Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $4,524
High-end/Boutique
$100
$501+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "TUBE-TECH CL-1B". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
The Tube-Tech CL 1B Opto Compressor stands as a benchmark in the world of professional audio, revered for its ability to deliver velvety-smooth compression that enhances any recording with unparalleled warmth and transparency. This iconic piece of studio gear, often seen in top-tier studios from LA to Nashville, is celebrated for its intuitive controls and versatile application across a variety of instruments and vocal tracks. Its simplicity belies a sophisticated design that effortlessly preserves the clarity and character of your sound, even under heavy compression.
At the heart of the CL 1B lies a gain-reduction element that is immediately effective, offering engineers and producers the option of fixed or manual time control to tailor the compression to their exact needs. The compressor's all tube-based push-pull amplifier provides up to 30dB of variable gain, ensuring your tracks sit perfectly in the mix. Whether it's vocals, bass, guitars, or keys, this compressor allows you to achieve a polished sound with ease, without unwanted artifacts.
For those in the know, the CL 1B is not just equipment; it's an essential tool that integrates seamlessly into any professional setup, offering balanced connections and linkability with multiple units for expanded processing options.
Key Features:
- Unique low distortion gain-reduction element
- All tube-based push-pull amplifier
- Linkable with another CL 1B via two busses
- VU meter for monitoring input, compression, and output
- Continuously variable attack and release time
- Gain range: off to +30dB
- Variable Threshold: off to -40dBu
- Frequency response @ -3dB: 5Hz-25kHz
- Low noise: < -75dBu @30dB gain
- Clickless bypass switch
- Balanced XLR input and output
Owner's manual
TUBE-TECH CL-1B User ManualProduct specs
| Type | Tube Optical |
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Controls | Gain, Ratio, Threshold, Attack, Release |
| Threshold | -40 dB to 0 dB |
| Ratio | 2:1 to 10:1 |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz-25kHz (-3 dB) |
| Inputs | 1 x XLR |
| Outputs | 1 x XLR |
| Sidechain I/O | 2 x 1/4" |
| Rack Spaces | 3U |
| Height | 5.25" |
| Depth | 6.7" |
| Width | 19" |
| Weight | 9 lbs. |
FAQs
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What makes the Tube-Tech CL 1B compressor unique compared to other compressors?
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The Tube-Tech CL 1B is a tube optical compressor known for its smooth, musical compression, making it ideal for vocals and bass. Its tube design provides warmth and character, while the optical element ensures a natural, transparent sound.
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What types of music is the Tube-Tech CL 1B best suited for?
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The Tube-Tech CL 1B excels in genres like pop, hip-hop, and R&B due to its ability to transparently compress vocals and bass without adding harshness, maintaining a polished and consistent sound.
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Can the Tube-Tech CL 1B be used for stereo applications?
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The Tube-Tech CL 1B is a mono compressor, but it can be used in stereo applications by pairing two units together, allowing for independent control and processing of each channel.
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How does the Tube-Tech CL 1B handle fast transients?
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The Tube-Tech CL 1B features adjustable attack and release controls, allowing it to handle fast transients effectively while maintaining a smooth compression curve, making it versatile for various dynamic sources.
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What are the connectivity options for the Tube-Tech CL 1B?
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The Tube-Tech CL 1B offers XLR inputs and outputs, along with sidechain I/O via 1/4" jacks, ensuring compatibility with professional studio setups.
