Black Lion Audio Bluey Review

The Black Lion Audio Bluey is one of the first hardware analog compressors I picked up for my home studio. As per recommendation from a mixer friend, I had to try it out. It’s heavy, and that’s often a good sign in the world of audio equipment.

Before diving into testing, my initial observations of the build quality were positive. The Bluey feels like it’s constructed to last, with a robust chassis that gives confidence in its longevity and performance. As someone who appreciates equipment that sounds good and is built to endure the rigors of regular use, this immediately stood out as a promising start.

The CLA connection

Chris Lord-Alge is a legend in the world of mixing, known for creating iconic vocal sounds that have defined countless records. The Black Lion Audio Bluey is a hardware replication of his uniquely modified 1176 Rev A. Over the years, various modifications were made to that unit, some intentional and some accidental during maintenance. These changes resulted in a compressor unlike any other 1176, and that uniqueness is what inspired the Bluey.

I’ve been a long-time fan of the Waves CLA plugin series. Something about how these plugins capture the essence of the 1176 compressors resonates with me. The Bluey plugin, particularly, stands out due to its aggressive tone and vibrant saturation. This affinity for the CLA plugins naturally led me to explore the hardware version to see if it could live up to the same expectations.

In practice

Getting the Black Lion Audio Bluey into my rack was straightforward. It’s a solid piece of hardware. Installing it was easy, and the build quality immediately inspires confidence.

One thing I noticed right away is that the Bluey doesn’t come with a bypass switch. What it does include is a wet/dry blend knob. This handy feature allows me to blend the compressed signal with the unprocessed signal. I started with the knob at 0% and gradually moved it to 100% wet to fully engage the compressor. The wet/dry blend adds versatility, especially when subtlety is needed.

For testing, I used Chris Lord-Alge’s presets from the Waves CLA plugin series as a baseline. If anyone knew how this unit should sound, it would be the guy who inspired it. The result: the Bluey captures the character. The hardware has a responsiveness and break-up that feel both dynamic and musical. When set to all-buttons-in mode, the Bluey adds a rich saturation with pleasing harmonic complexity.

Bottom line

The Black Lion Audio Bluey’s signature character and performance leave a lasting impression. This compressor is not subtle; it imparts a distinct color even at minimal compression levels, which makes it perfect for adding a compelling edge to vocals or drums.

This unit’s speed and saturation are exceptional. In my experience, only a few compressors match the Bluey in terms of the character they add. The Retro Stay Level and the Retro 176 come to mind, but the Bluey’s edge lies in its specific recreation of the CLA vocal sound, which no other 1176 hardware or plugin emulator I’ve used quite captures.

The Black Lion Audio Bluey is undeniably a keeper. It fills a specific need for those chasing the iconic CLA sound, offering a level of character and aggression that is hard to find elsewhere. Whether you’re working on rock vocals or looking to add a punchy, colorful edge to drums, the Bluey delivers with precision and flair.