The gold standard
compressor
Listen to any chart-topping hit, award-winning soundtrack, or seminal album from the past 40 years, and it’s likely that you’ll be hearing the signature transient wizardry of the Neve® 33609.
From Daft Punk to Coldplay, James Newton Howard to Michael Buble, this dual-channel compressor and limiter has been the dynamic backbone of studio recordings for almost half a century.
Its unmistakably creamy response, simple design, and huge sonic flexibility has cemented its reputation as the gold standard - modern music simply wouldn’t be the same without it.
The dynamic all-rounder
Comp DIODE-609 transcends the terms ‘compressor’ and ‘limiter’ to offer go-to dynamic enhancement, whatever the occasion; delicate, smashed, or pumping, it’ll deliver the dynamic goods.
For every sound
Parallel drum bus processing, bass guitar fattening, final-touch master bus coloration, and everything in between; Comp DIODE-609 is a crucial tool for any producer, music maker, or audio professional.
Modern enhancements
Comp DIODE-609 is modernized for the demands of contemporary production; features like mid-side processing and built-in sidechain EQ controls further expand its flexibility to suit your needs.
Revered Neve® sound
Capture the magic of a cornerstone of audio engineering, lauded throughout the industry, right in your DAW. An exquisite sound that continues to define hit records and audio trailblazers to this day.
Engineered to perfection
again
Behind Comp DIODE-609’s authentically simple interface is a wealth of groundbreaking engineering, extensive analysis, and detailed modeling.
The end result is a professional, intuitive effect that efficiently enforces the laws of mix dynamics, working sonic wonders with the smallest of tweaks - retrofitted with razor-sharp contemporary features to suit every modern production need.
From protective mix gluing to maximizing drum bus punchiness, this unique diode-bridge effect stands out from the compressor crowd as a workhorse processor for any audio application - and Comp DIODE-609 brings it into the virtual production realm like never before.
At the heart of Comp DIODE-609’s features is the dual compression panels. This diode-style compression is particularly effective on bus channels such as drums and your stereo master, but will also add tightness and harmonic richness to vocals and instruments. It features the familiar essential controls, from slow/fast attack options to makeup gain, and has been equipped with a variable attack time option for the optimal amount of punch.
An array of specially-engineered features makes Comp DIODE-609 the perfect sidechain tool. Internal or external input, sidechain listen, look ahead control, and even a built-in sidechain equalizer ensures pumping pads, vocal space, and responsive density in any mix.
Comp DIODE-609’s limiting abilities are authentically the opposite of transparent. Even when used to protect the peaks of your mix, it has a distinct warmth to it - and when you tighten the threshold, you’ll enjoy that signature crunch that’s as popular as ever.
M/S processing opens up a whole new dimension of control over your stereo field. Swap out left/right configuration for the ability to independently compress the middle and sides of your mix, so that every instrument, vocal, and rhythm sits just right.
As with its hardware predecessor, Comp DIODE-609 is a stereo effect with linkable L and R channels for both the compressor and limiter sections. It can also be used in Mono and Mono>Stereo modes, ensuring that your stereo field is as narrow or wide as you want it.
Want to crank up the color on your compressed signal? This newly-added control adjusts the calibration of the emulated diode-bridge circuitry, reducing the unit’s headroom and ultimately introducing more harmonic character the higher you go.
Digital VU meter
If you need a more detailed view of Comp DIODE-609’s magic, a single click on the old-school VU meters will unveil a modern digital display. This shows the original waveform alongside gain reduction and compression levels in real-time.
Authentic design
The realistic feel of using Comp DIODE-609 doesn’t end with the sound; its workflow and aesthetic offer an immersive studio experience. Enjoy instant adjustments with the famed stepped controls, as well as immediate visual feedback with the gain reduction VU meters.
Preset library
When a session is challenging, a mix is proving stubborn, or a deadline is creeping up on you, sometimes you need that quick sonic solution. Comp DIODE-609 comes loaded with dozens of handy presets, from snare tightener to smashed backing vocals.
Continuous controls
Part of Comp DIODE-609’s charm is its stepped control panel, letting you adjust your sound in bold chunks. But for those who prefer to mix between the lines, we added the option of continuous controls for tweaking the finer details. The choice is yours.
