From Softube
Gut-busting drums. Crackling, searing, face-melting guitars. Meaty, punching bass. Rich, up-front vocals. Wide-open, airy, living electronics. If you will it, it is no dream with the American Class A.
Based on the greatest classics of American mixing console hardware, this channel strip is fast and easy to work with, and brings a truckload of character to the party. Both an expansion to Console 1 and a standalone plug-in, American Class A has it all.
Classic American Console Sound
All the quirks and unique features of the original hardware,
and all the amazing sound too.
Available as a Plug-In...
A fully-featured channel strip plug-in with cutting-edge visuals and intuitive layout.
...And in Console 1
American Class A can also be used in Console 1. Shape, EQ, Compressor, Drive and more, controllable from your hands-on mixer.
Console 1 Ready
This plug-in can be used within Console 1, our mixing system.
American Hero
The American gear on which this strip is based is perhaps best known for the way it brings out the power and energy of modern rock music; acts such as Radiohead, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, and Pearl Jam have used similar consoles.
With a shape section featuring gate and transient designing, a stellar four-band EQ with proportional Q and range control, a fascinating compressor design which can be switched between feedback and feed forward operations, and a warm, crunchy output drive section, no modern studio is complete until this sonic option is at hand.
Power and Precision
Drums leap out of the speakers, vocals grab you by the scruff of the neck, guitars spontaneously combust. But the American Class A is also capable of subtlety.
Using the range controls of the EQ to limit the gain boosting and cutting to a half or even a quarter of the starting values, it becomes a high-resolution mastering unit. And running a synth sound through these same hard-rocking controls can result in improved openness and vitality just as easily as increased grunt.
Great Sound, Great Looks, Great Experience
The sonics are not the only area in which the American Class A is world-class. The plug-in also provides state-of-the-art visual feedback, with a large display offering FFT readouts or a waveform view in which you can see the effect your settings are having on your signal in real time.
Console 1 Channel Strip Included
The plug-in also seamlessly integrates with Console 1 as a channel strip, so if you use Console 1 you'll get the added speed and benefit of hands-on analog workflow. Don’t spend another second longing after that ideal sound. Get the American Class A today. Dream big, sound bigger.
Amp Room Ready
This plug-in can be used within Amp Room, Softube's pro audio guitar & bass platform. Click to learn more.
- Console 1 Ready: works as a native plug-in and as an expansion for Softube Console 1, our mixing ecosystem. Both versions of American Class A are included in one license. Learn more about Console 1
- Amp Room Ready: American Class A can also be used in Amp Room, our pro audio guitar platform, as two separate modules – compressor and equalizer. The modules are included in Amp Room. Learn more about Amp Room
- Classic American mixing console sound: all the quirks, features, and amazing sound of the original hardware
- A real and complete workhorse replacement for stock DAW mixing tools
- Characteristic stepped EQ with proportional Q values. Gives bold boosts and clean cuts
- Unique compressor design, which can operate in feedback or feed forward topologies
- Cutting-edge graphics and waveform visualisations offer all the information you need
- Shape section has both gate and transient shaper, with all the same tasty analog sound of the strip’s circuitry
- Crunchy drive from the output stage, with controllable character
All Softube products require a computer with appropriate DAW host software (none of which are included).
Versions from 2.5.38 and newer of the Softube plug-ins have the following minimum requirements:
All native versions
- Mac OS X 10.13 up to 12
- Windows 10 and 11 64-bit
- Mac: Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 / Xeon / Full Apple silicon support (M1 or higher)
- Windows: Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 / Xeon / AMD Quad-Core or newer
- Screen resolution larger than 1280x800
- 8 GB RAM or more is recommended, as well as at least 8 GB hard disk space for installation (individual plug-ins take less space, while sample libraries may require additional disk space)
- Softube account
- iLok account
- Internet access for downloading installers and managing licenses
- iLok generation 2 and up, if you intend to use an iLok key for authorizing your plug-ins (note that a physical iLok USB key is not a requirement)
In theory, any 64-bit VST, VST3, AU, or AAX (Pro Tools 11.0.2 or higher) compatible host application should work. However, due to plug-in host differences between DAWs - and our own rigorous testing standards - we only officially test our plug-ins and instruments in the most recent versions of Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, Ableton Live, Studio One, Reaper, and Cakewalk. Softube plugins are not tested in non-listed systems, but they most likely work as long as the system requirements are met. We cannot guarantee a solution for issues in unsupported systems.
Note: We have checked the basic functionality of our plug-ins, and Softube Central, under Apple Rosetta 2.
With regards to the different VST formats, we strongly recommend using VST3 as some of our plug-ins have features that are not present in the older VST format. Supported sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz, in both mono and stereo. The most recent maintenance release of your DAW application is recommended. AAX DSP is not currently in active development. TDM/VENUE is no longer supported (old downloads are available on the Legacy Installers page).
Find the Softube installer you need both Softube Central and individual plug-ins.
AAX DSP version
For AAX DSP you need to meet the above requirements for the Native versions. You also need to have an Avid HDX processing card. For plug-ins available for AAX DSP, see Which Softube plug-ins support AAX DSP?
Free 3-Year Warranty
Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.
Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →
Returns
This item is not eligible for the Try-Before-You-Buy 48-hour audition. Standard return policy applies — see Terms & Conditions, Section 18 for details.
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