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UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection plugin interface by Universal Audio
Universal Audio·Compressors

UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection: Tube Compressor Plugin by Universal Audio

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (245 ratings)

UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection is a tube compressor plugin from Universal Audio that emulates the 175B and 176 hardware compressors designed by Bill Putnam Sr.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit
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01Overview

The UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection models two compressors from the early 1960s, the 175B and the 176, which were among the first compressors built specifically for studio recording and mixing. The plugin emulates the entire circuit path and control set of the original hardware. It includes features not found on the hardware, such as Sidechain Link, Dry/Wet Mix parallel processing and a Headroom control. Artist presets from several well-known engineers are included.

Best for

  • Vocal compression
  • Drum bus processing
  • Parallel room mic compression
  • Guitar and bass control
  • Tube tone shaping
Category
Compressors
Store
Plugin Boutique
02Key features

What you get

  • Circuit emulation of Bill Putnam Sr.'s 175B and 176 tube compressors
  • Models the entire circuit path and control set of the hardware
  • UA 175B has a fixed 12:1 ratio
  • UA 176 offers selectable 2:1, 4:1, 8:1 and 12:1 ratios
  • Sidechain Link for keyed compression
  • Dry/Wet Mix for parallel processing
  • Headroom control for a user-customizable operating level
  • Artist presets from Jacquire King, Carl Glanville and Joe Chiccarelli
03In depth

Sound and Character of the 175B and 176 Emulations

Universal Audio describes the original 175B and 176 as prized for their rich tube gain reduction character and fast attack. The emulation is built from a pair of the company's 1960s units and captures the tube gain reduction design, the tube amplifier harmonics and the low-frequency transformer saturation.

The developer notes that the feedback compression circuit gives softer compression at lower input levels and nearly brickwall limiting at higher levels. The 175B has a fixed 12:1 ratio, while the 176 offers selectable ratios of 2:1, 4:1, 8:1 and 12:1.

Workflow and Key Controls

The plugin includes Sidechain Link and Dry/Wet Mix for parallel processing. The Headroom control sets a user-customizable operating level, which lets you adjust how the circuit responds to your signal.

The collection includes artist presets from Jacquire King, Carl Glanville and Joe Chiccarelli, which give you a starting point drawn from their production work.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

DeveloperUniversal Audio
TypePlugin
CategoryCompressor
FormatsVST3, AU, AAX
Operating systemsWindows, macOS
Architecture64-bit
05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats and operating systems does the UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection support?

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

What do I need to use the UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection?

You need a supported DAW compatible with VST3, AU or AAX, a free iLok account and an internet connection to download and authorize UAD Native plug-ins. The free UA Connect application manages the plugins, and an iLok USB key is optional.

Does the plugin include the Headroom and Dry/Wet features of the original hardware?

No. Sidechain Link, Dry/Wet Mix and Headroom are listed as exclusive plug-in features that go beyond the original hardware controls.

07Developer

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