After I installed the CLA bundle into my Pro Tools HD Accel rig, I went about comparing them to other plug-in compressors--and I have them all!

Without naming names, when set identically as possible to other 1176LN-modeled plug-ins, I found the CLA-76 on lead vocals to sound more "forward" in character and more aggressive in the way it kept the vocal right up front and "in your face." Like the hardware models, the Bluey revision has a little more grit and distortion over the newer revision Blacky and you can switch between them and all the settings remain the same. A smart feature indeed but I had to try the "All-Ratio-Buttons-In" mode on a stereo drum mix and as I expected: gnarly sounding just like using a pair of old 1176s!

Both the CLA-2A and CLA-3A also worked like the original hardware units. I try them lightly on bass guitar in compression mode, "flat", and Analog off so as to compare them fairly with my other "go to" bass guitar compressor plug-ins. The CLA-2A, set to 3dB max compression, adds that distinctive tube quality to the sound and, just like the original units, there is a slight loss of sub sonic lows--actually for my mixing tastes--a good thing! The CLA-3A rocks with more of a transistorized and modern sound--it proved a good choice for pads, electric rhythm guitar tracks and, when compressing up to 10dB, produces a great Rock n' Roll piano sound.