Waves CLA Classic Compressors

Waves CLA Classic Compressors - Classic Compressor Bundle | The Legendary Dynamics Processing Secrets of a Grammy-Winning Mix Engineer

Discover the sonic secrets hand-tuned by Grammy-winning mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge (CLA). This CLA Classic Compressors plugin bundle perfectly recreates the classic hardware compressors from his personal studio—meticulously maintained units revered as his "golden units." Whether you're aiming for warm, silky vocals, powerful drum punch, or a solid, gritty bass tone, this set of Waves compressors will inject world-class energy and life into your mixes. Chris Lord-Alge's mixing philosophy is to squeeze every last drop of potential out of dynamics, and this plugin suite is the core tool for achieving his aggressive and powerful sound.

This bundle includes three of the industry's most iconic compressor models: the CLA-2A, CLA-3A, and CLA-76 (available in both "Bluey" and "Blacky" versions). From Grandmaster Flash to Green Day, these sounds have left their mark on countless platinum-selling records. Now, with Waves' precision modeling technology, you can use the exact same mixing plugins as Chris Lord-Alge himself, right in your digital audio workstation (DAW). This isn't just an emulation; it's about bringing the soul of a legendary studio into your creative workflow, giving your productions professional-grade dynamics that rival top-tier releases. The classic CLA-76 and the smooth CLA-2A, in particular, are indispensable tools in your sonic palette.

Key Features & Applications

CLA-2A: Silky Warmth for Vocals & Instruments
Renowned for its unparalleled smooth compression, the CLA-2A is the ultimate choice for treating vocals. Its electro-optical tube design delivers warm tube saturation and incredibly natural attack and release times, gently enveloping vocals to make them sound present and emotional, without any harsh compression artifacts. Furthermore, it excels on bass, acoustic guitar, and a variety of other instruments, adding rich musicality and depth.

CLA-3A: The Solid Sound of the '70s
The CLA-3A models a popular solid-state compressor from high-end studios of the 1970s. It combines the fast response of solid-state circuitry with the smooth release of an optical compressor, creating a tight, powerful dynamic effect. This makes it an ideal choice for drums, bass, and electric guitars, effortlessly shaping clear, punchy, and cohesive sounds that perfectly replicate the classic rock and funk tones of the '70s.

CLA-76 (Bluey & Blacky): The Ultimate Weapon for Rock Drums
A staple in rock mixing, the CLA-76 is famous for its lightning-fast response time, capable of precisely capturing and controlling drum transients. Its unique "All-Buttons-In" mode (often called "British Mode") produces an explosive compression effect with intense harmonic distortion, making drums sound muscular and aggressive. The bundle includes both the "Bluey" (Blue Stripe) and "Blacky" versions, which differ slightly in gain staging, time constants, and harmonic distortion characteristics, giving you double the tonal options to tackle any demanding dynamics processing task.

Enhanced for Modern Workflows
In addition to faithfully recreating classic tones, the CLA Classic Compressors bundle adds essential features for the modern mix engineer. The added Mix control allows you to easily achieve parallel compression, blending the dry and wet signals without complex routing. And the Trim control provides quick, fine-tuned adjustments to the output level, ensuring consistent volume.

World-Class Master Presets
This bundle comes loaded with an extensive library of presets designed by Chris Lord-Alge himself, based on his actual settings for top artists like Foo Fighters, Green Day, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Keith Urban. It also includes presets from other super-producers and engineers like Greg Wells, providing you with instantly usable professional starting points to inspire your creativity.

Technical Specifications (Tech Specs)

• Plugin Type: Dynamics Processing Bundle (Compressor / Limiter)
• Modeled After:
  • CLA-2A: Based on the Teletronix LA-2A
  • CLA-3A: Based on the UREI LA-3A
  • CLA-76: Based on the UREI 1176 (Blue Stripe & Blackface Rev D)
• Sample Rate Support: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
• Channel Formats: Mono, Stereo
• Latency: 0 ms (at 44.1kHz)
• Main Controls (CLA-2A): Gain, Peak Reduction, Compress/Limit Switch, Analog Switch, Mix, Trim
• Main Controls (CLA-3A): Gain, Peak Reduction, Compress/Limit Switch, Hi-Freq (High-Frequency) Boost, Analog Switch, Mix, Trim
• Main Controls (CLA-76): Input, Output, Attack, Release, Ratio, Comp Off/Bluey/Blacky Mode Switch, Analog Switch, Mix, Trim
• System Requirements: Compatible with VST, VST3, AU, AAX formats; supports the latest versions of macOS and Windows (please refer to the official Waves website for details)