Empirical Labs - Distressor EL8-X

FEATURES

• Classic knee sound – With modern noise specs and improved performance. Really grabs.
• 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.
• Distortion indicator lights – A 1% LED and a « Redline » (3%) LED. No hard clipping until a few dB past « Redline ».
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 LA2A etc. See manual to emulate other compressors of old.
• Discrete and integrated combination – the best of speed/linearity with repeatability. Hand tested & selected components.
• Huge knobs with high resolution numbering – For easy readability and repeatable settings. They also go to 10 1/2 .
• Locked, calibrated, output level – Allows speed in setting tape and live mix levels.
• Stereo Strappable
• Switchable 110/220 volt operation – Extra fuse provided inside unit.
• Over design power supplies – Runs cool, allowing cabinet to be sealed – without heat vents. Long life components.
• Single height and light weight – Classic sound in a small, extremely reliable package. 
• True bypass – Know what it’s really doing. All contacts doubled up for maximum reliability. No internal
• audio connectors.
• XLR and 1/4″ phone ins and outs – XLR fully balanced, transformerless design, pin 2 hot. Changeable by user to pin 3 hot!
• All metal film and Roederstein resistors in the audio path – top quality components. Many mil spec.parts. 
• Interface and features found nowhere else. 

• 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, normal mode and
• up to 20 seconds in 10:1 opto mode.