C1 Compressor

Compression, expansion, gating, dynamic filtering in one plugin

Dynamics with Maximum Flexibility

The classic C1 combines a musically pleasing dynamics sound with rich features and functionality: Compression, expansion, upward expansion, gating, dynamic filtering, sidechaining, and internal sidechain filtering—all in one plugin.

C1 isn’t about ‘color’—it’s about solving problems. The clean, neutral sound complements any sound, because its sole goal is to deliver every type of dynamics processing any project needs.

Soft knee compression avoids the “squashed” sound of other types
Built-in limiter sets a ceiling for the maximum output level
Look-ahead function anticipates level changes correctly
Auto-release ensures correct dynamics tracking
Auto-makeup maintains levels for light or heavy compression
Parameter linking for ease of editing settings
Dynamics processing linking preserves cross-channel balance
Offers up to 3 sidechains to which any number of channels can link

Watch It in Action

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What Top Pros Are Saying

[{"itemID":2760,"itemGUID":"75c5793c-6c5b-4fc7-bbf6-74aeca464b15","artistName":"Battlecat","artistTitle":"Producer, Mixing Engineer and Sound Designer","credits":"Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Lucy Pearl, Xzibit","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/battlecat.png","quote":"C1 is the perfect referee between two competing frequencies like the Moog-bass and kick drum. I use the sidechain to turn down the signal of the Moog based on the bang, punch or amplitude of the kick.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":1},{"itemID":1929,"itemGUID":"31e4b4c7-39eb-49dc-8f59-ff1dbd4b705f","artistName":"Enrico De Paoli","artistTitle":"Producer, Recording, Mixing and Mastering Engineer","credits":"Ray Charles, Stanley Jordan, Djavan, Elton John","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/enrico-de-paoli.png","quote":"Great soft-knee compressor, and awesome expander. I use the expansion subtly, like a transient designer, even on the master bus; it makes tracks jump out of the speakers.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":2},{"itemID":1528,"itemGUID":"5c6aa331-b27b-4952-b330-d30681cc94ca","artistName":"Ross Hogarth","artistTitle":"Producer \u0026 Engineer","credits":"Van Halen, REM, Ziggy Marley, Keb\u2019 Mo\u2019","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/ross-hogarth.png","quote":"When used with a sidechain, the C1 gate is such a problem-solver, especially for bass. I can find the frequencies that allow the compressor to not pump on the bass, or that have the low end making the compressor trigger.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":3},{"itemID":1626,"itemGUID":"983df26a-a7ce-4075-b423-c3e275c7451c","artistName":"Lu Diaz","artistTitle":"Mixing Engineer \u0026 Producer","credits":"DJ Khaled, Pitbull, Beyonc\u00E9, Jay Z","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/lu-diaz.png","quote":"I love using this compressor to pinpoint trouble frequencies that bother me on a vocal.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":4},{"itemID":2344,"itemGUID":"d97cfd63-822f-477c-96f6-52e614a5c4fb","artistName":"Rob Swire","artistTitle":"Musician, Singer, Songwriter, DJ, Producer","credits":"Rihanna, Taio Cruz, Tinie Tempah, Pendulum","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/rob-swire.png","quote":"I use the C1 with sidechain on \u2018split\u2019 mode if I just want to control one specific area, and the situation doesn\u0027t warrant a full multiband; this is perfect in situations where I\u0027m not too worried about phase coherence.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":5},{"itemID":2363,"itemGUID":"e1a3e6cf-1854-4f7b-94ab-e4143511fd4c","artistName":"Santaflow","artistTitle":"Recording, Mixing \u0026 Mastering Engineer, Performer","credits":"","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/santaflow.png","quote":"I use C1 compressor often on percussion. It\u2019s so simple, and has all the graphic information I need. It\u2019s a classic who never gets old. I love it just as much as the C1 Gate component: my all-time trusty noise gate for vocals and backgrounds.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":6},{"itemID":1530,"itemGUID":"41d15e9c-5085-4f3a-8f1e-02d1b156dd6d","artistName":"Gil Norton","artistTitle":"Producer","credits":"Foo Fighters, Pixies, Stornoway","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/gil-norton.png","quote":"This is an invaluable compressor. I mainly use it on vocals and guitars. It\u2019s very transparent, and good for anything that needs fast release compression.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":7},{"itemID":2453,"itemGUID":"9c62c0c0-a013-4ec3-830a-7cfbbc98f6a9","artistName":"Maurice Brown","artistTitle":"Musician, Producer, Composer","credits":"Anderson .Paak, Florence and the Machine, LOGIC, Tedeschi Trucks Band","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/maurice-brown.png","quote":"Works fantastic to smooth out vocals in the mix.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":8},{"itemID":1531,"itemGUID":"863a61fb-0c3e-4951-850b-d5582a6ead6a","artistName":"Joey Santiago","artistTitle":"Guitarist","credits":"The Pixies","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/joey-santiago.png","quote":"I use C1 when I have an unusually noisy amp or pickup. I start out with the HF Noise Reduction preset and tweak away the noise.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":9},{"itemID":1532,"itemGUID":"5679d2e5-5035-4b6a-9df0-fc68f3c81da5","artistName":"Phil Strong","artistTitle":"FOH Engineer","credits":"Kanye West, Common, Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/phil-strong.png","quote":"I\u0027ve been using C1 on bass, guitar, and all vocals, including Kanye West\u2019s.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":10},{"itemID":2544,"itemGUID":"40ab6683-e0e6-4c0d-b320-3d209c2177d6","artistName":"Devine Evans","artistTitle":"Producer, Composer, Songwriter, Engineer","credits":"Camila Cabello, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Cardi B","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/avatar-male.png","quote":"C1 with the sidechain is key to my mixing. The fast way to gain control of a vocal. I like to start in Split mode with EQ type set to Band Reject. I sweep from 200 to 280 Hz until I find where the vocal is muddy. Then I gently set attack, release and threshold, and let the magic begin.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":11},{"itemID":2865,"itemGUID":"14fc8912-e251-48d5-b2f2-f9146f4c75da","artistName":"Alexander Bj\u00F6rklund","artistTitle":"Artist, Producer, DJ, Mixing Engineer","credits":"Cazzette","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/alexander-bjorklund.png","quote":"I\u0027ve been in love with this gate on loops for ages. It gives me the ability to reshape the tail and transients of any loop and allows me to personalize something cool. It\u2019s basically the ultimate loop hack in my mind and is super easy to use.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":12},{"itemID":3169,"itemGUID":"503e5b79-f0c6-46d2-828e-a5bfa0d138cb","artistName":"Anthony Jones","artistTitle":"Tracking/Mixing Engineer, Producer, Turntablist DJ","credits":"Queen Latifah, George Clinton, Foogiano, Pooh Shiesty","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/anthony-jones.png","quote":"Waves C1 is the king of compression. When you want \u2018that\u2019 sound it\u2019s a go-to.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":13},{"itemID":3173,"itemGUID":"fe794bb4-21fc-40b5-b8ae-1e1184e403c0","artistName":"12th Planet","artistTitle":"Artist, Producer, DJ","credits":"Korn, Skrillex, Little Jinder, Ras Kass","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/12th-planet.png","quote":"I have been using the C1 compressor for almost 20 years. It is one of my favorite go-to light and easy-to-use compressors. It has such a signature sound and I have used it on so many of my tracks.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":14}]

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