit, it doesn’t necessarily make it better in the end result. On the other hand, hardware units sound great but they’ve got limitations that plugins don’t have.
Plug ins these days are incredibly close to the original hardware sonically, and the additional features they bring to the table like sidechain, mix knobs, filters, and easiness of use make these tools a lot more efficient in practice.
When Was The 1176 Compressor Invented?
The 1176 Compressor was created in 1966 by Bill Putnam Sr., founder of Universal Audio. The initial units were released in 1967 by UREI, which he’d sell later on and be rebuilt by his sons Bill jr. and Jim Putnam, who re-issued the 1176LN as UA’s first product in 1999.
Putnam crafted the first 1176 recently after the field-effect transistors (FET) were invented replacing vacuum tubes in his designs. He redesigned the 175 and 176 Vari-Mu compressors and created the first 1176.
Javier is a mixing and mastering engineer who specializes in Rock and Hip Hop, and writes and produces his own music. He is additionally a TV, Film, and advertising audio editor who has been working freelance for 7 years. He loves sound design and is an avid expert in his field, having written hundreds of articles for other publications online about music production-related topics. To put it simply – Javier knows his stuff.
