With this 2 RU rackmount unit, the amount of compression applied to the signal is determined by the amount of input dialed in—the more input you add, the more compression you get. There are 4 buttons, allowing you to set the compression ratio at 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, or 20:1. Pressing all the buttons at once gives you an overdriven, hard-limited sound. The meters can be switched from gain reduction to +4 and +8 output levels, making it easier to adjust the input and output knobs for an appropriate level. Attack and release controls allow you to tailor how quickly the compression kicks in and dies off. Warm Audio added a few modern touches for today's workflows, including an input impedance attenuator, bypass switch, wet/dry mix control for parallel compression, high-pass side-chain filtering, and three dual-channel operating modes from which to choose.
With its vintage circuit design, the WA76-A2 has all of the traditional 76-style compression controls—attack, release, ratio, input, output, and meter display. In addition to the classic controls expected on a 76-style compressor, the WA76-A2 is a stereo unit and has dry/wet mix for parallel compression, selectable input impedance, active and true bypass, and variable side-chain high-pass filtering to tackle unruly bass that might otherwise dominate the compressor's attention.
Just like in the vintage 76-style compressors from revisions A to D, the WA76-A2 uses custom, large-core, CineMag input and output transformers. The transformers inside the WA76-A2 use the exact same spec data and materials (nickel and steel) used by Reichenbach Engineering in the original vintage designs, known for delivering vintage analog grit to any signal chain.
Like all Warm Audio gear, the WA76-A2 is meticulously hand-tested and inspected by trained technicians with a passion for making music in Austin, TX, USA.
- Stereo linked: Both channels work independently, but their side-chains are linked. In that case, the loudest channel will dictate bothchannel’s behavior.
- Primary-to-secondary: The left channel’s side-chain only will dictate howboth channels operate.
- Dual-Mono: Each channel operates independently, with all controls operating on program material being sent to its own channel.
- Stereo-bus compression with analog grit
- Add vintage vibe to stereo vocals and background vocals
- Perfect stereo drum-room overhead-mic compression with vintage analog tone
- Dynamic control for heavy electric guitars with vintage analog vibe
- 100% analog discrete two-channel FET compressor
- Faithful recreation of the vintage Blue Stripe 76 FET compressor with added recording features
- VU meter options: Gain Reduction | +8 dB Output | +4 dB output | Off powers off unit
- 100 to 230 V IEC inlet universal power supply
- Class-A line-level output amplifiers
- 100% discrete audio signal path using a 600-ohm input impedance attenuator
- Selectable 10 kilohm input impedance to better match modern audio interface specifications
- 100% dry/wet mix control, variable side-chain high-pass filter (30 to 300 Hz, 12 dB per octave)
- Active bypass for running unit as line amplifier and true bypass option for A/B comparisons
- Three two-channel operating modes: Stereo Linked | Primary-Secondary | Dual-Mono
- 2 RU 19" rackmount chassis
- Utilizes premium O-12 input and 5002 output transformers from CineMag USA
- Vintage-spec attack and release: Attack: 20 µs to 800 ms, Release: 50 ms to 1.1 seconds
- All Buttons In setting for experimental and hard-limited tones
- Balanced XLR and TRS inputs and outputs