Waves Puigchild Compressor

What Waves PuigChild Compressor Is For

Waves PuigChild Compressor is a tube compressor/limiter plugin inspired by the legendary Fairchild 660 and 670, renowned for their ability to control dynamics while allowing the sonic material to breathe. It excels on the stereo bus to provide cohesion ("glue") without hardening the high frequencies, and on sources with strong dynamics (vocals, drums, bass, guitars, pianos) to stabilize levels while preserving attack.

Whether you mix pop, rock, hip-hop, or more organic music, PuigChild is designed to add harmonic density and a sense of depth typical of tube gear, while remaining practical for everyday use thanks to a deliberately streamlined interface. Even with significant gain reduction, the sensation remains natural, making it a top choice for modern mixes seeking a credible and musical "vintage" sound.

Main Features

"Tube" Compression at the Core of the Signal

One signature of this type of compressor is how the compression integrates into the audio path itself, with behavior and grain difficult to replicate using other topologies (FET, VCA, opto). PuigChild aims precisely for this rendering: a gentle compression that softens harshness, enhances sustain, and preserves transient detail. The result: you can achieve a sense of power and stability without losing the openness of the mix.

A Bus Compressor That "Glues" Without Crushing

On the master bus or subgroups (drum bus, music bus, backing vocals), PuigChild stands out with compression that does not "close" the stereo field. Where some modern compressors may feel restrictive as gain reduction increases, PuigChild maintains a pristine and breathing character, very useful for giving a coherent finish to the mix while preserving perceived dynamics.

Processing Modes: Mono, Dual Mono, Stereo, and M/S

The 670's behavior can be used in several ways: as two independent mono compressors (dual mono), as a linked stereo compressor for uniform control, or in Mid/Side (lateral/vertical) mode to work on center stability (vocals, bass, snare) while controlling ambience on the sides. For mono tracks, the 660 version allows you to retain the single-channel spirit with reduced CPU load.

Quick Controls: From Subtle Adjustment to Classic "Pumping"

PuigChild favors immediate control: a Threshold with 10 positions and a Time Constant with 6 positions that determines attack/release behavior. In practice, you can switch within seconds from very transparent holding (perfect for stable and present vocals) to more pronounced compression capable of creating a rhythmic and "pumpy" effect on drums or room mics, while maintaining a flattering harmonic texture.

Analog Authenticity: Harmonic Distortion, Hum, and Noise Floor

To enhance the feeling of a true vintage processor, the plugin includes circuit modeling with total harmonic distortion. It also allows adding hum and noise floor (50/60 Hz) to recreate, if desired, the sonic context of a real tube device. Useful for productions seeking a deliberate patina, and just as easy to disable for cleaner processing.

Technical specifications

Type

Full software

Downloadable

Yes

Dynamics plugin	compressor/limiter	Release range announced	from 300 ms up to 25 s (depending on Time Constant)
Sound character	warm, smooth, analog with a clean and transparent rendering	Systems	macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14
Optional addition of hum and noise floor	50/60 Hz	Memory	8 GB
Modes	mono, dual mono, stereo, M/S (lateral/vertical)	Disk space	16 GB
660 mono version	reduced CPU consumption (compared to stereo processing)	Processor	Intel or Silicon architecture
Controls	Threshold with 10 steps	Additional Media	information not provided