FreqPort FreqTube FT1 review: Add true analog flare to your mix

These days, it’s easy to get decent-sounding in-the-box tube soundalikes, but there’s still something to be said for the real thing. There’s a certain…feel…that you just can’t get without the real thing, at least not yet. But thankfully, getting the real thing doesn’t have to involve completely revamping your box-based session. The FreqPort FreqTube FT1 is built to combine the ease of a basic plugin with the hardware of real tubes, while adding some handy tactile controls along the way.

It comes at a good time. What’s old is new again, and analog sounds are all the rage. Traditionally, getting that warm feel meant spending a ton of cash on cumbersome gear. With the FreqPort FreqTube FT1, that changes.

FreqPort FreqTube FT1 review

FreqPort FreqTube FT1

The FreqPort FreqTube FT1 brings back try analog feel with four built-in tubes that are as easy to control as any of the plugins in your DAW.

Design

9

Sound

9.5

Value

8.5

Pros

Sounds awesome

Two different tube types

Physical controls work well

Great design

Cons

A little pricey

9

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Amazon

FreqPort

FreqPort FreqTube FT1 review: Design

The FreqPort FreqTube FT1 is a compact desktop box with a surprisingly small footprint, making it an easy fit for most studio setups. Despite its size, it manages to pack in a robust feature set and a premium feel that sets it apart from other hardware units. It’s generally the same design language as FreqPort’s other product, the FreqPort FreqInOut FO1.

On the back, you’ll find a power switch and a USB-C port. The USB-C port, however, is just for data transfer — you can’t power the device through USB, as the tubes draw too much power. You’ll have to use the included power brick, too.

The top panel is where things get exciting. There are eight tactile dials that allow you to control the plugin, along with a vibrant display that clearly indicates what settings are being adjusted. The colorful look adds a bit of visual flair, and I really like how it looks.

Perhaps the most eye-catching design element is what happens when you actually use the FreqTube FT1 though. There’s a grille on the top, under which can be found the four tubes — which emit that warm orange glow when the unit is on. 

The entire build feels rock solid, with high-quality materials that contribute to its premium and durable design.

FreqPort FreqTube FT1 review: Plugin

The hardware unit itself is only one part of the whole setup — the other part being the accompanying plugin, which is available in AU, VST3, and AAX formats. The FreqTube plugin is generally easy to use and well-designed, though it may take a few minutes to get used to how its laid out. 

From the plugin, you can control every aspect of how the hardware itself operates. There are two filters, which can be used at the same time, plus you can tweak the overall drive, harmonics, and the wet/dry mix. All of the controls in the plugin can also be assigned to any of the eight physical knobs on the hardware unit — and those settings can be saved as presets so that you don’t have to set it up again for every session. 

The plugin also has some presets that can help you get started with specific instruments. You may or may not find these useful, but regardless, they’re likely to be a good starting point. 

Along with the plugin, you’ll also need to install the Analog Hub software, which looks for software and firmware updates, and manages the connection. 

It’s worth noting that you can only use up to four instances of the plugin at once — one for each of the four tubes in the FreqTube FT1. This makes sense, and while it might have been nice to be able to send two or more signals to each tube at once, doing so would make for some weird and probably unwanted effects. And, to be clear, you could still do that by sending those signals through a bus in your DAW and then sending that to the FreqTube. 

FreqPort FreqTube FT1 review: Sound

The FreqTube FT1 packs four tubes—two E83CCs and two 12AT7s—each with their own sonic personality. The E83CCs are all about smooth, rich warmth with low noise, making them perfect for adding subtle harmonic magic without muddying things up. The 12AT7s, on the other hand, bring a little more clarity and definition. The unit lets you run these tubes in stereo or split them into mono for more flexibility.

Even just a small amount of drive adds a lovely analog feel—especially on vocals, where it smooths out transients and gives them extra depth. It’s a great way to get that “glued together” feel without overdoing it.

If you want to push things harder, the FreqTube FT1 delivers. Running a drum bus through it with a good amount of drive gave me a satisfying bite, for example. That said, most users will probably lean toward using it in a more subtle way—warming up a mix rather than going full distortion. I used it quite a bit on lead vocals, though with the wet/dry mix pushed much further towards the dry side, and it really helped give the vocal a little more presence. 

The saturation can get harsh, but it never feels digital—which is kind of the point. Even at extreme settings, it stays musical, which makes it a blast to experiment with. Whether you’re running synths, vocals, or a whole mix through it, the FT1 adds a natural analog touch that’s tough to replicate with plugins. Plus, having the ability to dial in just the right amount of warmth or clarity makes it a super versatile tool in any studio setup.

Verdict

I’m someone who experiments with distortion on all kinds of tracks. I love adding some to a drum mix in parallel with the main mix, or on a pair of room mics. And, I almost always mix at least some kind of drive on a lead vocal, even if it’s pretty buried in the mix. In other words, the FreqTube FT1 is perfect for me. I’m no mastering engineer, but I can certainly imagine the unit coming in handy when applied to a mix as a whole too, and the experimentation I did do with that yielded some great results. 

Of course, you’ll have to decide for yourself if a $999 unit is worth it, esepcially if, like me, you largely rely on drive in the mixing stage to add an edge that can often end up buried in a mix. That said, I found it to sound excellent, and if you’re interested in adding a truly analog edge to your sessions, it’s absolutely worth considering.