SAME COMPRESSOR, 4 BUDGETS (Can you hear a difference?)

Check out how these 1176 compressor clones stack up against the iconic UA 1176.
☛ Learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes with my FREE Mixing Cheatsheet: mixcheatsheet.com
Music I’ve Worked On: open.spotify.com/playlist/6I7...
Website: hardcoremusicstudio.com
Check out the 4 compressors in this video:
UA 1176LN sweetwater.sjv.io/KjZkPx
Purple Audio MC77 sweetwater.sjv.io/DKkDqn
Warm Audio WA76 sweetwater.sjv.io/anW3LZ
Klark Teknik 76-KT sweetwater.sjv.io/XYXzra
-------------------------
MY FAVORITE GEAR:
Computer / Interface:
Mac M1 Studio Max sweetwater.sjv.io/anOMOo
Avid Carbon sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQ6M6g
Apogee Duet 3 sweetwater.sjv.io/y2qXqb
Monitors / Headphones:
Avantone CLA-10a sweetwater.sjv.io/WqyMyZ
Audio Technica ATH-M50 sweetwater.sjv.io/PyOMON
Microphones:
Shure SM57 sweetwater.sjv.io/daOMy7
AKG D112 sweetwater.sjv.io/Kj0MBy
Sennheiser e604 sweetwater.sjv.io/DKyvWa
Shure SM7b sweetwater.sjv.io/5g5vk3
AKG C451b sweetwater.sjv.io/jre9Rv
Shure SM81 sweetwater.sjv.io/eK1LnD
Audio Technica AT4050 sweetwater.sjv.io/JzKMqr
Preamps/Outboard:
API 3124 sweetwater.sjv.io/eK1LRD
EL8 Distressor sweetwater.sjv.io/XYmMd4
Favorite Plugins:
BSA Clipper blacksaltaudio.com/clipper
Escalator blacksaltaudio.com/escalator
Low Control blacksaltaudio.com/low-control
Waves SSL Bundle waves.alzt.net/dMd4q
Waves CLA Compressors waves.alzt.net/0va0P
Waves Platinum waves.alzt.net/jxz2M
Slate Trigger 2 sweetwater.sjv.io/MmAM53
SoundToys Rack sweetwater.sjv.io/xkLgyd
Auto-tune Pro sweetwater.sjv.io/OreMYr
Vocalign Project sweetwater.sjv.io/xkLgyA
Cranesong Phoenix II sweetwater.sjv.io/PyOMrz
Instruments / Amps:
Ludwig Black Beauty Snare sweetwater.sjv.io/1r9vDR
Gibson Les Paul sweetwater.sjv.io/B0nvz1
Evertune Guitars sweetwater.sjv.io/WqyM6P
Fender Jazz Bass sweetwater.sjv.io/nLX5R6
Sansamp Bass Driver DI sweetwater.sjv.io/OreM9Q
EVH 5150 sweetwater.sjv.io/4PGvr9
Mesa 2x12 cab sweetwater.sjv.io/75avGA

[@chrisdover8507]

This was one of the best reviews I’ve seen in ages. 6 different units would have been better. Love to see a Pultec shootout. And 1073’s.

[@Kyp031]

Purple audio is in a small mountain town near me. I use to build the sweet ten rack working as a circuit assembler self employed. They are awesome and the owner/engineer really cares about his product.

[@nolanfoxmusic]

I did this same experiment but with all budget 1176's on my own and really truly found out essentially the same exact things! The Lindell Audio unit was my 3rd unit of testing and the biggest draw back with it was it's IN/OUT ports sucked and it's power supply was terrible. Haha! I chose the cheapest KlarkTeknik unit and it's been doing great things for me!

[@vacuumelite2065]

Your approach to this comparison is superb. Very revealing. Thank you for the effort you invested. 😎😊♥️

[@KiDAppleBorg]

That “tell me” part of the song had a lot of life! The UA1176 had a fuller more dynamic sound when compared side by side but I was surprised how similar they all sounded.

