The Altec 436C is a single channel tube compressor with fixed attack control and variable-mu topology, where ratio increases with the amount of gain reduction. These units are widely used on bass guitars, vocals, and other legato sources.

Though originally shipped with terminal block I/O, many of these units have since been modified with either XLR or TRS I/O, or at least are supplied with pigtails that terminate to either.

EMI in England was famous for modifying these units after purchasing several for Abbey Road when they were unable to attain the Fairchild limiters of the day. They added six switchable recovery times, a "Hold" control, and an output attenuator.