Plugin interface — screenshot pending
Compressor

CLA-76

Waves

Where to get itAvailable from Waveswaves.com

The CLA-76 is a vintage FET compressor plugin modeled after two revisions of a classic solid-state compressor/limiter, known for its superfast 50-microsecond attack time and aggressive compression character. It captures the harmonic distortion, noise floor, and explosive compression behavior of the original hardware, making it distinctive for its ability to handle sharp transients cleanly while delivering the punchy, colored sound favored by top mixing engineers.

Written from the manual and checked against it. How we check

Key Features

01Superfast attack time of 50 microseconds for transient control
02Two revisions modeled: Revision B (Bluey/Silverface Bluestripe) and Revision D-LN (Blacky/Blackface)
03Fixed compression ratio with 5 ratio options: 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1, and All mode
04Attack and Release controls with 7-step range (1–7)
05All-Ratio-Buttons-In mode for aggressive parallel compression
06Auto Makeup gain coordination between Input and Output controls
07Analog modeling with selectable 50Hz or 60Hz hum and THD simulation
08Two component configurations: CLA-76 Stereo and CLA-76 Mono

Things to Try

  • 01Use Ratio set to All mode with fast Attack and Release for aggressive drums in parallel compression
  • 02Enable Comp Off to bypass compression while retaining the FET pre-amp distortion character
  • 03Switch between Revision B (Bluey) and Revision D-LN (Blacky) to compare gain stage and noise characteristics
  • 04Engage Analog at 60Hz to add modeled hum and THD matching the original hardware
Formats
VST3AUAAX
Official Website↗

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