[@ItsKyleMan]

Crazy how good the plugins sound when compared side by side

[@Starcore-Studio]

Yes and the plug-ins are much cheaper.

[@cellarroom1580]

@@Starcore-Studio Yet considering it´s not sure you can even use the plug-in ten years from now I would go for the Klark. Almost as cheap as the plug in, but it will last longer and you get some money for it if you need to sell it. I have one, and it´s gone up in price since I bought it.

[@agentviktor3297]

It's not that crazy, if you consider that developers are trying to get it right and they have the right the technology to capture all the meaningful details :)

[@HansHammer]

@@cellarroom1580well the hardware uses extra electricity, and costs more and will definitely be broken in 10-15 years, plugin is definitely waaay cheaper

[@natemoore6760]

@@cellarroom1580plug in currently going for $30….so if by nearly as cheap you mean 10x more expensive…..sure.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Grab your free Mixing Cheatsheet to learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes: www.mixcheatsheet.com

[@MrParapampampam]

where did you lose your ssl certificate? Seems like this site can’t provide a secure connection

[@c.ron_onthetrack]

pls it doesnt work helpppp

[@DCXTV]

Warm Audio's unit sounds mushy and saturated (on my macbook speakers :D), maybe it overdrives the input transformer sooner (cheaper trafo? I used OEP transformers on input AND output on my diy 1176 to get a really colorful saturating unit distancing itself from plugins and casual units), and Klark doesn't have a trafo because of saving in costs?

[@matthewgray713]

Warm is more distorted, Purple has slightly more attack/upper mid presence, Klark is missing some bottom but otherwise pretty similar to the Purple, the UA sounds a hair more rounder/glued overall.

[@alextotheroh8071]

Really awesome shootout. Variety of source material, fantastic pace to the video... Great video! Thank you!

[@benjaminschultz6501]

I'm seriously shopping for a hardware compressor and you helped enlighten me so much in these 15 minutes. Thank you so much for your tireless work! 🙏

[@darylthisdelle7702]

AudioScape

[@markotten1755]

Thanks for doing such elaborate comparing!! Much appreciated

[@marcvanhie4425]

Thanks! Good to know how little difference there is between the most and least expensive one.

[@matthewotooleis]

This is a great comparison video mate. I’m thinking about buying the Klark Teknik and this has been very useful.

[@Max.Iuliani]

Thank you! This was a really effective review. Especially when you put them on several elements of the mix!

[@joeyramonelookalike]

Great video I would love to see more videos like this!!! (I've always wondered the same about the LA2A and the CL1B!!!)

[@thmp3r]

This is a cool comparison. I’m quite sure this shows your mixing skills to get all these signals to be affected the “same” and then combine to be so very close in the final result. So, thank you for that. Great representation

[@jaymzleutz]

Man, what a GREAT video. Thank you for the effort. It was really meaningful!

[@Mambojambo157]

Bravo. Excellently undertaken and honest review,. Best one I've seen by far.

[@markguitarsounds]

IMHO - I personally feel that using plug ins on channels within your mix is totally fine and as good as using the hardware. I personally think that using the analog counterparts on the way in is what will make all the difference.

[@OpusLoveProductions]

That's how I do it. Preamp>Compressor> EQ> Interface>Plugins.

[@peacefulruler1]

I had the same thought, but I think this might be due to which effects may sound better with analog circuits (preamps) vs which ones sound better digital (delays, reverb)

[@benjaminschultz6501]

Agreed. PLUS, with hardware on the way in, you don't get CPU-induced latency; you can hear the awesomeness in real time! 😎

[@darijorda953]

It's good to get some compression in before your a/d conversion. Can't do that with a plug in.

[@TheStrykerProject]

I so appreciate these comparison videos. These days, we're finding more and more that 'cheaper' doesn't necessarily mean 'worse'. I'm always happy to save a thousand dollars and still get quality sound! 🤑

[@onlyfriendyeah]

mc77 has the best feature set imo: bypass button is useful without a patch bay and the sidechain option rules. another feature i liked was turning the attack setting anti clockwise until it clicks downward and turns the unit into a saturation/vibe box. great comparison vid

[@starskystar]

Thanks so much for making this video. Really appreciate it. Very informative.

