Empirical Labs EL-8 - Manual (Page 2)

DISTRESSOR
FEATURES
¾ Classic knee sound - With modern noise specs and improved performance. Really grabs.
¾ Programmable analog distortion/warmth - helpful in the pristine but unforgiving digital world.
Three audio modes providing user programmable, warm harmonic distortion. Emphasized tube-
like, 2nd harmonic in clean and Distort 2 mode. In Distort 3 mode, the distortion becomes
dominated by 3rd harmonic, more similar to tape.
¾ Distortion indicator lights - A 1% LED and a "Redline" (3%) LED. No hard clipping until a few
dB past "Redline".
¾ Advanced built-in sidechain EQ - High mid band emphasis prevents harsh, edgy guitars or
vocals from hurting innocent ears. Low cut keeps the low "sum & difference" frequencies from
pumping the upper frequencies of source material.
¾ Fool proof operation - Even though there are 384 possible settings (not counting knob settings),
it's almost impossible to get a bad sound. Keep all knobs on 5 or 6 (around middle) with ratio at
6:1 and you won't go wrong.
¾ Eight unique curves - From the 1:1 mode that simply warms up signal with low order harmonics
without intentional compression, to the "Nuke" setting - a brick wall limiting curve that shines on
live drum room mics. Each curve has its own personality, and release shape. Most exceptional is
the 10:1 "Opto" ratio which uses separate circuitry to emulate the oldest (and valued) "light
controlled" devices, such as the LA-2A etc. See manual to emulate other compressors of old.
¾ Discrete and integrated combination - the best of speed/linearity with repeatability. Hand tested
& selected components.
¾ Huge knobs with high resolution numbering - For easy readability and repeatable settings.
They also go to 10 1/
2
.
¾ Locked, calibrated, output level - Allows speed in setting tape and live mix levels.
¾ Stereo Strappable
¾ Switchable 115/230 volt operation - Extra fuse provided inside unit.
¾ Over designed power supplies - Runs cool, allowing cabinet to be sealed - without heat vents.
Long life components.
¾ Single height and light weight - Classic sound in a small, extremely reliable package.
¾ True bypass - Know what it's really doing. All contacts doubled up for maximum reliability. No
internal audio connectors.
¾ XLR and 1/4" phone ins and outs - XLR fully balanced, transformerless design, pin 2 hot.
Changeable by user to pin 3 hot!
¾ All metal film and Roederstein resistors in the audio path - top quality components. Many
military spec. parts.
¾ Interface and features found nowhere else.
¾ Hand wired, calibrated in USA. Shipping weight 12 Lbs.
SPECS
‰ Freq. response is 2 Hz to 160 kHz in clean audio mode (+0, -3 dB). Response is shaped in
distortion modes (Dist 2, Dist 3).
‰ Dynamic range 110 dB from max. output to min. output in 1:1 mode. Greater than 100 dB signal
to noise in distort 3 mode.
‰ Distortion ranges between .02% and 20% depending on distortion mode and release times set
on front panel.
‰ DC coupled output - High quality input caps.
‰ Time constants - Attack range 50uS - 30mS. Release range .05 sec to 3.5 seconds. Release
goes up to 20 seconds in 10:1 “Opto” mode.
‰ Power Consumption – Typical is 10 Watts, maximum is 14 Watts.
Empirical Labs -
Something old, Something new
1
Customer Comments
Comments About the DISTRESSOR
"Every once in a while a product comes along with ‘classic’ written all over it. And in a
certain sense of the word, this product actually is a classic already." Mix Magazine
“Dear Empirical, I’m an LA based producer and an owner of a Distressor. The unit is really
awesome! I've used it on guitars, bass, room mics, vocals it works great on everything. I've
used it on records I've made with Beck, U2, Etta James, Hole and lots of others.”
Joe Chicarelli
“After buying a Distressor I had an epiphany. Having used software plug-ins for years I
often didn’t hear or understand the affects of various controls. After getting my Distressor,
and using it and hearing the obvious affects of the attack and release controls, I was able to
go back and use the Plug-ins with a new understanding.” (Email)
"One piece of gear I definitely recommend is a compressor called the Distressor. It's really
great for just about everything and if you had to use just one compressor you could
probably get away with just using that." Mitchell Froom
“I sold a couple of 1176's and have replaced them with the Distressors, which do a great job
of emulating the 1176's. Michael Wagener “(Ozzy Osbourne, Extreme, Metallica)
“In general, I really like where Dave Derr’s ear leads him; one of pro audios truly
independent thinkers, I’m a huge fan of the box (the Distressor): I use it for bringing up the
“goosh” on ambient sources, and for saturating snares, toms, and kicks.” George
Massenburg
Comments About the FATSO Jr
“In a word, the FATSO is a very good answer to what a lot of people loathe about digital
recording. It smoothes out the sharp, brittle edges to exactly the extent you choose, and
fills in the hairline cracks just right. I use one on almost every mix I do. I could easily use
one and possibly two more.” George Massenburg
“People used to have to hunt for old, expensive gear to get the kind of sounds that the
FATSO gives me.” Ed Cherney (The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton,
Jackson Browne, Susan Tedeschi, Etta James, … et al)
Best new Signal Processor-EQ AES Awards - "Empirical Labs Fatso took this category,
despite the introduction of a variety of cool new processors. Who can resist the best
aspects of analog tape combined with great compression" EQ Magazine
"The winner of the highly -coveted, ‘I'm going to write you a check right after the show
award’ was picked up by Empirical Labs for its FATSO processor.’ Craig Anderton
LIL FREQ
“Hey Dave… so I got the box, plugged it in on an Etta James vocal that I was having
problems with… and it $#$%^&* rocks. This is a great box, my friend. I can see anybody
with a DAW wanting to use this thing. I am using the shelving, DS’ing and transformer out,
and I am just thrilled. Congratulations. It absolutely complements the digital crap that I am
forced to use…wooo hooo.” Ed Cherney
"I finally got to hear Empirical Labs’ Lil FrEQ, a monster that will destroy the way you think
about EQ. This single-channel unit has two shelving bands, tunable low cut, four parametric
bands, dynamic EQ for de-essing and direct box input—all noiseless and distortion free.
Best of all, its smooth processing is absolutely addictive. Sweet! " George Peterson (Mix
Magazine) 1 1 4 4 ( (
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