{"product_id":"empirical-labs-el8-distressor","title":"Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Compressor \/ Limiter","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe four large white knobs gleam at you as you enter the control room, announcing that this is not going to be your ordinary dynamics processing session. Vintage compressors are coveted — and rightly so — for their sonic qualities, but if there's a modern analog unit that belongs in the pantheon of all-time-great dynamics processors, it's the Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor. Which leads to the question: what do George Massenburg, Bob Clearmountain, Steve Vai, and Mick Gazouski have in common? They're all in the Distressor early-adopters club. Former Eventide engineer Dave Derr's ground-breaking design, released in 1996, has to be the most \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003esui generis\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e compressor we've come across.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"webtext-block--colcount\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClassic \"knee\" compression with modern specs and performance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProgrammable analog distortion warms up unforgiving digital recordings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree audio modes: user-programmable, vintage-style harmonic distortion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClean and Distort 2 modes: tube-like, 2nd-order harmonics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistort 3 modes: distortion dominated by 3rd-order harmonics (similar to tape)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistortion indicator lights: 1% LED, \"Redline\" (3%) LED; hard clipping starts a few dB past \"Redline\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdvanced sidechain EQ: high-mid band emphasis tames harsh, edgy signals; highpass keeps the low sum\/difference frequencies from pumping source material's upper frequencies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEight unique curves, starting with 1:1 with low-order harmonics but no compression\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\"Nuke\" setting is a brick-wall limiting curve — great for drum room mics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e10:1 Opto setting employs separate detector circuitry to emulate classic \"light-controlled\" compressors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscrete and integrated circuitry for the best combination of speed\/linearity with repeatability\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-selected and tested long-life components, including all-metal film and Roederstein resistors in audio path\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge knobs with high-resolution numbering for easy readability and repeatable settings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLocked and calibrated output level for confident, speedy setups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSwitchable 115\/230 volt operation with extra fuse stored inside unit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOver-designed power supply runs cool, allows for sealed cabinet without heat vents\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrue bypass for confident A\/B comparisons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eXLR and 1\/4\" I\/O; stereo linkable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-wired and calibrated in USA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Empirical Labs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39894001254458,"sku":"ELI-EL8","price":3271.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1764\/4443\/files\/empirical-labs-el8-distressor-compressor-limiter-eli-el8-gsus4-449403.jpg?v=1738758034","url":"https:\/\/gsus4.com.au\/en-nz\/products\/empirical-labs-el8-distressor","provider":"Gsus4","version":"1.0","type":"link"}