Compressors & Limiters

Compressors and limiters are essential dynamics processors used throughout recording, mixing and mastering. From early valve and variable-mu designs to FET, VCA and optical circuits, hardware compressors have shaped the control, punch and tonal character of recorded sound across decades of studio production.

This archive covers both vintage studio compressors and modern hardware designs, including faithful recreations and contemporary interpretations of classic circuits. From original units produced in the 1960s and 1970s to current production models and replicas, these dynamics processors remain central to professional studio workflows.

Made In U.S.A.

Released in 1985 /

Valley People 440 Limiter/Compressor/Dynamic Sibilance Processor

Compression Type: VCA

The Valley People 440 Limiter/Compressor/Dynamic Sibilance Processor is a single-channel professional dynamics processor introduced in 1985 that combines variable-ratio compression, downward expansion, fast 60:1 peak limiting, safety clipping and specialised dynamic sibilance processing. Its interacting compressor and expander sections, gain recovery computation, Auto operation, limiter AGC mode, FM pre-emphasis compensation and provision for linked stereo operation made the Valley People 440 a highly integrated approach to programme level control.

Made In U.S.A.

Released in 1985 /

SR&D Rockman Sustainor

Compression Type: J-FET

The SR&D Rockman Sustainor is a 1985 integrated guitar preamplifier and processor combining compression, gating, distortion, filtering, output control and effects-loop facilities. Its AUTO CLEAN, SEMI CLEAN, SMART GATE and PHASE NOTCHER functions were combined with channel switching, Rhythm Volume and extensive output control to provide a complete guitar processing system suitable for amplifier, direct-recording and PA applications.

Made In Hong Kong

Released in 1986 /

dbx 163X Compressor Limiter

Compression Type: VCA

The dbx 163X Compressor/Limiter provides smooth, natural-sounding OverEasy® compression with easy, hands-on control, versatile inputs for recording and live use, and features like stereo-strapping for balanced stereo compression, making it ideal for enhancing instrument and vocal levels while preventing PA overload.

Explore the full dbx 160 Series Series

Made In U.S.A.

Released in 1986 /

UREI LA-22 Compressor Limiter

Compression Type: VCA

The UREI LA-22 Compressor Limiter is a dual channel dynamics processor combining wide band and frequency selective compression, expansion, and limiting with a built in parametric equaliser, offering precise control for professional studio and broadcast applications.

Made In Japan

Released in 1987 /

Sony MU-L021 Stereo Compressor Limiter

Compression Type: VCA

The Sony MU-L021 is a professional stereo compressor limiter designed for use in studios. It features a built-in noise gate, transformerless balanced circuits, and variable control of key parameters. It is rack mountable and ideal for professional applications.

Explore the full Sony MU Series Series

Made In U.S.A.

Released in 1989 /

Alesis 3630 Compressor

Compression Type: VCA

Since its introduction, the Alesis 3630 Compressor has become the most popular dynamics processor ever made. Despite what the official Alesis marketing department say about the Alesis 3630 Compressor below, it is not the holy grail of compressors, regardless of the fact it has become something of a cult classic among many musicians.

Made In Japan

Released in 1990 /

Boss CL-50 Compressor Limiter

Compression Type: VCA

The Boss CL-50 is a half-rack VCA compressor/limiter with integrated gate, fast time constants, clear metering, side-chain and stereo link, and switchable −10 dBm/+4 dBm levels, designed for professional integration in a 482.6 mm rack via the RAD-50 adaptor.

Explore the full Boss Pro Series Series

Made In Denmark

Released in 1991 /

TUBE-TECH CL 1B Opto Compressor

Compression Type: Optical

The Tube-Tech CL 1B is an all-tube optical mono compressor. It delivers a very musical and smooth compression, preserving the clarity of the source even at extreme settings, and this is where CL 1B really stands out compared to other compressors.

Made In U.S.A.

Released in 1992 /

Summit Audio DCL-200 Dual Compressor Limiter

Compression Type: Sidechain Detector

A mainstay of both the live sound and studio environments, the Summit Audio DCL-200 has helped shape the sound of countless concerts and albums for decades, as well as holding down the fort in many of the best dance clubs around the world.

Made In China

Released in 1992 /

dbx 1046 Quad Compressor Limiter

Compression Type: VCA

The dbx 1046 provides 4 channels of smooth classic dbx OverEasy® or Hard Knee compression that are perfectly suited for use on individual tracks of your multitrack recorder.

Made In U.K.

Released in 1992 /

Drawmer 1960 Mic Pre/Compressor

Compression Type: FET

The Drawmer 1960 is a two-channel unit with each channel comprised of a completely natural sounding “soft knee” vacuum tube compressor and an extremely low noise microphone pre-amplifier with switchable 48-volt phantom power. Upon its release in 1993, it was THE mic pre to have!

Explore the full Drawmer 1960s Series Series

Made In U.S.A.

Released in 1992 /

dbx 166 Two Channel Gated Compressor/Limiter

Compression Type: VCA

The dbx 166 Two Channel Gated Compressor/Limiter combined dual-channel gating, dbx OverEasy compression and PeakStop limiting in a 1U rackmount processor. With stereo coupling, sidechain access, hardwire bypass and flexible threshold, ratio and output controls, the dbx 166 Two Channel Gated Compressor/Limiter provided practical dynamic control for recording, mixing, broadcast and sound reinforcement applications.