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Average Price: $4,579
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$100
$501+
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Used on EVERYTHING IS LOVE, as stated by producer Stuart White in this September 2018 Sound on Sound interview.
He recorded both Beyoncé and Jay-Z with his “Telefunken mic, Avalon mic pre, and Tube Tech compressor. That was the chain for the entire album on both of them. I use just the one chain, because they jump back and forth on the mic all day long, and they both sound really good on that mic, so I kept it simple.”
White had previously specified this Tube Tech to be a CL 1B in this September 24, 2016 AudioTechnology interview with producer Stuart White about the production of Lemonade.
“We started in August 2014 at the Record Plant in Los Angeles. We were there for a month and had booked every single room; producers were everywhere writing songs. After that we took a break, then went to Paris for 45 days, where we lived in a hotel and set up two studios in two different hotel rooms. The identical setups consisted of ProAc Studio 100 monitors, an Avid Omni converter, Telefunken Elam 251 mic, an Avalon 737 mic pre, Tube Tech CL1B compressor, a Shure SM58 which she likes to use occasionally, and matching Pro Tools sessions."
In an August 2020 article with "Sound On Sound" Gaga's mix Engineers Benjamin Rice and Tom Norris Confirm her vocal chain used consistently in her music: "I have been using the same chain on LG for years, which starts with her personal, vintage Neumann U47, which I think is 60 years old now, and that has a great sound. We're used to it, and she loves singing into it. That goes into her vintage Neve 1073 mic pre, and then into a Tube-Tech CL-1B compressor, and straight into Pro Tools. It doesn't matter where we are, whether it's a studio, or at her house, or on a bus, I travel with this chain and record her with it. It makes it easier for me to punch in and out and combine takes from different days and places.
In this interview Juice WRLD’s main audio engineer breaks down his go to vocal chain, including this compressor
Used on EVERYTHING IS LOVE, as stated by producer Stuart White in this September 2018 Sound on Sound interview.
He recorded both Beyoncé and Jay-Z with his “Telefunken mic, Avalon mic pre, and Tube Tech compressor. That was the chain for the entire album on both of them. I use just the one chain, because they jump back and forth on the mic all day long, and they both sound really good on that mic, so I kept it simple.”
White had previously specified this Tube Tech to be a CL 1B in this September 24, 2016 AudioTechnology interview with producer Stuart White about the production of Beyoncé's Lemonade.
“We started in August 2014 at the Record Plant in Los Angeles. We were there for a month and had booked every single room; producers were everywhere writing songs. After that we took a break, then went to Paris for 45 days, where we lived in a hotel and set up two studios in two different hotel rooms. The identical setups consisted of ProAc Studio 100 monitors, an Avid Omni converter, Telefunken Elam 251 mic, an Avalon 737 mic pre, Tube Tech CL1B compressor, a Shure SM58 which she likes to use occasionally, and matching Pro Tools sessions."
At 1:50 he pans the camera to the rack and says: "This is my guy, this guy goes everywhere with me..."
“The Universal Audio plug-ins are my bread and butter,” he says. “I use the UAD EMT 140 [Classic Plate Reverb], the Lexicon [224] Digital Reverb, and the Roland [RE-201] Space Echo. If drums or bass sound boring, UAD’s Fairchild 670 Compressor beefs stuff up and gives them character. Or the [Teletronix] LA2A plug-in on bass. Synths go straight to Pro Tools. Guitars and piano go to outboard effects like the hardware Space Echo, which I love for its unpredictability. I used a Manley Massive Passive EQ a lot too. The TubeTech CL-1B was the main vocal compressor. And I have a set of Lucas Limiting Amplifiers into a pair of Amtek Pultec PEQ-1A clones. That is a dummy-proof signal path. It’s hard to botch that.”
In the video titled "How ‘Eastside’ Accidentally Turned Benny Blanco Into a Superstar," presented by Daniel Wall on YouTube, the Tube-Tech CL 1B Opto Compressor can be seen in Benny Blanco's effects rack alongside other equipment, confirming its use by the artist.
Used for the lead vocals on "Rolling in the Deep", as stated by mix engineer Tom Elmhirst in this September 2011 Sound on Sound interview.
Vocals: Waves Q6 & De‑esser, Digirack EQIII, Lo‑Fi & Trim, Pultec EQ, Urei 1176, Tube‑Tech CL1B, various spring reverbs and delays.
"I had the Q6 on the chorus vocal, notching out 930, 1634 and 3175 Hz very, very heavily: ‑18dB, ‑18dB and ‑12.1dB respectively, with very narrow Q. I also had the EQIII on the lead‑vocal sub, notching something out again. Something obviously needed to be taken out. The vocal is the most important thing in the track, and taking those frequencies out allowed me to keep it up front in the mix, particularly in the chorus. You can never account for what mic the vocals were recorded on, and whatever it is that bugs me, I can take it out. 'T' on the lead vocal bus is the [Massey] Tapehead plug‑in, which wasn't used, but I did use two Waves De‑essers, one taking out at 5449Hz and the other at 11004Hz. Rather than use one to try to cover all the sibilance I used two. I do that quite often.
"Regarding the outboard, I had the Pultec EQ, Urei 1176 and the Tube‑Tech CL1B on the lead vocal sub insert (desk channel 25). The Pultec boosted around 100Hz and 12k. It's colourful, but not drastic. There was not a lot of gain. The blackface Urei had fast attack and fast release, whereas the Tube‑Tech had slow attack and slow release, it was more evening out the level. You can use compression as an effect, but on the vocal you mainly want control. You want to set it up right so you're not constantly moving the channel fader to fit the vocal in the mix. If you're constantly moving the fader, rather than just doing the occasional ride, you know that you need to look at your compression. There's also Paul's Roland Space Echo track, which I used throughout, and which was the only lead vocal effect in the first chorus. On the backing vocals I had the Digirack Trim, again the Lo‑Fi, and the EQIII, cutting a bit around 405Hz and boosting a little around 3.17k. I used quite a few spring reverbs on the backing vocals, because I wanted them to have a lot more ambience. In the choruses I would also have added several delays. The delays make the backing vocals swing a bit, and they also fill up the space and make sure that they fit in the mix.”
Used on "Closer", as stated by producer DJ Swivel in this February 2017 Sound on Sound interview.
I recorded Halsey’s vocals at Westlake Studios, in Production Suite 1, using a Telefunken ELA M251E, going into a Neve 1073 mic pre and a Tube Tech CL1-B compressor, which is a classic female vocal chain.
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)
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.
Community setups
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