Antelope Audio A4-1B - Remote-Controlled Tube Compressor

The new A4-1B is the first optical compressor with digital control and automation capabilities, faithfully recreating the sound and design of a revered Opto-Tube classic while enhancing it for modern workflows. Built with an uncompromising selection of top-tier components and featuring an innovative automated calibration for the opto-cell, the A4-1B is designed to meet the high demands of audio professionals even after decades of work. Features: Classic compression sound Plugin control with presets and automation Automatic calibration systems Pristine analog signal path Proprietary motorized potentiometers Sidechain filtering with de-essing The Future of Analog Gear A4-1B combines the legendary sound and design of analog Opto-Tube compressor with modern-day workflow enhancements. Experience its signature hardware audio processing or take it a step further by accessing an array of contemporary functionalities. As authentic as it gets. A4-1B was designed to preserve vintage Opto-Tube units' highly praised smoothness and musicality. Even when pushed to the limit, the compressor remains transparent, breathing new life into vocal tracks, bass, keys, or percussion. A4-1B sounds and reacts just like the legendary hardware that inspired it allowing you to apply the legendary sound of Opto-Valve compression to your modern production. Revolutionized Analog Power High-quality components ensure A4-1B's superior sound and performance consistency across the whole frequency spectrum. Accurate circuit topology meticulously recreates the architecture of the legendary Danish opto-tube design for truly authentic analog compression. This all-analog powerhouse was made to last and faithfully follow the legacy it was built upon. Custom UK-made transformers The custom input and output transformers give this compressor a tight, punchy low-end and beautifully detailed highs, adding warmth and character, bringing out rich harmonics without sacrificing clarity. Hand-picked premium tubes The signature sound of this unit comes from its premium tubes, giving it a rich, musical character, adding that unmistakable analog warmth while maintaining precision and clarity. Revolutionized modern PSU Electricity is the heart and soul of high-end analog gear so we added an efficient, modern PSU with advanced automatic voltage adaptation for greater stability and noise reduction, that also provides DC heating to the tubes for a smoother warm-up. Calibrated to perfection. Among the many stand-out features of А4-1B are its calibration systems. A built-in Opto-Cell Test System ensures consistent compression and long-term reliability, even after decades of work. This automatic calibration shines the most when two units are used for stereo link or when you recall presets even years later. Choose between -10 dBu / 0 dBu / +4 dBu / +20 dBu for reference level and easily calibrate the VU meter - all accessed through the Calibration menu. Unlock a game changing potential. A4-1B is the first in a series of automated outboard analog units developed by Antelope Audio. They want to introduce high-quality audio hardware to the current generation of audio producers and artists. Thanks to proprietary technologies these units can serve not only as traditional outboard analog gear, but also adapt to the dynamic pace of modern music production with remote control, instant setting recall, automation and more. Supreme DAW control and automation. The A4-1B plugin is available in VST3 / AU / AAX formats, compatible with any modern-day DAW and operating system. The unit is easily integrated into fully digital, all-analog, or hybrid studio setups. This intuitive tool makes preset management a breeze so you can apply your signature settings to various projects. Whether you A/B your mix or add a radical automation in the middle of a track - the A4-1B plugin delivers it straight to the hardware. A new breed of motorized pots. A4-1B features a ground-breaking proprietary motorized potentiometer engine. This not only solves the biggest downside of all analog hardware – fast preset recall for smoother workflow – but also grants convenient remote access while retaining the tactile experience of operating an outboard gear. The pots on the compressor are extremely responsive - any minor change on the digital panel is reflected immediately on the hardware, and vice versa. Modern engineers want quick, responsive, and accurate gear and that’s exactly what A4-1B achieves thanks to its custom motorized pots. Responsive Automation The A4-1B motorized potentiometers will not only instantly react to any change you apply on the hardware unit physically or digitally, those can also be fully automated in the plugin. Attack, Release, Gain, Threshold, and Ratio settings can change throughout your session – just as if you are using a native plugin. Preset Recall and A/B The A4-1B plugin allows for fast and easy preset recall but unlike most analog gear, it allows you to do A/B preset comparisons quickly and easily. Hear the change in sound instanteniously. Save unlimited preset files inside your DAW projects for accurate settings recall - the Opto-cell calibration ensures that you get the same compression even after decades of use. Filtering and De-Essing By modern-day standards filtering and side-chain are crucial features of compressors. The legacy unit that inspired A4-1B wasn’t built with these requirements in mind so we added them inside the DAW plugin. With High, Low, and Band-Pass Filters you can achieve targeted compression on any frequency range, including De-essing - a crucial feature for any vocal processing.