Universal Audio is giving away the plug-in clone of its classic 1176 compressor, which is one of the most popular hardware compressor units ever created.

Running until 28th February, the plug-in will be available, without any UAD hardware, for any registered users to download.

The original unit is one of the most revered bits of studio kit ever created, with the long-running audio company claiming that it’s been “heard on more classic records than any other compressor”. While the original was built and released in 1967, the plug-in equivalent is a faithful recreation, “delivering the same punchy, expressive tones as the original hardware.”

The 1176 compressor was famous for its ultra-fast attack time and became a go-to limiting tool for bass, drums, vocals and more. The plug-in version also adds an All Button mode, which mimics the response of the original unit when all four Ratio buttons are pressed at once.

You can download the free Universal Audio 1176 plug-in here. Watch the video below to hear how the plug-in sounds and to learn how it works in the mix.