Videos
TUBE-TECH, LYDKRAFT
TUBE-TECH CL1B Demo: Sound and Controls. Simple Voice demo
TUBE-TECH CL1B Demo: Sound and Controls. Simple Voice demo
TUBE-TECH, LYDKRAFT
Tube-Tech CL 1B | Compressor | Vintage King
Vintage King
Slate Custom Opto vs Tubetech CL1B Hardware Comparison
Christian Svedin
Tube-Tech CL1B Tube Compressor
Retrosonic Pro Audio
Reviews
PROS
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Superior warmth and smooth compression ideal for vocals
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Unmatched transparency, hard to make it sound bad
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Provides rich, creamy audio enhancement like no plugin can
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Excellent on a range of sources: vocals, bass, keyboard
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Simple controls, even for beginners
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High-quality components and design justify the price
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Versatile use in studio and live settings
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Can effortlessly achieve professional recording/mixing results
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Benefits from tube upgrades for custom sound preferences
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Regarded as the industry standard and best vocal compressor
CONS
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High price point may be prohibitive for some
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Knobs could offer more resistance to prevent accidental adjustments
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about TUBE-TECH CL-1B.
Comparisons
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Kiive emulation is noted for its versatility and is perceived by some users as sounding closer to the original CL-1B than the UAD version.
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Compared to the LA-2A, the CL-1B is noted to be faster, which is beneficial for capturing quick transients in genres like rap.
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The Softube CL1B plugin is noted to closely emulate the hardware version, particularly when compared to other plugins like the UAD, which uses the same Softube code.
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Softube's CL1B v1, while close to the original hardware, is noted to lack the hardware's "lift" and saturation characteristics, requiring users to adjust their processing approach.
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Software and compatibility
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Issues with UA Connect include forced auto-updates that may disrupt plugin functionality if they conflict with the operating system, requiring internet for operation.
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UA's DSP-based CL-1B is essentially a Softube emulation, highlighting the distinction between UAD's platform and native plugin availability.
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Users suggest that the Softube CL1B MKII is an excellent native plugin choice, with some indicating that UAD's delay in adopting MKII demonstrates its quality.
Source
Use cases and applications
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The UAD CL-1B is appreciated for its smooth compression, particularly effective on vocal tracks, though some users prefer it for adding a "smear" effect on acoustic buses.
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The CL-1B is favored for its transparency and is frequently used on vocals and bass, though some users also apply it successfully to acoustic guitars and percussion.
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The compressor is popular in Nashville studios for country vocals, although some users find it less forgiving with dynamic singers, requiring careful management of the threshold.
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The CL-1B's tube design subtly smoothens the low and top end, making it especially appealing for vocal work where a natural, transparent sound is desired.
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The CL1B is praised for its ability to soften transients without losing clarity, making it suitable for preserving the "air" in vocal recordings.
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For achieving CL1B-like results, combining a plugin with high-frequency saturation or a de-esser is recommended to mimic the hardware's analog warmth.
Source
Features and functionality
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The CL-1B offers more control with its additional parameters compared to the LA-2A, making it a versatile choice for those who want less character from their compressor.
Source
User experience
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Owners report a learning curve with the attack knob, cautioning that small adjustments can significantly impact the sound, but achieving the right settings yields exceptional results.
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Owners highlight the variability in sound among different CL1B hardware units, especially with tube gear, suggesting careful listening over reliance on reviews.
Source
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 5 Reviews and 14 Ratings
198
Unoticed when compressing Vocals
I use this compresor because its lack of coloring. Love it on vocals and acoustic guitars!
The Industry Standard Tube Tech
It is the industry standard. It is the real deal. It is a Tube Tech. What more is there to say?
Artist usage
Add artist
In his studio tour at 6:00 you can see it sitting in his rack
A Tube-Tech CL 1B is visible in one of Deadmau5's instagram posts.
In a photo on his engineer's Instagram in his studio, you can see a Tube Tech CL1B compressor mounted in the rack.
Visible in this October 7, 2021 Instagram story.
This article on the making of Marr's 2018 Call the Comet album by MixOnline.com touches on some of the gear used during the recording process. "The Shure SM58 is the preferred microphone for his vocals for its grittiness, run through the 1081 into a Tube-Tech CL 1B with low compression ratios to even everything out." (While the engineer is providing this feedback, the gear is housed in Marr's own Crazy Face studios, which contains gear he's collected over his decades in the music industry.)
In the third episode of ''Being Like Mike'', the items he use can be seen at (2:34), (7:51) and (8:20).
