Best Studio Compressor

Radial Komit Compressor Limiter

Radial Komit Compressor Limiter Details

The Radial Komit is a feature-rich compressor-limiter that simplifies the process of dynamic manipulation while expanding upon creative tone shaping. At one end is a super-clean compressor that delivers amazing results with single knob control. At the other, an old-school diode bridge clipping limiter goes from 'vintage to nasty'. But don't let the minimalist approach deter; the Komit provides exceptional flexibility by integrating a series of automatic functions that are both musical and intuitive. Close your eyes and listen… the Komit does the hard work for you.

Universal Audio LA-2A Classic Leveling Amplifier

Universal Audio LA-2A Classic Leveling Amplifier Details

Audio professionals passionate about their compressors revere the LA-2A. The original was immediately acknowledged for its natural compression characteristics. A unique electro-optical attenuator system allows instantaneous gain reduction with no increase in harmonic distortion – an accomplishment at the time, still appreciated today.

Universal Audio now announces the rebirth of the Teletronix LA-2A, a Universal Audio Classics product. Painstaking care has been taken to ensure that every new LA-2A provides the performance and characteristics of the original. Each unit is hand built, each component carefully evaluated for authenticity. No expense has been spared to guarantee that this LA-2A will bring that classic sound to your recording. Demand the original. Accept no copy.

Rupert Neve Portico II Stereo Buss Processor

Rupert Neve Portico II Stereo Buss Processor Details

The Rupert Neve Portico II Stereo Buss Processor is a stereo compressor and mastering limiter. It features detented switches, high-voltage discrete signal paths, as well as an all-new stereo field editor design with band-filtered width and depth. The new Stereo Buss Processor will help you add a new dimension to your sound, with unprecedented creative and dynamic control.

Daking FET III Stereo Compressor

Daking FET III Stereo Compressor Details

The Daking FET III is a fantastic new tool to help you achieve great sounding new mixes with guts without muddying up the sound with too much of a good thing . Got your mix right where you want it, but it needs compression without changing the feel you've established? The FET III is the perfect tools because it simply reduces the dynamic range without a shift of balance within the mix. It's a studio tool, not a paint brush. Saying that, though, shouldn't take away from the versatility of the fully Class A FET III. And the FET III does it's duty on a wide variety of sources. The upgraded high-pass filters (from those in the FET II) really allow you tweak the behavior of the FET III's limiter.

Manley Stereo Variable MU Limiter Compressor w/ High Pass Side Chain

Manley Stereo Variable MU Limiter Compressor Details

The Manley Stereo Variable Mu Limiter Compressor has been Manley's best selling product for many years. It is one of the very few compressors that has become a real standard in Mastering studios and contributed to most hit records over the last decade and probably the next. "Mu" is tube-speak for gain, and Variable Mu is our registered trademark for this limiter compressor. It works by using the "remote cut-off" or re-biasing of a vacuum tube to achieve compression. The precious vintage Fairchild 670 also uses this technique and is one of few all-tube compressor to do so, that we know of. Even the side-chain has glowing rectifier bottles. How’s it work? The unique 5670 dual triode is at the center of the peak-reducing and compression action constantly being re-biased by the vacuum tube rectified side-chain control voltages which cause this tube to smoothly change its gain. Just like that.

The COMPRESS mode is soft-knee 1.5 to 1 ratio while the sharper knee LIMIT mode starts at 4 to 1 and moves to a more dramatic ratio of 20 to 1 when limiting over 12dB. Interestingly, the knee actually softens as more limiting is used. Distortion can be creatively used by turning up the Input and turning down the Output while using very little or no compression.

ART Pro VLA II Pro Studio Edition Tube Leveling Amplifier

ART Pro VLA II Details
The PRO VLA II (Vactrol based Leveling Amplifier) is a multi-purpose tool for audio engineering and recording. Enclosed in a 2U (3.5" high) rack-mountable chassis are two independent channels of analog leveling/compression designed to work seamlessly with any recording, sound-reinforcement, or electronic instrument setup. ART’s PRO VLA II circuitry is a hybrid design utilizing the latest and most advanced analog and tube technology. Using a transformerless design throughout, the PRO VLA II maintains exceptional signal integrity and extremely low noise. Its VCA-less design utilizes optical electronics (Vactrol) coupled with a 12AX7 vacuum tube gain stage for superior musical performance.

FMR Audio RNC "Really Nice Compressor"

FMR Audio RNC "Really Nice Compressor" Details

The RNC is a high-fidelity, stereo compressor intended to provide dynamic range control with minimal side effects. The RNC achieves such high performance at a low cost by using evolutionary advances in digital technology, coupled with the best analog has to offer. Using digital controls and an all-analog signal path, the RNC offers accurate, precise controls and a clean tonal character.

The RNC provides two modes of operation: normal and SuperNice. Normal mode allows the RNC to be used for everyday compression tasks, like punchy snare drums or bass guitars, and is great for everything from gentle compression to serious squashing. SuperNice mode provides near-invisible signal compression for sensitive material where compression artifacts are less desirable (like vocals, acoustic guitar or the program bus).