The Black Lion Audio Bluey 500 FET Limiting Amplifier is a 500-series module that captures the character and sonic signature of the original Bluey compressor, famously used by renowned mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge. The original Bluey is a highly modified vintage 2U compressor that Chris has relied on for decades. It has become a defining element in many hit records, known for its unmistakable tone, punch, and musical compression. Over the years, the original unit underwent numerous modifications, part replacements, and enhancements, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece of studio equipment that was not available to the public.
Black Lion Audio partnered directly with Chris Lord-Alge to reverse-engineer every modification and technical nuance of the original Bluey unit. Through careful analysis and design, Black Lion Audio succeeded in recreating the sonic qualities of the original while also introducing practical improvements for modern studio use. The first result of this collaboration was the release of the 2U Bluey rack unit. Now, Black Lion Audio has condensed that same sound and character into a 500-series format with the Black Lion Audio Bluey 500, giving engineers and producers access to the Bluey’s signature compression in a smaller and more accessible form.
The Black Lion Audio Bluey 500 retains all of the sonic qualities that made the original famous, including its aggressive character, tonal thickness, and detailed harmonic content. It features custom Cinemag input and output transformers to deliver the same tonal weight and richness. To provide an even more authentic experience, Black Lion Audio has also recreated the exact insert path from Chris Lord-Alge’s mixing console and built it directly into the Black Lion Audio Bluey 500. This inclusion gives users the feel and performance of running audio through a high-end analogue console.
Additional enhancements include an active wet and dry mix control, allowing for effortless parallel compression directly on the unit. A stereo link feature has also been added, making the Black Lion Audio Bluey 500 suitable for dual-channel and stereo applications. The Bluey 500 is constructed with a vintage-style printed circuit board layout, high-precision one percent resistors, and polyester capacitors to ensure long-term durability and stable performance.
As with all Black Lion Audio products, each Black Lion Audio Bluey 500 is hand-tested, carefully calibrated, and undergoes strict quality control in the United States, ensuring consistency and reliability in professional studio environments. The Bluey 500 offers the legendary compression tone of Chris Lord-Alge’s original Bluey unit in a compact, modern, and practical 500-series format.
Features
- 500-series recreation of Chris Lord-Alge’s most prized 1176, used on every lead vocal he mixes
- 2 Cinemag transformers; a recreation of the original UTC input transformer and a recreation of the original Reichenbach output transformer
- Wet/Dry mix knob allows for parallel compression not available on the original
- Stereo-linkable
- Input and Output buffering taken directly from Chris Lord-Alge’s console inserts
- Hand-tested, calibrated and QC’d in the USA.
