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.

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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.

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A 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 extraordinarystory 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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TAE® Powered

The exclusive analog modeling technology that makes our emulations indistinguishable from the originals.

By accurately mimicking the characteristics of analog oscillators, filters, and soft clipping, we can provide astonishing component-accurate detail and authentic analog charm in equal measure.

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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.




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