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In the image on the left hand side of Tyler is the Compressor in his rack. It is a pretty clear depiction of the this specific compressor.
The dynamics processor that has been used for Kanye's vocals throughout the recording as well as for all his live performances is the Tube-Tech CL-1B.
We are very pleased to have an artist of this importance on our users list - and much more so because Mr. West normally doesn't want to have his name connected to any specific piece of gear. In this case, however, he has agreed, and, in all modesty, we see that as a very important recognition of the Tube-Tech sound.
Kanye West’s sound engineer is Noah Goldstein, who got the gig only 6 years after graduating from Temple University in Philadelphia, working in Electric Lady Studios with artists such as Arcade Fire, Steve Earle, Katy Perry and Danish act Kashmir in the meantime. Noah is responsible for all Kanye's vocal recordings and for a main part of the mixing and organizing Kanye's tracks for his records, as well as for live use.
On the right hand side of the mixing console, this is the second equipment in the rack.
Used for vocals, as stated by FINNEAS in this August 31, 2020 webinar for Mix with the Masters at 9:41.
So now, it's a Telefunken 251 for Billie, Chandler REDD for me. Billie's mic I run through a 5211 Neve preamp... and then straight into the board. And then my mic, Chandler, I'll run through a CL, y'know, 1B, one o' those blue compressor units, that's everybody... But that's it.
Used for Albarn's vocals on Gorillaz's "Charger", as mentioned by recording engineer Stephen Sedgwick in this July 2017 Sound on Sound interview about the production of Humanz.
“I recorded Damon’s rough vocals with a Neumann KMS105 condenser, which sounds pretty good and doesn’t pick up a lot of sound from the room, so it works great if there are other people around and he quickly wants to lay down some ideas. But when it came to recording his final vocal takes I used the Flea 47, which is a really great-sounding Neumann U47 clone. I usually recorded it via a Chandler LTD1 mic pre, and then either a Distressor or a Tube-Tech CL1B compressor."
According to Sound On Sound, Nathan Chapman recorded Taylor Swift's vocals for the album "Speak Now" using a setup that included an Avantone CV12 microphone connected to a Martech MSS10 mic preamp, followed by a TUBE-TECH CL-1B compressor.
Album Usage
The TUBE-TECH CL-1B has been featured on the following albums:
Speak Now (Taylor's Version)
Taylor Swift (2023)
Good News
Megan Thee Stallion (2020)
Rain On Me (with Ariana Grande)
Ariana Grande & Lady Gaga (2020)
Old Town Road (Remix)
Billy Ray Cyrus & Lil Nas X & Mason Ramsey (2019)
Call The Comet
Johnny Marr (2018)
Eastside (with Halsey & Khalid)
Benny Blanco & Halsey & Khalid (2018)
![TUBE-TECH CL-1B as heard on Eastside (with Halsey & Khalid) [Acoustic] by Benny Blanco & Halsey & Khalid (2018)](https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/album/image/506578/eastside-with-halsey-khalid-acoustic.jpg)
Eastside (with Halsey & Khalid) [Acoustic]
Benny Blanco & Halsey & Khalid (2018)
EVERYTHING IS LOVE
THE CARTERS (2018)
Don't Take The Money (Organized Noize Remix)
Bleachers (2017)
Gang Signs & Prayer
Stormzy (2017)
Luv Is Rage 2
Lil Uzi Vert (2017)
Humanz (Deluxe)
Gorillaz (2017)
Lemonade
Beyoncé (2016)
Closer
The Chainsmokers & Halsey (2016)
VERY RARE FOREVER FREESTYLE
XXXTENTACION (2015)
Turn It Around
DubVision (2014)
Repave
Volcano Choir (2013)
channel ORANGE
Frank Ocean (2012)
Rolling in the Deep
Adele (2011)
Nightmare
Avenged Sevenfold (2010)
Speak Now
Taylor Swift (2010)
In Rainbows
Radiohead (2007)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use TUBE-TECH CL-1B, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Community setups
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