Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter

Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter｜The Ultimate Punch for Your Rock Mix

The Waves CLA-76 Compressor / Limiter plugin is a classic recreation, developed in collaboration between Grammy-winning mix legend Chris Lord-Alge and Waves. This effect perfectly recreates the most iconic FET compressor of the 1970s studio scene, world-renowned for its lightning-fast response, unique harmonic distortion, and aggressive sonic character. Whether processing drums, vocals, bass, or guitar, the CLA-76 injects unparalleled energy, punch, and distinct personality into your tracks, making it an essential tool for crafting modern rock and pop mixes.

Unlike smooth and warm optical compressors, the core of the Waves CLA-76 lies in its FET (Field-Effect Transistor) circuit design, giving it an extremely fast Attack Time and a gritty, tube-like saturation. This model isn't just a hardware copy; it precisely captures the soul of two of Chris Lord-Alge's most prized original hardware units from his personal studio: "Bluey" and "Blacky." These two meticulously maintained units represent the most classic sounds from different production runs. Now, through this powerful mixing effect, you can apply their unique sonic signatures directly in your digital audio workstation, effortlessly achieving professional-grade vocal compression and dynamic control.

Key Features & Applications

Two Classics, One Click (Bluey & Blacky)
The plugin features two distinct sound modes. "Bluey" is a recreation of the Rev B hardware version, offering a more aggressive sound with more harmonic distortion and a slight noise floor, perfect for adding vintage grit and attitude to tracks. "Blacky" is modeled after the later Rev D/E versions, providing a cleaner, tighter sound that is a top choice for processing vocals and instruments in modern mixes. You can freely switch between them based on your material to find the perfect sonic coloration.

Lightning-Fast Response
The CLA-76's FET design gives it a microsecond-level Attack Time, allowing it to precisely capture and control the fastest transient peaks in your audio. This makes it an excellent tool for processing drums (like snares and kicks), effectively adding punch without sacrificing clarity. For explosive rock vocals or bass that needs taming of pick noise, the CLA-76 also provides unparalleled dynamic control.

The Legendary "All-Buttons-In" Mode
Faithfully recreating the original hardware's most famous "trick"—pressing all the ratio buttons in simultaneously (All-Buttons-In). This mode produces an explosive compression effect with high distortion and a unique dynamic curve. It's perfect for creating powerful parallel drum compression, crafting spacious room mic sounds, or adding a destructive industrial texture to synth tones.

Musical Harmonic Distortion
The CLA-76 is more than just a dynamics controller; it's a sound coloration tool. Its circuit model produces rich, pleasant harmonic distortion, similar to a high-quality tube preamp. Even with light compression, it adds warmth, saturation, and presence to your tracks, making digital audio sound more "analog" and full of life.

Chris Lord-Alge's Sonic Signature
Every detail of this plugin was personally supervised by Chris Lord-Alge to ensure its sound is identical to the original hardware in his studio. From the compression curves and distortion characteristics to the unique hiss and hum simulation, the CLA-76 allows you to directly use this mix master's secret weapon, bringing world-class sound quality to your productions.

Tech Specs

• Supported Sample Rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
• Channel Modes: Mono and Stereo
• Latency: 0 samples @ 44.1/48 kHz
• Max Processing Precision: 64-bit floating-point
• Plugin Formats: VST, VST3, AU, AAX Native, AudioSuite
• Activation: Online or offline USB authorization via Waves Central
• System Requirements (Mac): macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 (Supports Intel / Apple Silicon)
• System Requirements (Windows): Windows 10 64-bit (22H2), Windows 11 (22H2)
• Compatible Hosts: Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Studio One, Reaper, and other major DAWs