The Distressor is 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.
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.
Key features:
Brand | Empirical Labs |
---|---|
Gross Shipping Weight - Volumetric (kgs) | 6.0000 |
Dynamic Processor Type | VCA |
Number Of Channels | 2 |
Rack Spaces | 2RU |
Stereo Link | Yes |
Sidechain | No |
Analog Inputs | 2 x XLR | 2 x 1/4"jacks | 2 x 1/4" jacks (Stereo Link) |
Analog Outputs | 2 x XLR | 2 x 1/4"jacks | 2 x 1/4" jacks (Stereo Link) |