WARM AUDIO WA-1B | All Tube Transformer Based Optical Compressor

WA-1B

All-Tube, Transformer-Balanced Optical Compressor

The WA-1B accurately recreates world-class Scandinavian compression, combining smooth tube-optical warmth with precision controls. Like its original inspiration, favored by producers and engineers from Chris Lord-Alge to Rick Rubin, the WA-1B delivers that revered “forgiving” musical compression of tube-optical circuitry with speed and control more closely associated with modern dynamics processing. Hand-wired to authentically recreate the sound of a renowned circuit, the WA-1B combines custom large-core transformers from Lundahl Sweden, select tubes, and a premium high-precision optical element for ultra-fast and accurate operation without sacrificing authentic analog warmth.

Tube-Opto Tone With Extended Control

Delivering that revered “forgiving” musical compression with the added speed and control functionality, the WA-1B excels on highly dynamic sources that demand analog warmth.

True-To-Original Controls

To deliver extended dynamics processing, the WA-1B features all of the classic controls of its modern-classic inspiration.

• Threshold: The WA-1B supports a variable threshold giving maximum control to the user regarding how much compression is applied to any signal at various input levels.
• Ratio: The WA-1B ratio is variable and has infinite controls between 2:1 and 10:1. From soft musical dynamic control all the way to hard-smashing compression!
• Attack & Release: The Attack/Release controls on the WA-1B are unique in that the attack/release operations can be switched from a fixed setting, manual (variable) setting, or a combined setting. In the “fixed” mode, the WA-1B delivers the natural attack & release time of the optical element. The combined setting in particular creates the opportunity for a more nuanced release-time curve. This dueling time-constant circuit operation is a special feature of the WA-1B and its original inspiration.
• Meter Switch: The WA-1B meter switch has three settings: input, compression, and output levels. Set to “input”, the VU meter is reading the level at the input connector. Set to “compression”, the VU meter is reading gain reduction. The steady-state is "0", and the amount of compression is shown as the needle moving right-to-left away from 0dB. Set to “output”, the VU meter is reading the level at the output connector.
• On/Bypass: The on/bypass switch on the WA-1B activates or bypasses the compressor. This is a hard bypass, meaning no signal passes through the circuitry in bypass mode.

Premium Components

The WA-1B is a 270v circuit with handwired through-hole circuitry, and 100% discrete analog signal path. The custom large-core transformers from Lundahl Sweden bring the full Scandinavian-style analog tone of the WA-1B circuit to life. Paired with select tubes from JJ and Tung-Sol, the high-precision optical element applies sweet analog warmth to audio signals with unrivaled accuracy.

Hand-Tested In Austin, TX

Like all Warm Audio gear, the WA-1B is meticulously hand-tested and inspected by trained technicians with a passion for making music in Austin, TX USA.

Popular Uses 

• Natural, Versatile Vocal Compression 
• Shape & Control Bass Signals So They Sit Just-Right In The Mix 
• Add Pro Compression To Dynamic Sources Without Destroying The Performance

Specifications

• Accurately recreating world-class Scandinavian compression combining smooth tube-optical warmth with precision controls 
• True-to-spec 270 volt, 100% discrete analog signal path - handwired with through-hole components 
• Transformer-balanced fully floating input and output - Custom-core large transformers from Scandinavian Manufacturer, Lundahl in Sweden 
• 12AX7 Tung-Sol & JJ 12AU7 tubes 
• Frequency response @ -3 dB: 5 Hz to 25 kHz 
• Self-Noise: < -75 dBU @ 30 dB gain 
• CMRR: > 60 dB @ 10 kHz 
• Ratio from 2:1 to 10:1 
• Variable Threshold: Off to -40 dBU 
• Continuously variable, fixed, or fixed/manual attack and release times ○
  • Fixed - Attack: 1 millisecond | Release: 50 milliseconds ○
  • Manual - Attack: .5 - 300 milliseconds | Release: .05 seconds - 10 seconds 
  • Fixed/Man mode blends the release times of fixed and manual mode 
• Output gain: Off to +30 dBU 
• Input impedance: 600Ω 
• Two bus connectors to connect multiple sidechains 
• Meter (VU) input, output, or compression amount 
• Linear, low-noise power supply with toroidal power transformer