Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection by Universal Audio tube compressor plugin interface

Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection: Tube Compressor Plugins by Universal Audio Free Download

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (611 ratings)

The Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection is a plugin bundle from Universal Audio that emulates vintage Fairchild tube limiters for adding warmth and compression to tracks and mixes. It is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats for Windows and macOS.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

The Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection models Fairchild tube compressors, the units known for the smooth compression often associated with classic vocal and drum recordings. Universal Audio describes its emulations as based on accurate circuit models of the golden-reference Fairchild units from OceanWay Studios. The collection covers the Fairchild 670 and 660 and includes both UAD Native and Apollo Realtime/UAD-2 versions. It is a fit for producers who want analog-style glue and character on individual tracks or on a full mix bus.

Best for

Vocal warmth and glue
Drum bus compression
Parallel mix bus saturation
Bass and guitar grit
Mastering-style limiting

Developer: Universal Audio
Category: Limiters
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Includes both UAD Native and Apollo Realtime/UAD-2 versions
Tube-driven gain control and transformer sections for harmonics
Wet/Dry control for parallel compression blends
Sidechain Filter for shaping compressor triggering
Headroom control for clean to gritty distortion range
Models the Fairchild 670 and 660 limiter designs
Based on golden-reference Fairchild units from OceanWay Studios
Available in VST3, AU and AAX formats

03In depth

Sound and Character of the Fairchild Emulations

Universal Audio says the collection models the tube-powered amplifier and transformer sections of the hardware, not only the compression behavior. The developer positions the tube-driven gain control and transformer stages as the source of harmonics and punch on vocals, drums and other sources.

The plugins are meant to add the warm, rounded character associated with Fairchild compression, which Universal Audio says is what many mix engineers use the hardware for even when little gain reduction is applied.

Controls for Parallel Compression and Sidechain Shaping

The collection includes a Wet/Dry control for blending the unprocessed signal with the compressed signal. This is useful on drum and mix buses where you want some compression without losing the original dynamics.

The Sidechain Filter lets you shape what the compressor responds to. You can reduce how much a kick drum triggers compression on a drum bus. The Headroom control moves the gain reduction threshold and the amount of distortion, from cleaner mastering-style operation to grittier settings for vocals, drums, guitar and bass.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Universal Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Limiter
Formats	VST3, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats and operating systems does the Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection support?

It is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows and macOS, and is 64-bit.

What do I need to run the Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection?

You need a supported DAW compatible with VST3, AU or AAX, a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 system or a supported macOS version, an internet connection to download and authorize the plugins, and a free iLok account. An iLok USB key is optional. The free UA Connect application is used to manage the UAD Native plugins.

Do I need UA hardware to use it?

No. The UAD Native version runs on your Mac or PC without any UA hardware. The Apollo Realtime and UAD-2 versions run accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD-2 hardware.