Sidechain supreme
Stereo sidechaining just the way you want it - delicate to pumping, focused to ultra-wide.
Compressed in parallel
Reinforce your drum bus by dailling in a degree of compressed signal to tie everything together.
Center stage guitar
By subtly compressing the middle of the stereo field, this bluesy electric guitar stem becomes more focused while preserving its roomy ambience.
Riccardo Damian
Breaking down pro mixing tips with a grammy-winning engineering
Riccardo Damian is a Grammy-winning engineer and producer who’s worked with international and British artists, such as Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Sam Smith, Jorja Smith, Sampha, and many more.
Read the StoryA compressor
icon
Some things are just built right the first time.
The Neve® 33609 was originally designed in the ‘80s. Since then, it’s seen a number of model variations, but the core design - and, crucially, the iconic sound - has remained the same. Truly a studio classic that has stood the test of time, and not just in its industry-wide usage; it remains in production by AMS Neve® to this day.
But the 33609 didn’t just stand the test of time - it set the bar. Michael Brauer, Paul Epworth, Josh Homme, Nile Rodgers - the list of genre-defining veteran producers who swear by its dynamic talents is never-ending.
So what’s the secret? Derived from modules found in the almost-mythical Neve consoles from the ‘70s, the 33609 is a rack unit that offers 2 channels of compression and limiting. It’s renowned for its simultaneous buttery response and transparency of signal, courtesy of its diode-bridge topology - offering a faster response, and more refined distortion.
This unique response was also the result of the use of first-class components. Some of Rupert Neve’s own early consoles featured transformers from Marinair, a UK-based manufacturer of radar equipment. Decades later, these transformers were carried over into the production of the 33609 - ensuring that a part of Neve®’s own sonic legacy lives on in these relatively modern units.
To capture this magic for Comp DIODE-609, we modeled one of the revered 33609 ‘C’ versions, an earlier fully-discrete model. Faithfully emulated down to the behavior of individual components, and boldly expanded to cater to modern production needs, Comp DIODE-609 tells an extraordinary story of its own.
Included in
FX collection
Effects you'll actually use
This effect is part of FX Collection, a suite of essential audio effect plugins empowering musicians, producers, and artists to get creative with their production. From iconic recording gear modeled with breathtaking accuracy, to cutting-edge contemporary effects, the collection includes the most sought-after studio tools, rare guitar pedals, modern mix enhancers, and beyond. Elevate your production and add color to your mix like never before.
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The features
you need
However you use these plugins; for the amazing tone of their reverb, for the gritty preamps, or for their incredible sound design abilities, you'll be safe in the knowledge that they are fully compatible with your setup. These plugins work with all major DAWs, and on both Windows and MacOS.
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FX Collection’s streamlined preset browser lets you filter, organize, and save your favorite presets for instant recall. Search by instrument type, genre, production technique, and much more - so you can quickly find the tweak you need and save valuable creative time!
TAE® Powered
The exclusive analog modeling technology that makes our emulations indistinguishable from the originals.
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Gallery
Main Features
- Added variable attack time
- M/S mode option
- Advanced features panel
- External side chain option
- Advanced sidechain EQ and look-ahead controls
- Analog Input drive
- Dry/wet control
- Optional stepped controls
- Analog and digital level displays
- Resizable window
- Integrated tutorials
- Broad selection of presets for mixing and mastering
Platforms specifications
Windows
- Win 10+ (64bit)
- 4 GB RAM
- 4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost)
- 1GB free hard disk space
- OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
- ARM processors not supported on Windows
Required configuration
- VST, AAX, Audio Unit, NKS (64-bit DAWs only).
Apple
- Mac OS 10.13+
- 4 GB RAM
- 4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost) or M1 CPU
- 1GB free hard disk space
- OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
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* All manufacturer and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Arturia. The trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose features and sound were studied during the development. All names of equipment, inventors, and manufacturers have been included for illustrative and educational purposes only, and do not suggest any affiliation or endorsement by any equipment inventor or manufacturer.
*NKS ready