Question 1

Which compressor plugins would Creative Sauce reinstall first on a new computer?

Accepted Answer

My “first installs” are the ones in A tier—high quality and I know I’ll use them. In this video that includes the Tube‑Tech CL 1B, the 1176 Blue Stripe, and the Distressor. They’re not all my absolute daily drivers, but they’re definitely worth having ready to go.

Question 2

What are Creative Sauce’s top compressor plugins (S tier)?

Accepted Answer

S tier is my “triple backup” tier—the ones I’d back up because I don’t want to lose them. For me that’s the 1176 Blackface, the API 2500, and the LA‑2A. They show up constantly in my projects, and they each do their thing without me fighting them.

Question 3

Why does Creative Sauce rank the LA-2A so high even though it has few controls?

Accepted Answer

Because it reliably takes care of smooth compression without me having to think about it too much. You dial in peak reduction and move on with your mix, and it just does something “magical” to the source. It’s a good reminder that more features doesn’t automatically mean a better plugin.

Question 4

What’s the difference between 1176 Blackface and Blue Stripe in the tier list?

Accepted Answer

The Blackface is my go-to: fast, versatile, and all over my projects, so it’s S tier for me. The Blue Stripe is older, more distorted, more aggressive—great when you want grit, like rock vocals or parallel drums—but I use it less, so it lands in A tier.

Question 5

Why does Creative Sauce prefer the API 2500 over the SSL bus compressor?

Accepted Answer

The SSL bus comp is fine—nothing wrong with it—and it even integrates nicely with my SSL hardware. But the API 2500 just feels like it does “absolute magic,” especially on a drum bus, once you learn it and find your favorite settings. That’s why API goes S tier and SSL ends up in B for me.

Question 6

Which compressor plugin would Creative Sauce delete and why?

Accepted Answer

The Manley Vari Mu goes in D tier for me. A lot of people love it for mastering and smooth tube compression, but I’m not a mastering engineer and it isn’t in my mastering chain. I’ve had it for a long time and just never get drawn to it over other options.

Question 7

Is FabFilter Pro-C 2 worth having for mixing?

Accepted Answer

Yes—I keep it installed because it’s got basically every feature you could want, plus that very visual display. It can be genuinely helpful when you’re trying to understand what’s happening or diagnose a compression problem. But it doesn’t excite me, and sometimes it feels like it has almost too many features, so it sits in B tier.

Question 8

What compressor plugins does Creative Sauce use on vocals, bass, and drums?

Accepted Answer

For vocals, I often lean on the LA‑2A for that smooth, reliable control, and I’ll pair it with an 1176 when I want a different kind of grip. For drums, the API 2500 is a near-automatic choice on the drum bus for me, and the 1176 can be great when you need speed. Bass is another place the LA‑2A shines for me because it’s slow and musical in a way that just works.

Which Compressors I'd Delete If I Started Over (Tier List)

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