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Capitol Mastering Compressor Black Friday pricing is 25% off, $149, with the deal ending Nov 30, 2026, on Universal Audio's tube mastering compressor plugin for your stereo bus.
The plugin is built around the CM5511, a handbuilt tube mastering compressor designed and used by Capitol Studios. Universal Audio says it has exclusively modeled this hardware, and that it is now compatible with any soundcard on Mac and PC.
It is a compressor plugin that puts the CM5511's tube-based dynamics control into your signal chain.
The maker says the original unit has mastered entire catalogs from Capitol, Motown, Geffen, Blue Note and Def Jam, plus dozens more labels. It also lists modern records by Black Sabbath, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez.
UA describes the plugin as an exacting emulation of that custom-made hardware. The CM5511 itself was inspired by vintage Fairchild 670 and Gates Sta-Level tube limiters.
According to the maker, the hardware was designed for consistent results across Capitol's four mastering rooms.
Beyond the compressor itself, the plugin has tools for finishing a mix in the box:
UA calls this a full-featured, modern mastering tool. The metering lets you check peak level and loudness against your target without opening a separate meter on the master bus.
The sidechain filter changes what the detector responds to, so you can shape how the compressor reacts to the program material.
Yes. The maker says it is not just for the 2-bus.
UA says the plugin adds its tube-based character to your drum bus, synths, background vocals and other instrument groups. The pitch is the same dynamics control the hardware gives a finished mix, applied to a group before it reaches the master.
Place it on a bus or send where you want that tube coloration, and gain stage into it the way you would with the hardware.
Yes. The Capitol Mastering Compressor Black Friday deal takes 25% off, bringing the plugin to $149, and it ends Nov 30, 2026.
It is based on the CM5511, a handbuilt tube mastering compressor designed and used by Capitol Studios. Universal Audio says it exclusively modeled the unit, which was inspired by vintage Fairchild 670 and Gates Sta-Level tube limiters.
Yes. It has dBFS and LUFS metering, so you can watch peak level and loudness while you compress. A sidechain filter is built in as well, which UA presents as part of a modern mastering toolset.
Yes. The maker says it is not only for the 2-bus. UA says it also adds its tube-based character to drum buses, synths and background vocals, and the plugin works with any soundcard on Mac and PC.
Prices and end dates are checked at publishing time and can change, so confirm them at the store before you buy.