10 customer comments, Empirical labs, Features – Empirical Labs EL-DS User Manual
Page 10: Specs, Our valued customer comments, Something old, something new
Features
Possibly the highest performance analog De-esser in existence.
HF Lim Mode, as well as standard De-Ess – High Frequency limiting with
a tailored soft knee. The Dynamic Section can be used for De-essing or
smooth high frequency softening.
A “BAD!” Hard Clip Indicator light – This “Bad” Clip LED lets user know
he is within 1dB of hard clipping. It monitors several sections within the
DerrEsser for possible clipping.
Unity Gain in and out – 6dB of gain availible
Foolproof operation - it's almost impossible to clip or get a bad sound.
Industry standard API 500 Series Rack compatible
True bypass - Know what it's really doing.
High reliability parts and military grade switches and relays.
Three year limited warranty.
Interface and features found nowhere else.
Hand built and calibrated in USA. Shipping weight 1 Lbs.
Specs
♦
Freq. Response
is 3 Hz to 120 kHz (-3dB points).
♦
Dynamic Range
- 115 dB from maximum output (.5%THD soft clipping) to minimum
output. Noise floor typically – 93dBu.
♦
Distortion Ranges between .0035% and .01%
depending on mode and settings.
♦
DC coupled Input and Outputs
♦
High quality audio caps used internally.
♦
Input Balanced, Output single ended but with balanced impedance. It
can be made differential by moving a jumper on the board.
♦
Input Impedance is 20k Ohm
. Output impedance is less than 51 ohms.
♦
D-S Dynamics Time Constants
- Attack time is less than 1mS. Release .04 sec, fixed
internally.
♦
Power Consumption
– 8 Watts max. 4 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. Joe Chicarelli”
“Distressors: I can't get over HOW GREAT they sound. On everything. It's truly the best
compressor made today.” Greg Wells 10-1-04
“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)
“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
“For those who have come to love and depend on the sound of the Distressor, the new British Mode
turns it into a new fun loving animal. At the flick of a switch, the Distressor becomes more aggressive
and stressful on any instrument you desire. Dave Derr should win the "(explicative)" award for
coming up with such a nice but nasty box.” Michael Brauer (Cold Play, Aretha Franklin, Paul
McCartney)
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
Comments About the 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)
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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