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Compressors & Limiters

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Antelope Audio A4-1B Analog Automated Opto Valve Compressor - Complete Edition
On Sale!
Special Price $ 2,645 .00 Regular Price $ 3,140 .00
or $56.21/month with 48-month special financing.
Universal Audio LA-2A Electro-Optical Classic Compressor
Best Seller
$ 5,999 .00
or $169.98/month with 36-month special financing.
Tube-Tech CL 1B Optical Tube Compressor
Best Seller
$ 4,249 .00
or $180.59/month with 24-month special financing.
Universal Audio 1176 LN Classic Limiting Amplifier
Best Seller
$ 2,999 .00
or $84.98/month with 36-month special financing.
Empirical Labs Distressor EL8X-S Distressor Pair
Best Seller
$ 3,499 .00
or $99.14/month with 36-month special financing.
Shadow Hills Industries Mastering Compressor
$ 9,985 .00
or $282.91/month with 36-month special financing.
Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Master Buss Processor - Black
$ 4,999 .00
or $141.64/month with 36-month special financing.
SSL Bus+ Next-Generation Stereo Bus Compressor
$ 2,899 .99
or $123.25/month with 24-month special financing.
Retro Instruments Sta-Level Tube Compressor
$ 3,295 .00
or $275.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Retro Instruments 176 Tube Limiting Amplifier
$ 3,695 .00
or $308.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
API 2500+ Stereo Bus Compressor
$ 3,295 .00
or $275.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
IGS Audio Tubecore Mastering Vari-Mu Compressor
$ 3,195 .00
or $67.90/month with 48-month special financing.
Neve 33609/N Stereo Compressor
$ 3,995 .00
or $169.79/month with 24-month special financing.
Fairchild Recording Equipment 670 Dual-Channel Compressor/Limiter
Empirical Labs Distressor EL8X Distressor
$ 1,799 .00
or $50.98/month with 36-month special financing.
Elysia Alpha Two-Channel Mastering Compressor
$ 11,999 .00
Thermionic Culture Phoenix Mastering Plus Tube Compressor
$ 6,199 .00
or $517.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Dramastic Audio Obsidian Stereo VCA Compressor
$ 3,195 .00
or $267.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Empirical Labs EL7x FATSO Analog Tape Simulator/Optimizer
$ 2,449 .00
or $69.39/month with 36-month special financing.
Rupert Neve Designs Master Buss Converter
$ 3,999 .00
or $113.31/month with 36-month special financing.
Chandler Limited RS124 Compressor - Standard
$ 2,995 .00
or $127.29/month with 24-month special financing.
Hazelrigg Industries VNE Single-Channel All-Tube PWM Compressor - Silver
$ 4,500 .00
or $375.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Tegeler Audio Creme Bus Compressor and Mastering Equalizer
$ 1,739 .00
or $73.91/month with 24-month special financing.
Empirical Labs Distressor EL8 Compressor/Limiter
$ 1,549 .00
or $43.89/month with 36-month special financing.
Gyraf Audio G24 Passive Compressor
$ 4,100 .00
or $342.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
WesAudio ngBusComp Bus Compressor
$ 2,999 .00
or $127.46/month with 24-month special financing.
Purple Audio MC77 FET Compressor
$ 1,850 .00
or $52.42/month with 36-month special financing.
Manley Labs ELOP+ Front Panel
On Sale!
Special Price $ 2,999 .00 Regular Price $ 3,299 .00
or $84.98/month with 36-month special financing.
Tegeler Audio VTC Vari Tube Compressor
$ 1,949 .00
or $82.84/month with 24-month special financing.
Chandler EMI TG12413 Zener Limiter
$ 5,150 .00
or $218.88/month with 24-month special financing.
Chandler Limited RS124 Compressor - Mastering, Matched Pair
$ 6,740 .00
or $286.45/month with 24-month special financing.
Vertigo Sound VSC-3 VCA Compressor
$ 5,457 .99
or $455.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Bettermaker Mastering Limiter 2.0
$ 3,699 .00
or $157.21/month with 24-month special financing.
Tube-Tech CL 2A Dual-Channel Tube Compressor
$ 4,999 .00
or $212.46/month with 24-month special financing.
Gainlab Audio Dictator Dual Pentode Vari-mu Compressor
$ 2,480 .00
or $207.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Smart Research C2 Stereo/Dual-Mono Compressor
$ 2,450 .00
or $205.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Maselec MDS-2 Stereo/Dual-Mono High-Frequency Limiter/De-Esser
$ 4,440 .00
or $370.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Mercury 666 Studio Limiting Amplifier
$ 3,898 .00
or $325.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
GOLY CrosscOMPressionEQ Stereo Processing Unit
$ 3,000 .00
or $250.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.
Wave Distro UBK EL7 Fatso Stereo Compressor
$ 2,799 .00
or $234.00/month suggested payment with 12-month special financing.

Items 1-40 of 242

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Audio Compressors and Limiters

Read our Audio Compressors and Limiters Buyers Guide >


About Audio Compressors and Limiters

Audio compressors are essential tools in music production and live sound engineering. They help manage the dynamic range of audio by smoothing out volume peaks and boosting quieter sounds. This ensures that all parts of your music or audio are at a clear and consistent level. Audio compressors can also be used creatively to shape the sound's character or add punch to drums and vocals, making them stand out in a mix. Whether you're a professional in a recording studio or setting up your first home studio, it’s important to have at least a few compressors and limiters available for recording, mixing, and mastering. Vintage King offers a wide selection of top-quality analog compressors from the best brands in the industry.

