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1176 Peak Limiter
UREI
The UREI 1176 Peak Limiter is a fast, characterful, all-solid-state audio compressor introduced in 1968. It uses a field-effect transistor in feedback configuration for gain reduction. Compression is soft-knee with a fixed threshold controlled by input level. Four ratios — 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1 — each raise the threshold. Attack and release are program-dependent. Stereo linking is supported. The 'all-button mode' adds harmonic distortion and alters compression behaviour. It marked the transition from vacuum tube to solid-state technology in studio dynamics processing.