CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter

Smooth, warm, natural-sounding tube compression

Wrap Your Tracks in Classic
Silky Smooth Compression

The CLA-2A models what may be the most coveted and popular hardware compressor/limiter ever made. A favorite of studio engineers everywhere, this studio mainstay has graced countless vocal, bass, guitar, and other instrument tracks for over half a century with its alluring, warm sound.

Behind the strikingly simple interface, the original hardware’s optical-based dynamics processing relies on complex circuit interactions. Modeled from studio legend Chris Lord-Alge’s personally favorite hardware unit, CLA-2A perfectly emulates the original’s response and sound.

The legendary electro-optical tube compressor
Modeled from Chris Lord-Alge’s personal vintage hardware
Natural-sounding even with heavy compression
Optimum attack/release times fit vocals like a glove
Tube emulation adds musical, harmonic saturation
Limiter mode increases instrument sustain
Mix control for easy parallel compression
Presets by Chris Lord-Alge for vocals, guitar, bass, drums, more
Trim control for quick level adjustment
Zero latency for both studio and live mixing
Optional subtle analog hiss and hum for total authenticity
Includes sidechain frequency filter

Watch It in Action

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What Top Pros Are Saying

[{"itemID":2759,"itemGUID":"e019c57f-db27-4a10-af62-6e3ebabf47ed","artistName":"Dem Jointz","artistTitle":"Producer, Songwriter, Mixing Engineer","credits":"Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Dr. Dre, Janet Jackson","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/dem-jointz.png","quote":"One of my favorites; I use this plugin on basically everything. I like how it boosts and warms up the sound at the same time!","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":1},{"itemID":2137,"itemGUID":"00ec8bf6-46e9-4cfb-80da-36c79b52d4ee","artistName":"Jimmy Bralower","artistTitle":"Producer, Engineer, Musician, Writer","credits":"Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Hall \u0026 Oates, Cyndi Lauper","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/jimmy-bralower.png","quote":"Just putting the Waves CLA-2A on anything makes it sound better!","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":2},{"itemID":1751,"itemGUID":"d6e9d024-5e60-473e-bdb7-e93efdfc552d","artistName":"KSHMR","artistTitle":"Producer, DJ, Songwriter","credits":"Tiesto, Snoop Dogg, David Guetta","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/kshmr.png","quote":"CLA-2A and CLA-3A offer gentle compression that tames synths or groups of synths exceptionally well.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":3},{"itemID":3218,"itemGUID":"59d2e2a1-a8c6-44da-8999-3bf715c5582b","artistName":"Travis Harrington","artistTitle":"Producer, Mixer, Creative Production Engineer","credits":"Rod Wave","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/travis-harrington.png","quote":"CLA-2A is amazing for getting the glue I need on backing vox.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":4},{"itemID":2586,"itemGUID":"fb9781e3-c74b-43b5-b4fe-31e75212d2a7","artistName":"Javier Valverde","artistTitle":"Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer","credits":"T-Pain, Timbaland, Lil Wayne, Pitbull ","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/javier-valverde.png","quote":"The CLA-2A lets me clamp down and control all the runaway levels that jump out on almost any instrument or vocal I apply it on.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":5},{"itemID":3164,"itemGUID":"94380e4c-ff3d-48c6-b3ea-51b1b85be01e","artistName":"Alissia Benveniste","artistTitle":"Producer, Musician","credits":"Bootsy Collins, Anderson .Paak, EarthGang, Mary J. Blige","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/alissia-benveniste.png","quote":"I love using the CLA-2A compressor, I pretty much use it on everything. It\u2019s so precise and sounds like the real one! ","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":6},{"itemID":2003,"itemGUID":"ea7d5cde-aa3d-4bb1-b149-1b1f14c73f2e","artistName":"Alen Konako\u011Flu","artistTitle":"Producer, Mixing Engineer, Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist","credits":"Virgil Donati, Victor Wooten, Scott Handerson, Natalia Oreiro","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/alen-konakoglu.png","quote":"CLA-2A gives my vocals and acoustic guitasr smooth, warm tube-based optical compression. The sonic quality is amazing.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":7},{"itemID":2145,"itemGUID":"395bf6ea-37c4-40ae-98ac-dede03a4bc4d","artistName":"Mike Flannery","artistTitle":"Producer, Songwriter, Recording Artist","credits":"Mr. Flannery and His Feelings, Little-T and One Track Mike, Flannery Brothers","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/michael-flannery.png","quote":"This compressor brings anything I put it on to life. A great emulation!","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":8},{"itemID":1814,"itemGUID":"a21df8d7-a2b1-4a30-89aa-0f07947a2148","artistName":"Omatali Beckett","artistTitle":"FOH \u0026 Monitor Engineer","credits":"Snoop Dogg, Sean Paul, Brian McKnight, Beres Hammond","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/omatali-beckett.png","quote":"CLA-2A is one of my favorite plugins to use because it\u2019s just like having the hardware \u2013 I instantiate it on a vocal or an instrument and I hear it make a difference immediately. ","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":9},{"itemID":3018,"itemGUID":"a242c8e9-08fc-4bee-9a4a-2725c6ff96cc","artistName":"Tim Kelley","artistTitle":"Record Producer, Mixing Engineer, Writer, Sound Designer","credits":"Michael Jackson, Sisq\u00F3, Boyz II Men, TLC","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/tim-kelley.png","quote":"I use the CLA-2A on basically everything because of its \u201Cchameleon\u201D effect. It adds so much color to drums, and locks the vocal into the mix without grabbing it too hard.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":10},{"itemID":3128,"itemGUID":"571685b8-79aa-4db2-8bf5-c3d25e0147ab","artistName":"Chris Lake","artistTitle":"DJ/Producer","credits":"","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/chris-lake.png","quote":"The CLA-2A is brilliant. I use this in its default setting on channels and buses when I need a unique, slightly more compressed volume lift.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":11},{"itemID":3554,"itemGUID":"3e1e4c37-765a-4f35-b0a4-8b4dcdfd8fcd","artistName":"DJ Jazzy Jeff","artistTitle":"DJ, Producer, Mix Engineer","credits":"DJ Jazzy Jeff \u0026 The Fresh Prince/Summertime, Who is Jill Scott, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/dj-jazzy-jeff.jpg","quote":"Nothing brings your bass to the front of the mix like the CLA-2A.","isMainQuote":true,"sortID":9999}]

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Legendary Tube Compression, Modeled to Perfection

Superb Dynamics—Simple Interface
Choose compression or limiting, dial in gain reduction with the Peak reduction knob, add makeup gain with the Gain control—done. Superb dynamics control doesn’t get any simpler, or more effective, than this.
Legendary Attack and Release
The CLA-2A’s design sweetens attacks, yet lets consonants through so that vocal (and instrument) attacks retain their clarity. The release decelerates over time, for a smooth decay that never sounds choppy.
Warmth without Compromise
The CLA-2A is legendary for its warm sound, but it combines that with clarity and definition. Although tracks blend beautifully within a mix, pushing the peak reduction further adds punch and presence.
Added Extras for Flexible Mixing
Apply dynamics control across all frequencies, or just high frequencies to keep treble under control. Use the sidechain to lock compression to other tracks. Choose a totally clean sound, or add authentic-sounding hiss and hum. Dial in the MIX knob for parallel compression—and the TRIM knob for quick level adjustments.
Supervised by Chris Lord-Alge—With His Presets
The CLA-2A models legendary mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge’s favorite hardware unit, perfectly maintained in his studio for optimal performance. Chris supervised the modeling and created plugin presets for vocals, guitar, bass, drums and more, giving you superb starting points for your mixing.