Why is the Distressor so popular?
The Distressor features a unique combination of digitally-controlled analogue circuitry, which offers users the best of both worlds: exacting control and a warm, chunky, sometimes vintage sound. Sound-wise, the Distressor is probably most often used to add heft and weight to basslines, snares and kick drums.
What is empirical labs Distressor?
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Features: Programmable analog distortion warms up unforgiving digital recordings. Three audio modes: user-programmable, vintage-style harmonic distortion. Clean and Distort 2 modes: tube-like, 2nd-order harmonics. Distort 3 modes: distortion dominated by 3rd-order harmonics (similar to …
When was the Distressor invented?
1995
The Distressor was developed in 1995 by Dave Derr. Dave started Empirical Labs as a recording studio and electronics consulting firm. He was also part of the design team at Eventide that created the H3000, a legendary effects processor.
Is the Distressor good?
What’s good: The distressor is by far the most versatile compressor on the market. If you’re only going to buy 1 high end unit this is your best bet. It really helps add tone and some analog color if your recording straight into a computer. The opto mode gives you that “set it and forget it” feature.
Who makes the Distressor plugin?
Empirical Labs®
Empirical Labs® EL8 Distressor Compressor — $299 Introduced in 1993, the Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor is revered in studios all over the world as the modern, “must-have” compressor.
What is FET in audio?
FETs (field-effect transistors) are active electrical devices that use an electric field from a microphone capsule to control a flow of current that ultimately becomes the mic signal. FETs take the high-impedance signal from mic capsules and output a usable and proportional low-impedance signal.
What type of compressor is the Distressor?
Hybrid
Empirical Labs Distressor EL8X Analogue Compressor Main Features:
| Demo in Store | No |
|---|---|
| Chassis | Rackmount |
| Compression Type | Hybrid |
| Attack | 50uS to 50mS |
| Release | .05 sec to 3.5 seconds, up to 20 seconds in 10:1 opto mode |
When should you use parallel compression?
Although most commonly used on drums and vocals, parallel compression can be used whenever you need to increase the presence and punch of an instrument, but still want to keep the dynamic quality of the original audio.