The original Universal Audio 1176, designed by audio Renaissance man and UA founder M.T. “Bill” Putnam, represented a major breakthrough in limiter technology. The first true peak limiter to feature all-transistor circuitry and FET gain reduction, the original 1176 offered superior performance and a signature sound — including a lightning-fast 20 microseconds attack time. Ever since its announcement in 1967, the 1176 has lent its character and punch to some of the greatest recordings in history, creating a solid framework for any mix, in any genre.

Extended information

Universal Audio released its first 1176 plug-in emulation in 2001. This plug-in single-handedly launched the UAD platform, and inspired a decade of analog emulation software. Today, we’ve circled back to the 1176, and modeled its entire electronic path from stem to stern — including its transformers, FET and bipolar transistor amplifiers, for colorful input/output distortion. The resulting 1176 Classic Limiter Plug-In Collection provides unrivaled emulations of three distinct 1176 units, and is indispensable for any serious engineer or producer.

- A Triple Threat
The 1176 Limiter Plug-Ins Collection provides three distinct 1176 revisions, representing over 40 years of design iterations to the original 1176 — the world's most recognized compressor. The Rev A “Bluestripe” represents the original Putnam FET limiter design, complete with its higher distortion and unique FET gain amplifier characteristics. The Rev E “Blackface” covers the early 70’s / Brad Plunkett “LN” (Low Noise) era of the 1176 circuit lineage, with variations including a more linear compression response, transistor gain amplification, and a change to the program dependence. The 1176AE provides UA’s rare 1176 40th Anniversary Edition, complete with exclusive “hot-rod” mods — including its lower 2:1 compression ratio, a fixed “super slow” 10ms attack mode, and the program dependence of Rev A.

- Tuned By The Pros
Adding to the authenticity, UA sought out some of the world's most famous 1176 users — responsible for millions of albums sold worldwide over more than four decades. They brought their considerable expertise to crafting a collection of presets to instantly dial-in a wide range of tones. Pick from dozens of included Artist Presets from Andy Johns (Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones), Andrew Scheps (Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Carl Glanville (U2, Jason Mraz), David Isaac (Marcus Miller, Luther Vandross), Ed Cherney (Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt), Hugo Nicolson (Radiohead, Bjork), Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones), Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes, The Killers), and Vance Powell (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs).

Technical specifications

Painstaking new emulations of legendary M.T. “Bill” Putnam-designed 1176, the most popular compressor ever made
Includes three famous versions: Rev A, Rev E, and AE — each with their own sonic attributes
Models entire electronic path, including transformers, FET and bipolar transistor amplifiers, for colorful input / output distortion
Accurately models ultra-fast hardware attack time: 20 microseconds to 800 microseconds
New “No Ratio” or Attack “Off” provides popular amplifier-only mode, adding 1176 distortion without compression
All multi-button ratio combinations now available — including “All-Buttons”
Includes Artist Presets from Andy Johns, Andrew Scheps, Carl Glanville, David Isaac, Ed Cherney, Hugo Nicolson, Jacquire King, Joe Chiccarelli, and Vance Powell
Requires a UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card available from authorized dealers worldwide

Parameter Specifications:
- 1176 Rev A and E
Input Threshold: -40 to 0 dB
Output Level: ∞ to 0 dB
Ratio Select: 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1 or any ratio combo via Shift+Click, or “None” (provides amplifier-only signal path, no gain reduction)
Attack Time: continuous 1-7 (20 to 800 microseconds) or “Off” (provides amplifier-only signal path, no gain reduction)
Release Time: continuous 1-7 (50 to 1100 milliseconds)
Meter: GR (Gain Reduction), +4 or +8 Output Metering or Off provides true plug-in bypass

- 1176AE
Input Gain/Threshold: -40 to 0 dB
Output Level: ∞ to 0 dB
Ratio Select: 2:1, 4:1, 8:1, 20:1 or any ratio combo via Shift+Click, or “None” (provides amplifier-only signal path, no gain reduction)
Attack Time: continuous 1-7 (20 to 800 microseconds) or fixed “Slo” 10 milliseconds
Release Time: continuous 1-7 (50 to 1100 milliseconds)
Meter: GR (Gain Reduction), +4 or +8 Output Metering or Off provides true plug-in bypass