Blue velvet. Smooth, musical vocal compression.

The Tube-Tech CL 1B is a modern classic and hip hop hero for a reason. As a vocal compressor in particular, its mixture of characteristic warm, musical opto gain reduction and surprisingly versatile can’t-sound-bad operation have made it a staple across genres, from classic rock and cutting-edge pop to rap, hip hop, EDM… you name it.

Our Mk II version is a complete, ground-up sonic remodel of the Mk I that draws on a decade of advances in experience and technology. It sounds amazing. It looks fresh. It has features fit for a modern workflow, and the Generation Switch makes using it easier than ever.

Could it be your new favorite compressor? Most definitely.

New Look

This luxe studio hardware was modeled and remodeled from the ground up with our state-of-the-art component modeling and signal processing tech. Both versions of the comp are combined in a single interface. And we added the Generation Switch so you can quickly toggle between the sound of the Mk I and the Mk II.

New World

Apply this one-of-a-kind opto comp to your tracks and enter a new realm of mix magnificence. Used by engineers and producers for a variety of genres — from hip hop to pop — you can use CL 1B to beef up drums, warm and smooth your vocals, or enrich your bass in seconds.

Opto delight

Opto compressors tend to grab hold quickly but then take a while to fully reset, with a strongly exponential release curve. This means the transients are dealt with transparently, but the larger body of the material benefits from a soft and musical leveling as the final ten or twenty percent of the gain reduction lingers before the next transient. For bass, acoustic guitars, vocals, and more, it’s a sound every mix engineer should have on lockdown.

Softube & Tube-Tech: making modern classics

Our partnership with Tube-Tech goes back to 2006, when we began work on the definitive plug-in representations of the Danish company's best and most highly prized analog hardware units.

In 2018, we utilized our latest signal processing technology and released Mk II versions of CL 1B and Classic Channel. The super stunning high-resolution graphics and additional features made the best even better.

Never ones to rest on our laurels, we bring you the only officially licensed Tube-Tech SMC 2B Multiband Compressor plug-in, the new Tube-Tech Complete Collection 2, and additional updates to CL 1B Mk II.

Console 1 Ready

This plug-in can be used within Console 1, our mixing system.

Highlights

• Console 1-ready: works as a native plug-in and in Console 1 Mixing System
• Created in partnership with and endorsed by Tube-Tech
• A modern classic in a plethora of genres
• Great for vocals
• Characterful and yet still versatile compression
• New: Generation Switch to toggle between Mk I and Mk II
• A two-in-one plug-in featuring Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk I and CL 1B Mk II
• Generation Switch to toggle between Mk I and Mk II versions
• Characterful yet versatile optical compression for vocals, bass, guitar, and more