[@Fwuzeem]

Very thorough!! Well done

[@sickmessiah]

The warm audio is special sounding. The punch of the analog ones is definitely better

[@OpusLoveProductions]

They're all analog.

[@sickmessiah]

@@OpusLoveProductions I’m aware. In general the analog ones just have a punch that the plugins smear a little.

[@tohmmadethisbeat2347]

That warm unit is really interesting to me. Great video!

[@NacekO]

13:21 The face of deep concentration :D You know it's hard to tell the difference when Jordan is really critically listening to the material. Awesome video. Each time I watch these tests my GAS disappears even more :)

[@CLCyber]

Perfectly timed video! I'm actually looking into getting myself a 1176 clone. Thanks Jordan!

[@joesalyers]

I just picked up a Lindell 2 weeks ago and its pretty good and around the same price as the Klark. I own a 1178 and 4 1176s but the Klark and the Lindells are pretty much just as good. Also ART makes a stereo FET compressor called Transy and its the same price as the Klark/Lindell at $399 the ART is a stereo unit with a jensen transformer. So if you want it for stereo track the ART is very Nice. Best of luck in finding the right FET comp!! Cheers!

[@mariomaslik]

Let me know which one you have decided for. Im also looking to buy a 1176 clone

[@richardaling5278]

I bought a Lin76 too, best buy in my opinion!

[@joesalyers]

@@richardaling5278 The Lin76 is really good, I picked it up and the ART PWM Dual Limiter from Sweetwater and I was shocked at how good the ART Dual limiter is. I always wanted a Pie compressor but the cost is too high for 50 year old used units so the ART is the only reasonable PWM compressor on the market. If you have $200 to spend I recommend it and you won't be disappointed.

[@josv.d.zanden2595]

Thanks for a very good review. The way you are comparing these units really helps a lot. One of the best reviews on the net. Like you mentioned it: it can be that the Waves plugin has been modeled to a vintage unit. That can make a significant difference.

[@thorntoneaudio5939]

Great video. Last year I Shot out the warm, the Klark and the BLA bluey and went with the bluey, because of the mid forward grittiness a-la CLA. I tried the purple at a buddy’s studio but the PA Plug-in is so close it’s not even funny. Great video as always, Jordan!

[@BTUllman]

UA sounded the most open to me. Thanks for all the work.

[@bradrice9576]

Been looking for a video like this!!! Thanks so much for this bro!!! The klark and warm do sound slightly thinner but the warm i have owned and had problems with it not working a lot of the times. But the warm dose saturate and distort easier. Which might work on some sources. I think thats due to the cheaper build. I got rid of the warm and im going to purchase the purple 1176. Thanks again for the awesome video man!!!!

[@VEVJmMbbRCtufOR0wlxtgQ]

surprised and relieved that I can afford decent gears for cheaper prices, especially good to know that plugins work quite great. I believe that plugins are getting better and better in years.

[@LAghemo]

Oh! I just bought a Klark Technic like 20 days ago, I'm sooooo happy for what I've seen in this video 💪

[@cgollimusic]

I actually love the Warm Audio stuff for that saturation specifically. I used them back in Uni and I thought using them on the vocals sounded fantastic when tracking.

[@joelarmendariz8876]

awesome analysis and comparison, great vid...

[@woolrich020]

Just, wow. We are living in a golden age of audio processing. Factoring in that the CLA76 was released almost 15 years ago and plugin technology has skyrocketed since then, the amount of quality that can be had for a tight budget is unparalelled.Thanks for a great review!

[@SexyLeaForYou]

When you know the difference between the peak levels (Plugin vs HW) its a whole different Story

[@lo-dose]

@@SexyLeaForYoumeaning?... do you have an example?

[@SexyLeaForYou]

@@lo-dose Yeah...0,5 to 1 db digital lower peak level with HW!

[@SexyLeaForYou]

@@lo-dose All Plugins are not able to shave of the peaks like hw ...also most of them are not fast enough even the uad attack times are to slow!

