Don't let the cartoon fat man fool you: the HHB Radius 3 is a genuine valve stereo compressor with a glowing VU and a brilliantly simple program-based front end. Pick your source (vocal, bass, kick, mix bus) and it dials in a starting point, then you taste to season. Warm, characterful tube compression for people who'd rather make records than read manuals.

FEATURES & PROS:

• Real Tube Compression: A valve stage for warmth, glue and gentle harmonic colour.
• Program-Based Setup: Presets for vocals, guitars, bass, drums and mix bus get you there fast.
• Big Glowing VU: Proper metering, plus an instrument input on the front.
• Stereo Operation: Treat a full mix or a stereo bus with one knob each.
• Charming and Capable: Looks like a toy, works like a tool.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: stereo valve compressor
• Metering: backlit VU
• Inputs: instrument + line
• Controls: input/output/make-up gain, threshold, ratio, attack, release, knee
• Era: 2000s