The phrase “industry standard” gets used a lot in music production circles, but few products actually live up the hype.

The original 1176 compressor designed by Bill Putnam Sr. truly lives up to the name. Now - thanks to Arturia’s TAE® technology - you can enjoy its legendary tone-shaping from the convenience of a software plugin.

Produced from the late 60s, the original hardware compressor was a staple of all major studios. Every mix engineer demanded at least one in a session, and they were used to shape the sound of countless hit records from Michael Jackson to The Killers, Guns n Roses to Joe Cocker, Bruce Springsteen to Chaka Khan. You won’t have to settle for just one, though; with Comp FET-76, you can load up one of these classic compressors on as many channels as you want.

A fantastic all-rounder for both compressing and heating up your tone, Comp FET-76 is a must-have plugin.

People often say the 1176 “just makes things sound better”, but how does it do it? Our engineers carefully analyzed and modelled every component, electronics nuance, and quirk in the data of an original D/E model to find out, and recreate it as software. The combination of the Field Effect Transistor, the “Class A” amplifier, and its unique design imparts a subtle, but very desirable tonal change even at very low compression levels.

Crank the input, patch in higher ratio, or even go “all in”, and that FET magic really comes alive. We didn’t simply create a software clone, we created a truly modern compressor with updated features, but featuring the same legendary sound.

What’s so special about Comp FET-76?

All of the tone, all of the dynamic-shaping power, but with the convenience and versatility of software.

While a rack full of hardware FET compressors is a dream setup for many, that sort of setup is confined to only the world’s top studios. However, thanks to Arturia’s award-winning skill and heritage of breathing new life into vintage equipment, and reimagining it as software, you can now live out your fantasies, and make the famous 1176 sound part of your creative setup.

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A legend reborn for the 21st century

While there’s no doubt the original hardware FET compressor is practically faultless, we couldn’t help but imagine what modern production tricks we could conjure from it.

One of the benefits of recreating a classic is that we have been able to add some subtle but powerful new features that truly make this a compressor fit for the modern studio, without altering its legendary tone.

The top panel of the interface gives you access to all of the original controls. You can click to expand the plugin to and access its advanced, new features.

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Included in
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Effects you'll actually use

This effect is part of FX Collection, a suite of essential audio effect plugins empowering musicians, producers, and artists to get creative with their production. From iconic recording gear modeled with breathtaking accuracy, to cutting-edge contemporary effects, the collection includes the most sought-after studio tools, rare guitar pedals, modern mix enhancers, and beyond. Elevate your production and add color to your mix like never before.

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The exclusive analog modeling technology that makes our emulations indistinguishable from the originals.

By accurately mimicking the characteristics of analog oscillators, filters, and soft clipping, we can provide astonishing component-accurate detail and authentic analog charm in equal measure.

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* All manufacturer and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Arturia. The trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose features and sound were studied during the development. All names of equipment, inventors, and manufacturers have been included for illustrative and educational purposes only, and do not suggest any affiliation or endorsement by any equipment inventor or manufacturer.




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