Level

Name: Level
Price: 149 USD
Author: MixWave

by MixWave · Compressor · Variable-mu tube leveler

Not rated yet

A model of the Gates STA-Level tube compressor, a radio staple of the 1960s and 70s, with variable-mu compression and adaptive recovery.

An Age knob simulates tube and transformer wear, and there are vintage and modern circuit options, for $149.

Best for: Vocals, Bass, Drums, Mix Bus, Mastering. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: vari-mu, tube, smooth, broadcast, bus processing, vintage, mix bus, modern, warm, bass, drums, vocals, 60s, 70s, gentle, glue, transformer, clean, electric guitar, full mix, mastering, built-in mix knob, circuit-modelled, component-modelled, crisp, lo-fi, mixing, musical, parallel processing, single-band, stereo-linked.

What it does

Level is MixWave's model of the Gates STA-Level, a variable-mu tube compressor that, in the developer's words, "dominated the sound of Top 40 radio" in the 1960s and '70s. It is built with component-level modeling, and adds modern mix controls to the original's slow, smooth leveling.

Variable-mu tube engine: triode-tube compression that gets firmer as the signal gets louder, for warm and gentle leveling rather than hard peak control.
Adaptive recovery: a recovery control that adapts to the material. The Midi Audio Expert review describes a Single mode (75 ms attack) for gentler compression and a Double mode (25 ms attack) that treats short peaks and sustained level differently.
Age knob: simulates the life cycle of the tubes and transformers, from a crisp, new sound to a worn vintage tone with softer highs and fuller lows.
Vintage and Modern circuits: Vintage leans into the saturation of an old unit; Modern is cleaner, with more precision and headroom.
Stereo linking: link both channels for even stereo compression or run them independently.
Plugin extras: a wet/dry mix for parallel compression, input and output high-pass and low-pass filters, and real-time preset loading.

A 14-day fully working trial is available.

Source: MixWave product page

When to use it

Level is the pick when you want the slow, thick leveling of a vintage broadcast compressor with an extra Age control for colour. Compared with the Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection and CLA-2A, it is also a slow, smooth leveler, but its variable-mu design and Age knob give a darker, more saturated tone, and it adds a wet/dry mix and filters. Klanghelm MJUC is a far cheaper variable-mu option with several circuit flavours, while Level focuses on one specific unit. Unlike Pro-C 3, it offers set recovery modes rather than full attack and release controls, so it is a colour tool more than a surgical one.

Best for: smooth leveling on vocals and bass, warming up guitars and drums, and gentle glue on the mix bus.
Genres: any, especially soul, rock, pop and anything that wants a vintage radio-era sound.
Look elsewhere if: you need fast transient control or precise settings; an 1176 model such as CLA-76, or Pro-C 3, does that better.
Tip: the reviewer found it particularly effective on the mix bus; set Modern for cleaner bus glue and Vintage with more Age for a warmer, older sound.

What producers say

The one review we found is very positive, praising the warmth and the faithful take on the hardware; no criticisms were raised.

Midi Audio Expert called it "a true marvel" that reproduces the STA-Level while adding modern conveniences, praising the flexible recovery control and how well it works on vocals, bass, guitars, drums and the master bus.
Sound: the reviewer likened its smooth, musical compression to a Fairchild and said it is especially strong for a big, warm, radio-era sound.

Midi Audio Expert review

Where to buy

MixWave: $149

Tutorials and reviews

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