Warm Audio WA-1B Optical Compressor

The Warm Audio WA-1B is the latest in a series of dynamics processors modeled after the ubiquitous tools that have shaped the sound of recorded music for decades. The WA-1B is an accurate recreation of a celebrated tube-based optical compressor from Denmark, originally released in 1987 as the CL 1A, and again in 1991 as the CL 1B. Relatively “young” compared to the ’60s LA-2A that inspired it, the CL 1B has countless hits under its belt thanks to the musical shimmer it gives to vocals, and it’s widely considered the not-so-secret weapon for hip-hop, R&B and pop artists. The Warm Audio WA-1B captures the same magic as the original, excelling on highly dynamic sources that demand a vintage flavor with the benefit of modern precision.