Vintage analog tone and modern flexibility unite in FET compressor homage.
The Warm Audio WA76-A single-channel Vintage-Voiced discrete FET compressor lets you achieve the legendary tone-shaping capabilities of a vintage '76-style compressor in your studio. Faithfully recreating the original "blue stripe" revision, Warm Audio packed this 2U rack unit with premium components like custom CineMag transformers and polypropylene film capacitors to capture the signature gritty character. Modern touches like a mix control for parallel compression and selectable sidechain filtering expand its versatility for contemporary production needs.
Authentic Vintage Compression
With its discrete FET design and vintage-spec attack and release controls, the WA76-A emulates the fast, aggressive compression that defined the sound of early rock and pop recordings. The "all buttons in" mode lets you experiment with extreme compression effects. From subtle leveling to pumping sidechain color, this compressor has the range to tackle any track in your mix.
Premium Components, Legendary Tone
Just like the original units used in top studios worldwide, the WA76-A relies on premium parts for unmatched audio quality. The custom CineMag transformers provide the vintage-voiced preamp stage and analog warmth synonymous with '76-style compression. Poly film capacitors, along with premium composition resistors, recreate the coveted tonal coloration of the era. With hand-testing by Warm Audio's team of technicians, you're ensured a built-to-last compressor up to the demands of pro studios.
Modern Touches for Contemporary Workflows
While honoring the nuances of vintage gear, Warm Audio added features to streamline the WA76-A for today's recording needs. A mix control lets you dial in parallel compression for transparent leveling. The sidechain filter tames low-end content that can skew the compressor's response. Select between 600 ohms or 10 kohms input impedance to match your preamp or interface. And with stereo linking, you can use two units to compress a full mix bus.
Versatile Control
With a range of metering options, input/output controls and variable attack and release, the WA76-A puts you in the driver's seat of dynamics processing. Tweak the attack from 20µs to 800µs and release from 50ms up to 1.1 seconds for anything from subtle, transparent leveling to heavily squashed pumping effects. For producers and engineers seeking ultimate versatility and tone-shaping power in the studio, the WA76-A is an invaluable tool for any professional studio setup.
Specifications
- Variable Sidechain High-Pass Filter: 30–300Hz, 12dB/Octave
- Vintage-Spec Attack & Release: Attack = 20 µS - 800 | Release: 50 mS - 1.1 Second
- Frequency Response: ±1dB 20Hz– 20kHz
- Balanced XLR & TRS inputs & outputs
- Total Amplifier Gain: 58dB
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): 86dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): -62dB (at -13dBu)
- VU Meter Options: Gain Reduction | +8dB output | +4dB output | "Off" powers off unit
- 100–230V IEC inlet universal power supply
Features
- Class-A line-level output amplifier
- 100% discrete audio signal path using 600 ohms input impedance attenuator
- Selectable 10 kohms input impedance to better match modern audio interface specifications
- 100% Dry-Wet mix control
- 1/4" stereo link & external sidechain access
- Active bypass for running unit as line amplifier & true bypass option for A/B comparisons
- 2U 19" rackmount chassis
- Utilizes premium O-12 input & 5002 output transformers from CineMag USA
- "All-Buttons-In" setting for experimental & hard-limiter tones