Shop for Audio Compressors and Limiters by Brand

Vintage King carries compressors and limiters from classic brands like API Audio, AMS Neve, Universal Audio, Fairchild, and Solid State Logic. We also carry a collection of modern classics from brands like Empirical Labs, Tube-Tech, UnderToneAudio, Shadow Hills Industries, Retro Instruments, and Manley Labs. Of course, if you’re looking for quality compressors on a budget, be sure to check out Warm Audio, dbx, Heritage Audio, and Black Lion Audio. No matter what kind of compressor you need for your recording studio, Vintage King is sure to have the right compressor for you!

Audio Compressors and Limiters FAQs

What are the different types of audio compressors?

Vari-mu Tube Compressors are some of the oldest compressor designs. Vari-mu compressors use a vacuum tube to control gain reduction, which gives them a characteristically warm and smooth sound. Because of this, they are often used on the mix bus or during the mastering process. Popular options include the Fairchild 670, Retro Instruments 175-B, UnderToneAudio Unfairchild, and the Manley Labs Vari-Mu compressor.

Optical Compressors, also known as Opto Compressors rely on a light-sensitive resistor to control gain reduction. They often have a slower response to transients, but are great at leveling out your signal, which makes them a go-to choice for vocals. Popular optical compressors include the Universal Audio LA-2A, the Tube-Tech CL 1B, and the Heritage Audio Tubesessor.

FET Compressors are known for their fast attack and distinct sound. The most popular FET compressors are the Universal Audio 1176, along with affordable recreations like the Warm Audio WA-76 and the Black Lion Audio Bluey.

VCA Compressors are fast and flexible, which make them a go-to choice for compressing an entire mix. Popular choices for mix bus compression include the SSL Bus+, API 2500+ Stereo Bus Compressor, and the Warm Audio Bus-Comp.

What are the main controls on a compressor?

Threshold: The Threshold control sets the level at which the compressor starts working.

Ratio: The Ratio control determines the amount of compression applied once a signal crosses the threshold. Using a setting of 2:1 as an example, for every 2db over the threshold the signal goes, its output is only 1db.

Attack: The Attack control refers to the time it takes for the compressor to kick in once the signal crosses the threshold. A fast attack time will clamp down on transients, while a slower attack time will allow more of the transient through before compressing.

Release: The Release control determines how quickly the compressor stops reducing the signal after it falls below the threshold. Adjusting the release can help make for a more natural sound.

What's the difference between a Compressor and a Limiter?

A limiter is simply a compressor with a ratio of 10:1 or higher. A “brick wall” limiter will have an extremely high ratio of 100:1 or even infinity to 1 to ensure the signal does not exceed a set level.

Getting Started with Audio Compressors and Limiters

Each type of compressor will have a unique sound, which explains why most recording studios have a variety of compressors on hand. Once you’ve chosen the type of compressor for your needs, it’s time to set the threshold. Adjust the threshold setting so the compressor reacts to the louder transients of whatever track you’re compressing. If the gain reduction meter is showing constant compression, you should probably raise the threshold so it only reacts to the part of the sounds you want compressed. Once your threshold is set, adjust your attack and release times to shape the sound. Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all setting for these controls, so use your ears and experiment until your track sounds great in the mix!

What are the Most Popular Brands for Audio Compressors and Limiters on vintageking.com?

What are the Most Popular Audio Compressors and Limiters on vintageking.com?

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Why Shop Audio Compressors and Limiters at vintageking.com?

For over 30 years, Vintage King has been committed to equipping our customers with the very best recording gear, expert advice, and professional studio install services. Our award-winning team is dedicated to helping you find the best compressor for your recording studio. As musicians and engineers ourselves, we have hands-on experience with all of the most popular compressors and limiters. The Vintage King team is committed to helping you find the right compressor for your needs, so call us today at 888.653.1184 to find the best compressor for you!

#outboardgear | #compressor | #studiogear

Dynamic processors are an engineer's secret weapon, they not only offer control of extreme peaks of a performance, they also add analog warmth and vibe to anything you run through it.

There are a few different style compressors to be aware of. Optical compressors, such as the LA-2A, are often described as “smooth” and “warm”, and usually a go to compressor when tracking vocals. They have fixed attack and release controls, as well as a fixed ratio, typically 3:1. They are typically equipped with two controls, threshold and make-up gain. The threshold control allows you to adjust the point of when the compressor will engage. The makeup or output dial is to add back the gain that was lost in the compressor's gain reduction. Optical compressors come in solid state, and tube versions.

Discrete audio compressors, such as the 1176, provide a few more control functions, and are often referred to as “aggressive”, but they can be used subtly to achieve a warm, smooth sound. They have independent controls of attack and release to dial in to the rhythm of the song. The input control adjusts the level being sent into the compressor, and the output control is to add additional gain that was lost from the gain reduction. Discrete compressors also come in solid state and tube options.

Limiters can be used on a source to set a “brick wall” that signal cannot pass. This is ideal when a drum bus has extreme transients, and continues to overload the bus. Or on a mix bus that is being pushed to the limit. A limiter is a great way to make sure that a mix will not blow up any speakers you play them through.

Our compressors, like our classic stereo compressors shown above, come in all shapes and sizes, from mono units, to eight channels, and more. When deciding on the best compressor for your rig, make sure you think about how many channels you would want to compress at one time. In a smaller studio setup, a single channel or dual channel might work for everything in your recording or mix.

Some audio compressors can be used in a side chain configuration, which can allow you to trigger the compressor or limiter from an external audio signal. This can be used to “duck” the bass whenever a kick drum is hit to make more room for the attack, or “duck” delays and reverbs every time the vocalist sings.

With so many options available, it can be overwhelming figuring out what compressor or limiter will work best for your setup. Our sales team at Vintage King is highly trained in all the models we carry, and will be glad to help find the right fit for your studio. Contact our team here!

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