Tube Tech CL 1B

Optical compressors have a particular way of responding to the incoming signal that is uniquely compelling and musical. But they are of course not all the same, and the Tube-Tech CL 1B is the prime example of what an optic compressor is capable of. It is highly versatile and can go from soft and gentle to snappy and punchy by the twist of a few knobs. 

Tube-Tech CL 1B is one of those units that has a defined personality while still being useful on a variety of sound sources in a variety of situations. It can be used for a calm and natural dynamic control, but depending on your settings, it can bring out punch and life from any material. Because of its way of treating the signal differently depending on the frequency content, it gets a lot of love when used on material with a wide frequency range, such as an electric bass that both needs low end control and a snappy presence, or an acoustic guitar that needs to be large sounding and close to the listener. And sometimes, the opto character is just what the doctor ordered for a full mix.

A big part of the CL 1B sound is that the optical gain reduction circuit has a tendency of an initial very quick release time, which then drastically slows down and can take several seconds to fully recover. This has a way of giving a transparent control of shorter events in the signal while retaining a grip of the overall material. It's a sound and texture you will not find in any other compressor.

Please note: Softube purchases are strictly licensed for sale to customers in the USA only