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Once confirmation has been received that your payment has been successful from your chosen payment method provider, then we can process your order and send your email containing your unique code and instructions on how to download the software from the Supplier.
When completing the checkout, please make sure that your email address is accurate so that we can get this to you as quickly as possible.
14-day money back guarantee included if product is not activated
You can purchase from Gear4music with complete confidence and peace of mind. All of our digital products come with a 14-day money-back guarantee as standard.
If you decide you don't want your order, you can return it within 14 days of receiving it. Provided your product hasn't been activated in that time, you can exchange it for a different product, or get a refund.
We will only issue a new product or refund if the supplier confirms that your product has not been activated. At the same time, we will ask them to invalidate it so that it cannot be used in the future.
This does not affect your statutory rights.
For more information, please refer to our Returns and Refunds Information.
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 30 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
- Mouth and Lip-Care Products
- CDs, DVDs and Software
We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 30 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
Key Features
The Relab Color Drive is a tube saturation plug-in, built around the variable-gain tube stage of the Relab 176. Capable of delivering anything from subtle tube warmth to all-out hardware distortion, the Relab Color Drive delivers authentic analog response, modelling the input transformer, 6BC8 tube, calibration bias, and output transformer of the 176 drive circuit as one cohesive unit in real time. The result is every control change affects the entire signal path, just like hardware.
The Drive dial pushes the tube naturally, shaping harmonics and transients without feeling static or detached. The switchable output transformer lets you add focus and weight, while Calibration shifts the bias point to balance odd and even harmonics. Modern pre and post filtering controls decide what the circuit “hears”, keeping low-end solid and directing energy into the tube stage where it matters. It’s a practical, musical way to add density, warmth, and presence without relying on level boosts.
Product Ref: 365704
This product uses iLok to authorise and activate your product licence. For a detailed breakdown on how to use iLok to authorise your digital download product, see our full guide on How does iLok work? for more information.
Color Drive models the full Relab 176 tube stage as a single, interactive system rather than layered saturation stages. The input transformer, variable-gain tube, bias, and output transformer are all solved together in real time, so the circuit reacts as a whole. Push one control and the entire response shifts, just like physical hardware. This approach delivers harmonics that evolve naturally, with density and transient shape changing together. It avoids static distortion curves and instead gives you saturation that feels connected to the source, whether you’re adding subtle movement or more obvious colour.
The Drive control doesn’t just add intensity, it increases signal into an accurate 6BC8 tube model inside a complete analogue circuit. As you turn it up, harmonics build progressively and transients soften in a controlled, musical way. The result is weight and presence rather than harsh clipping or obvious effects. It’s especially useful for adding body to vocals, thickness to drums, or edge to instruments while keeping dynamics intact. You’re shaping behaviour, not stacking processing.
Engaging the output transformer places the full analogue chain back into the signal path, introducing a more focused, solid harmonic structure. With Calibration centred, the circuit leans toward odd-order harmonics for punch and clarity. Adjusting Calibration shifts the tube’s bias point, bringing in even-order harmonics for warmth and contour. Used together, these controls give you fine control over how saturation sits in a mix, letting you dial in subtle tonal changes that feel intentional rather than exaggerated.
Color Drive includes modern filtering tools that shape the signal before it hits the tube stage. A low-end crossover can route deep bass around the drive circuit, keeping weight without clouding the harmonics. Pre and post tilt or high-shelf emphasis filters let you choose which frequencies push the tube harder. This makes it easier to target saturation exactly where it’s useful, giving you consistent results across different sources while keeping the character musical and controlled.
