The recreation of a 1960s 176-style tube compressor in which the entire circuit is calculated in real time.

The Relab 176 models the entire audio circuit of the original with a real-time circuit solver: tubes, input, output and interstage transformers, RC timing networks and the power supply including sag. As a result, timing and harmonics respond to the programme material, and each of the four ratios from 2:1 to 12:1 changes knee position and slope, from smooth levelling to assertive limiting. The switchable interstage transformer, polarity-selective sidechain detection and a calibration control shape character and transients. The compressor is suited to vocals, instruments, mix bus and mastering.

Features

• Entire circuit with tubes, transformers and power supply calculated in real time
• Fixed threshold, variable gain and four ratios from 2:1 to 12:1
• Programme-dependent attack and release, release switchable Fixed/Auto
• Switchable between transformer and resistor coupling
• Polarity-selective sidechain detection
• Calibration control and advanced trim section

Technical details

• Type: Effect plug-in (compressor/limiter)
• Operating systems: Windows, macOS
• Plug-in formats: VST3, Audio Unit (macOS only), AAX

System requirements

• macOS 12 Monterey or later
• Windows 10 or later
• Processor (Mac): Apple Silicon M1 or newer
• Processor (Windows): Intel Core i7 (8th gen or newer) or AMD Ryzen 5 (3000 series or newer)
• RAM: 8 GB

The licence is registered with the manufacturer at https://shop.relabdevelopment.com/redeem/. You will receive your serial number and the download link by e-mail immediately after purchase.