[@peacefulruler1]

@@SexyLeaForYouwhich plug ins have you found to be faulty? Did you report this to UAD?

[@carlostorres1171]

And this gracefully leads us to a wonderful discussion on the concept of value

[@arkaitzcarrasco2216]

I think the overall closest ones are the UA and the Klark. And it was impressive when you play the plugin version of the full mix, how close to the two units was.

[@jlharris4830]

Thanks I have a UA 6176 but have been eyeing the Audioscape units.

[@blueleafstudio]

Great review. I'd love to hear them compared to say the UA plugin rather than the old waves one too.

[@FacPhoto]

Love the additional distortion on the Warm especially on the bass. The CineMag transformers traditionally give body. Probably not great for vocals but bass is ace!

[@AbsurdTV1]

Such a great usable, understandable, logical and educational video. Thank you 🙏 and I’ve just subscribed to your channel 🎉

[@leonardojobst6784]

nice video!! more of that! I usually use my real 1176 for bass and snare and then I print it out it gives it a little something extra in the lows I think the biggest difference between the plugin and the real thing is when you saturate the output.. saturation is great always in analog it gives it that touch of grandeur and warmth

[@PineHillSoundStudio]

This is the best 1176 comparison on KZbin. Thank you!

[@seamusmcsorley7638]

I didn’t love the warm audio in solo but really enjoyed how much aggression it brought to the full mix. I can see why Will Putney still uses his

[@KvancCansever]

Would be great to see the comparison between the UAD plugin version and the hardware.!

[@McdowellBaptistChurch-js2pn]

This is bar none the absolute best comparison video which shows what I have told equipment snobs since the early 90s. Bravo

[@BeatyB]

Thanks you so much for this comparison, it’s really fascinating! 12:21 you can actually hear the hi hats character opening up as you go up in price :)

[@mrmanch204]

Great video, very helpful, thank you.

[@dubiousdaydream1695]

as an alternative to the cla76, I really like the arturia 1176 plugin. I also like their dbx plugin as an alternative to the ssl g comp on the drum parallel crush bus

[@onomatopoeidia]

Love DBX comps too and Dynamites are a laugh too. Checkout the chandler Zener compressor…it’s absolutely heaven on drums

[@alekp6822]

i liked this persons opinions and chill persona,new sub

[@_B_E_A_D_G_C]

So glad I saw this review! I just ordered the KT , and am glad I did! Seems like it punches way above it’s weight for the price point

[@louderthangod]

Awesome stuff. Comparing to the 500 series modules would be a great follow up.

[@TGFalk]

I use the Waves dbx compressor for Kick/Bass. Really snappy and aggressive.

[@mamontanez1]

Great comparison!

[@davidgann3251]

Love these experiments!!!!

[@kylecoffey6010]

Very cool video! I love both hardware & PI's although it's possible to dial them in a o similarly i wind up in different territory hardware vs PI's. It's the A vs B comparisons thats so revealing. Great comparisons!!

[@MaxTovstyiMusic]

I used to own a WA76, was pretty happy with the quality

[@GoodmanRecordingsTokyo]

First, I really enjoy these kind of videos. I use an 1176LN and was surprised in the intro how "clean" (no color) yours sounded, but then relieved to see it was the KT, as I reach for the 1176 specifically for its color and saturation. So I did hear a difference in the full mixes that I think is the work of the transformer.

[@chinmeysway]

then did you like warm’s better that the LN? given that it seems to have more saturation. or are u going off confirmation bias too much to know lol.

[@jimideez9829]

Fantastic review...keep um comin'!

[@calebneff5777]

A buddy sold me a KT-76 for cheap a couple years ago and it's been super faithful. I use it every day, no complaints whatsoever, though I do recognize that other people have had build quality issues. With mine being solid, I have no temptations to replace it with a more expensive 76-style comp.

[@calebneff5777]

Also the Slate FG-116 seems to have the same release time as my KT-76.

[@wynnstudios2873]

I like that you included the MC77, however that one is a bit different because I find that it is much more aggressive on the attack times. Great comparison though man!

