Empirical Labs EL8X Distressor with British Mode

Brand New – Closed Box - Ships in 1 to 2 weeks.

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DIGITALLY CONTROLLED ANALOG KNEE  COMPRESSION

The product that started it all for Empirical Labs.  Born of founder Dave Derr’s love of classic compressors like the 1176, LA-2A and  Gain Brain (among others), the Distressor incorporates his favorite sonic  characteristics of these, along with other unique and interesting features that  have made it a staple for audio engineers all over the world. With over 38,000  units in the field, it’s safe to say that the Distressor is one of the best  selling high end compressors of all time… if not THE best selling. A prominent  recording engineer recently wagered that there probably was not a top 40 record  made in the last five years that didn’t have at least one Distressor on  it.

Besides providing a wide range of control and a unique feature set, the  Distressor offers a warm, vintage sound by using a custom designed gain control  circuit. This “warmth” or “vintage sound” has become a major issue in the last  few decades, as the super clear and linear digital technology does next to  nothing to soften “harsh” sounds, nor emphasize the bass frequencies in music  sources. Conversely, older analog tape, vinyl records and tube equipment could  not be prevented from coloring the sound, often to the frustration of recording  engineers. However, many people now realize that this coloring can be extremely  pleasant and musical. Digital technology is often referred to as “cold” and  “brittle” among other terms (although we prefer “unforgiving”).

Unique  Compression Curves

All eight of the Distressor’s curves are unique and  distinctive, 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 several actually use different circuitry, and are effectively  different compressors. Most exceptional is the 10:1 “Opto” ratio which uses  separate detector circuitry to emulate the oldest (and valued) “light  controlled” devices, such as the LA-2A.

Distortion (Color)  Modes

Another large part of the Distressor’s personality and power derive  from three modes that color the signal, even without compression. These extended  audio modes were designed to allow emulation of some very old and expensive  vintage compressors & limiters, and let the Distressor deliver a classic  “knee” sound all its own by providing user programmable, warm harmonic  distortion. In addition to the basic distortion mode, Distort 2 emphasizes  tube-like 2nd order harmonics, while in Distort 3 setting the distortion becomes  dominated by 3rd harmonics more closely resembling tape. Two HP filters – one in  the audio path, one in the detector path – are also available to help with low  frequencies that can cause pumping and breathing.

Go Stereo

For many  Distressor owners, one is never enough – in fact, one extremely successful  engineer has twelve of them! For those who want (at least) a stereo pair, ELI  offers the EL8-S, a pair of Distressors that are matched at the factory, and  come with the cables you need to lock them together. If you want the Brit Mod  and Image Link options, an EL8X-S package is also available.

British Mode  - EL8-X

The concept of British Mode came from an unusual setting on the  classic UREI LN1176 limiter. The unit was designed to have only four ratios,  each ratio being engaged by selecting one of four buttons. However, as early as  1980 (or before), renegade recording engineers, always on the lookout for  something a little more “over-the-top”, found that you could make all four  buttons stay in if you pressed them just right. What resulted was a very  aggressive sound that had some elements of the unit’s 20:1 ratio, but with an  unusual knee and new envelope shape. Somewhere along the line, someone called it  “British Mode”, and the name stuck.

The EL8-X has the advantage of being able  to selectively apply this aggressive characteristic – not just to the new  “British” ratio (1:1) – to any of the ratios, simply by engaging the dedicated  “British Mode” switch.

The British Mode and Image Link options are only  available on the EL8-X. Click here to learn more about upgrading your EL8 to an  EL8-X

Image Link - EL8-X

The original Distressor stereo link function  used a summing and phase detection method, which allowed slight stereo image  shifting. Although frequently desirable for its phase correction, and its  “thickening” on open room mics and other stereo sources, this approach can  sometimes be a problem on stereo program material where the producer/engineers  want to maintain absolute left/right balance at all times. With the new “Stereo  Image Link” option, the EL8-X now has three link options – the original “phase”  link, the new Image Link and the combination of the two, phase and image linking  – something never before offered on any compressors or  limiters.

Specifications

Frequency Response – 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.

I/O – DC Coupled input and outputs.

Time Constants – Attack range  50uS – 50mS. Release range .05 sec to 3.5 seconds, normal modes and up to 20  seconds in 10:1 opto mode. Time constants are dependent on ratio.

Power  Consumption – 15 Watts Max.

Metal Chassis – single height 1.75″ high, 10″  deep, 19″ wide.

Shipping info – 12.1 lbs mono, 24.2 lbs Stereo pair. Mono box  dimensions 22.5″ x 18.5″ x 3 1/4″. Stereo Pair box dimensions 22.5″ x 18.5″ x 6  1/4