8.8Great
Cytomic The Glue is an SSL-style VCA bus compressor with Mix, Range, sidechain HPF, and oversampling—built for drum buses, mix glue, and transparent level control.
Plugin comparison
Cytomic The Glue vs Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which effect to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
9.0Essential
Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II is the definitive optical vocal compressor plugin—Mk I + Mk II in one UI with Generation Switch, sidechain HPF, and parallel mix.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II comes out ahead (9.0). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Cytomic The Glue | Softube Tube-Tech CL 1B Mk II |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $199 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Formats | VST2, VST3, AU, AAX | AU, VST, VST3, AAX |
| Type | Analog-modelled VCA feedback bus compressor | Optical tube-style compressor (plugin emulation) |
| Circuit inspiration | Classic 1980s British large-console stereo bus compressor | — |
| Detector | Dual-diode envelope follower (feed-back topology) | — |
| Ratios | 2:1 (soft knee), 4:1 (medium), 10:1 (hard / peak-limiter territory) | — |
| Attack | 0.01 ms to 30 ms (includes faster settings than original hardware) | — |
| Release | 0.1 s to 1.2 s plus classic Auto release | — |
| Key extras | Mix, Range, sidechain HPF (0–2 kHz, 6 dB/oct), external sidechain, stereo link 0–100% in 25% steps, Peak Clip, advanced oversampling | — |
| Formats | VST2, VST3, AUv2, AAXv2 (64-bit) | AU, VST, VST3, AAX |
| Platforms | macOS 10.13+ (Intel/Apple silicon); Windows 10+ (64-bit) | macOS Sonoma 14 / Sequoia 15 / Tahoe 26; Windows 10–11 64-bit |
| Price model | $99 one-time; free trial available from Cytomic | — |
| Related stock device | Ableton Live Glue Compressor uses the same core algorithm family | — |
| Hardware heritage | — | Tube-Tech CL 1B optical compressor |
| Softube package | — | CL 1B Mk I + CL 1B Mk II in one plug-in |
| Generation Switch | — | Toggle legacy Mk I vs remodeled Mk II sonics |
| Software extras | — | Sidechain low-cut (e.g. 80/220 Hz class settings per manual notes); parallel compression mix |
| Classic use cases | — | Vocals, bass, guitars, buses needing smooth opto motion |
| Authorization | — | Softube account + iLok; three activations; trial available |
| List price | — | $199 USD / ~€199 regional (confirm Softube store) |
| Ecosystem | — | Console 1 ready; also in Tube-Tech Complete / Flow suite options |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.