[@Guitarisforgrins]

I could definitely hear that.

[@nikitaptashko3430]

Wow that was interesting! Thanks!

[@glencruciani]

Excellent job!!!!

[@edoargandona]

Thanks for vid comp video, such a powerfull tool

[@dmcdmusic]

Great review

[@JNo-sk5mz]

Really enjoy your videos, I know they require a lot of funding, time and effort, really appreciate them

[@daveaufradern6658]

I love this shootout videos, really insightfull !

[@MixingMAN]

Good hard work!!! MY favorite else Pulsar 1178 vst. i can set him pretty close like Klark 76

[@1erwayne]

I've done this test with my 1176's. AudioScape, Hairball, Stam Blue, Lindell 17xs and Warm 76. Very similar as well but all beat my plugin 1176's. Distressors with the 1176 settings too. My Lindell has a very bright tone so there is no hiding that one. Nice video.

[@dariuseviltwin]

The Warm Audio definitely got some mojo going on, but KT can take my money if I wanted a hardware unit..... That bass was sweet! However, as much as I loved hardware, plugins have consistently surprised me in recent years and justifying that amount of cash on one unit would sting a bit especially after this comparison. Great video!

[@Fanafranky]

Yeah the KT holding its own against the 1k+ units is a nice surprise! If I had the budget though, I'd probably go for the Warm Audio for that tiny extra grit which is what I'm usually looking for, and stick to the plugins I already have for cleaner/lighter use

[@Arufured0]

Great comparison, especially when you did it with plugin.

[@bunker5tudios495]

Great video🎉 I have 1176 in hardware, and im surprised about Softube FET (the plate one), and the UA. Its so dificult to know which one is the hardware… i think it would be interesting a video of that. Nice channel 🙌🏻

[@unclescott8792]

Had a good time watching this video! Even though I am not at your level of (fill-in-the-blank) - I still find this to be of interest for the possivnility of a future purchase, etc. Thanks for the video!!

[@billyhughes9776]

Great compare bro, I'm sure this video took a lot of time. I think it really comes down to what your budget allows and workflow. If you like the hybrid style of mixing and can afford the Purple over the Warm probably a good move as the better build quality lowers your risk of issues and better resale value. But, all ITB sounds great too -- Thanks for sharing!

[@choppie61]

Very nice review. For plugin 1176 i would recommend the plugin alliance Purple Audio MC77. 😉

[@thaddeuscorea]

nice video. You are smashing these tracks, a valid test, but maybe there is more of a difference between the units at lighter levels of compression (like only scraping off a few Db). I love my UA 2-1176, but had no idea how similar the Klark-Teknik was!

[@DJayFreeDoo]

Heard another test in another video and the KT attack and release times and curves seemed to not match the other ones tested there. It was not as controlled. Not bad, just a bit boring and loose.

[@BeGoodNow5]

Very good video, and very useful to us who are looking at enhancing our setups with some hardware. Some audio downloads would be even better. Perhaps you could consider that next time, Oh, and the main difference for me between plugins in general and hardware, is the 3-DIMENSIONAL element! For the most part plugins have the eq down, but they cannot copy the spatial characteristic!

[@CarstenGoeke]

Man, super interesting. Agree, its a slight difference with the plugin. The hardware is often described in the same way. "Better low end, crisp, and so on". Perhaps there are also differences between the Wave and UAD plugins, which would be interesting. Thank you for the comparison. ✌🏼

[@jellybean7253]

Nicely done.

[@robgracia509]

great video thank for doing this

[@richardpenrose1968]

Thanks doe your comparison. I have the 76-KT which cost me £185 new. I've been using it for around 4 1/2 years for tracking and it has been great. I have many excellent vst compressors but this still sounds a little more 3D and adds something that I haven't been able to get with my software comps. I have had a look at all the various other 1176 clones and I have considered upgrading the KT but just can't justify the price difference. The only models I would consider changing to are the Wes Audio and Black Lion compressors due to their enhanced features. I really like the look of the WES NG76 as it is possible to control and recall it from within your DAW! It also has the side chain features with HPF+LPF's, Mix knob for parallel type compression and adjustable THD. However, it costs almost 6x the price of the KT! The BLA Seventeen is another candidate I'm considering which has virtually the same features as the WES NG76 but without the digital recall but still costs almost four times the price of the KT! In this shootout I wasn't a fan of the saturation on the Warm WA76. I can hear a small difference between the KT and the UA and Purple but there is no way I could possibly justify the price difference between the two!

