Comp TUBE-STA

Name: Comp TUBE-STA
Price: 79 USD
Author: Arturia

by Arturia · Compressor · Tube compressor

Not rated yet

A model of the 1950s Gates STA-Level vacuum-tube broadcast compressor, built with Arturia's TAE circuit modeling.

It keeps the original's forgiving, non-linear attack and release and adds sidechain options with M/S detection, sidechain EQ and a Mix knob for parallel compression.

Best for: Vocals, Bass, Keys & Synths, Mix Bus. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: tube, vocals, sidechain input, 50s, bass, broadcast, hardware emulation, mid/side, built-in mix knob, parallel processing, bus processing, heavy, metering, vintage, A/B compare, circuit-modelled, external sidechain, fat, full mix, gentle, glue, mix bus, mixing, musical, resizable UI, single-band, pads.

What it does

Comp TUBE-STA recreates the Gates STA-Level, a vacuum-tube compressor from the 1950s; Arturia's tagline is "Beef your signal up with fat broadcast sound." The original was valued in radio and studio work on bass and vocals.

TAE modeling: a virtual recreation of the original tube signal path, with its non-linear attack and release.
Recovery and modes: a variable Recovery control and the original Single, Double and Triple modes.
Sidechain: external sidechain, five detection modes including M/S, and an advanced sidechain EQ.
Parallel and gain: a Mix knob for parallel compression and an input/output link to keep level steady while driving the input.
Metering and workflow: an analog VU meter with calibration options, clip LED, preset browser with A/B, tutorials and resizable GUI.

KVR lists version 1.7.1.

Source: Arturia product page

When to use it

For smooth tube-style leveling, Comp TUBE-STA sits between the optical Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection and Waves CLA-2A and the vari-mu glue of Universal Audio's Manley Variable Mu and Fairchild collections. It is a forgiving tube compressor with modern sidechain, M/S detection and a Mix knob, at a lower price than the UA options.

Best for: vocals, bass, pads and gentle bus leveling where heavy gain reduction should stay unobtrusive.
Genres: all genres; its vintage character suits soul, pop, rock and hip-hop vocals.
Look elsewhere if: you need fast, aggressive peak control; a FET design such as Arturia's Comp FET-76 is quicker.
Standout: the modern sidechain section with M/S detection on a 1950s broadcast tube compressor.

What producers say

Reviewers and buyers describe it as a forgiving, musical tube compressor, especially on vocals.

Everything Recording (2019) called it "a very forgiving one" and said it "can handle heavy gain reduction without being overt" on vocals and pads, adding "I honestly have no complaints on this one."
Plugin Boutique buyers rate it 4.8 out of 5 from 55 ratings (as of 2026).

Where to buy

Sweetwater: $79
AudioDeluxe: $79
Arturia: $89.70 (Listed at €79; converted at €1 = $1.1355 (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))
Plugin Boutique: $99

Tutorials and reviews

3 Compressors You'll Actually Use: Tutorials - Tube-STA (Arturia)
Arturia Comp Tube STA Compressor | One of My New Favorites (Home Recording Made Easy)
Three ways to compress lead vocals with Comp TUBE-STA (amagrasmusic)
Audioscape V-Comp+ VS Arturia TUBE-STA
Arturia Compressors Review TUBE-STA VCA-65 & FET-76

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