Empirical Labs EL-Q - Manual (Page 2)

Features
‰ Possibly the most powerful Analog EQ ever produced. Eight sections of processing!
‰ Two shelving Equalizers, Special 3rd order HP (Low Cut) section with 8 selectable
Frequencies, 4 Fully Parametric bands, and one Dynamic Equalizer section.
‰ Dynamic Section that can be used for De-essing and high frequency softening.
‰ Movable Dynamic Section. For instance, De-essing can be before or after EQ.
‰ Highest audio performance of any Parametric EQ ever available. The total harmonic
distortion is typically below .0006% with all EQ bands Engaged! (See spes below).
Empirical Labs had to buy a new analyzer to even measure the distortion.
‰ Performance exceeds any digital EQ in terms of Distortion and Noise. There is no
Analog to Digital Converter that can currently produce such low distortion and noise.
‰ Built in Instrument Preamp/Direct box – Just plug a guitar or bass etc into the front panel and
engage the instrument Switch, and you have the highest performance direct box currently
available. Distortion is below .0007% on the Instrument Preamp, 114dB dynamic range.
‰ Three Outputs, including a Class A transformer output to give you an isolated output
with the wonderful soft saturation and beefy low end that you get from your favorite
vintage gear.
‰ Traditional and digitally controlled analog combined in new topology.
‰ Huge "DISTRESSOR" knobs with high resolution numbering - For easy readability and
repeatable settings. They also go to 10 1/2 .
‰ A “BAD!” Hard Clip Indicator lights – A “Bad” Clip LED that lets user know he is within 1dB of
hard clipping. It monitors every section of the EQ for internal clipping.
‰ Locked, calibrated, output level - Allows speed in setting tape and live mix levels.
‰ Foolproof operation - it's almost impossible to clip or get a bad sound.
‰ Single height and light weight – More processing than any other single height analog EQ.
‰ Discrete and integrated combination -The best of speed/linearity with repeatability. Hand
tested & selected components. All metal film and Roederstein resistors in the audio path - top
quality components, most being high temperature military spec parts.
‰ Switchable 115/230 volt operation - Extra fuse provided inside unit.
‰ True EQ bypass - Know what it's really doing.
‰ XLR and 1/4" phone ins and outs - XLR fully balanced design, pin 2 hot. Changeable by user
to pin 3 hot!
‰ No internal connectors, high reliability parts and military grade switches and relays. All
contacts doubled up for maximum reliability.
‰ Three year unlimited warranty.
‰ Interface and features found nowhere else.
‰ Hand wired, calibrated in USA. Shipping weight 14 Lbs.
Specs
♦ Freq. Response is 3 Hz to 180 kHz on transformerless Inputs and outputs (-3dB points).
Transformer output is 6Hz – 100kHz. Measurements with EQ “In” but 8 sections “Out”.
♦ Dynamic Range - 122 dB from maximum output (.5%THD soft clipping) to minimum output.
Transformerless noise floor typically – 95dBV.
♦ Distortion Ranges between .0005% and .005% depending on mode and settings.
♦ DC coupled Input and Outputs, and one transformer coupled output - High quality audio
caps used internally.
♦ Input Impedance is 20k Ohm. Output impedance is less than 38 ohms.
♦ D-S Dynamics Time Constants - Attack time is less than 1mS. Release .04 sec, fixed
internally.
♦ Power Consumption – 34 Watts max. 16 Watts Typical
Empirical Labs -
Something Old, Something New
Our Valued Customer Comments
Comments About the DISTRESSOR
“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. All The Best, Joe Chicarelli”
“Distressors: I can't get over HOW GREAT they sound. On everything. It's truly the best
compressor made today.” Greg Wells (Katy Perry, All American Rejects, Adelle, etc)
“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 (Lenny Kravitz, Dave Mathews, Eric Clapton, The
Wallflowers, Goo Goo Dolls, Jackson Brown, Bonnie Raitt, Stones, etc.)
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
Comments About the Mike-E
“If you're looking for a WOW moment with a preamp, you should look into the EL-9 Mike-
E. I have some pretty nice gear here, and when I got one, I put in an order for another the
next day (my girlfriend wasn't pleased, but...). Seriously. True story. I would be surprised
if you could find a used one....”
"We have used the Distressor pretty much since its inception and now use the Mike-E like
we use our lungs! Thanks Dave and everyone at Empirical Labs. You are amazing!"
“It's true that the mic pre on it's own is fast and accurate... but it sounds so damn BIG and
FAT that it doesn't bother me in the least. Add to that the seemingly endless versatility of
the Compsat section and i can dial in as much grit or character as i could want...with total
control. And yes, the ability to blend the compsat section into the signal is AWESOME.
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Rev 14.3
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