[@Byron101_]

I don't understand why people love the Klark Teknik. It could be that these people don't really have trained ears or they have simple speakers in their hobby project studios. Universal Audio is by far the best, well deserved. I would sell my Klark Teknik now and then take the money and buy a UA, it's worth it to me. People always buy so many many plugins and sample librarys but save on good pro hardware.

[@jamesdesmond3542]

Thanks Jordan! Great review. How about doing the same for Pultecs?

[@loopaxerecordsmusic]

Firstly, thanks for doing this review, must of been a mission. I personally like that bit of extra saturation in the WA-76 but I also like the cleaner UA..imagine a 76' with a saturation button or control. Anyways, amazing review, very insightful! Thanks

[@barwixmusic]

Can you do this but with the LA2A? I know warm and klark teknik both have clones! All the best and great video!:)

[@DJayFreeDoo]

Yep the warm audio adds more distortion. and the UA had softer transients. the PA appears to grab the overall dynamics better as if its attack and release curves are better matching the attack and release time. Would be cool to hear the UA hardware compared with new the UA plugin version.

[@delorusclaiborne3274]

Thanks 👍

[@chandeleerjet5637]

Its a feel thing more than a hearing difference. I definitely felt the excitement especially in the vocals with the UA hardware and the Purple. Could be a mind trick by seeing them on screen but it felt more exciting like those vintage rock vocals from the past. “That sound”

[@alexcampos7953]

I got the same feeling, asked my wife to come here and do a blind test, she thinks the UA one soundes slightly more open as well.

[@CrisFuentes]

Great vídeo! Can You test the arturia version? Maybe the fx collection 😊

[@goatsonlyrecordingstudio]

This is how all compare videos should be! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@chrisdover8507]

This was a great comparison. I’d go for whatever you can afford, gotta have at least 3 in the studio imo

[@DrProgNerd]

I thought the lower mids on the cheaper one were lacking - less body. When I went back to listen again, I couldn't hear what it was I heard the first time - confirming that I don't know what the heck I'm talking about. Is it too late to take up golf?

[@scottykomer9992]

Our brains are dinks

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

Good honest review. From a weight perspective - the KT will be a switch mode supply making it a lot lighter and also bringing the cost down. Unfortunately this'll also be the weakest part if it fails, so hopefully drop in replacements will be available.

[@elruso7524]

For snare, the waves SSL channel strip compressor was always my favorite. Honorable mention for the dbx 160 of waves as well

[@DERAILENTERTAINMENT1]

With extra youtube compression and my cheap LG TV, the different is noticeable on the stack.. Great job, Keep Jammin, Bro💯

[@drdelewded]

Yeah, people need to realize we can't really hear what these sound like because of KZbin.. Im going through a Lavry Blue DA into Neumann speakers here in my studio and its still pretty much a non real life comparison..

[@hkan633]

the hairball audio one is absolutely exquisite

[@Jazzguitar00]

I need to peep that.

[@hkan633]

@@Jazzguitar00 I messed up my original comment, i wrote lindell instead of hairball because hairball has the Lola preamp ("lola/lindell") brainfart sorry, never heard the lindell one so i watched some shootout and it sounds ok i guess but the hairball really has that sidechain highpass sound when pushed hard, you get that pumping low end and rly stable highs

[@arizonanorte3180]

I was going to buy an La 2 and a 76 warm audio" I guess im heading the klark Tek way" And thanks alot for this amazing vid, probablly one of the best ive seen.

[@steverachmadofficial]

Great video! Thanks! Maybe an LA-2A test would be nice as well?