Empirical Labs EL8-S Distressor Compressor Stereo Pair

The Distressor EL8-S from Empirical Labs is a pair of professional compressors that feature a wide range of controls and feature set for studio or live applications. The Distressor offers a warm vintage sound by using a custom designed gain control circuit. All eight of the Distressor’s curves are 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. Some curves have different circuitry and are effectively different compressors. The 10:1 Opto ratio uses separate detector circuitry to emulate the oldest light controlled devices such as the LA-2A. The Distressor features three modes that color the signal even without compression. These extended audio modes were designed to allow emulation of some very old vintage compressors and 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 the Distort 3 setting the distortion becomes dominated by 3rd harmonics more closely resembling tape. Two HP filters with one in the audio path one in the detector path are also available to help with low frequencies that can cause pumping and breathing. This stereo pair of Distressors are matched at the factory and come with the cables you need to lock them together.

• They’re large for easy readability and repeatable settings and go to 10.5Locked Calibrated Output Level
• Allows speed in setting tape and live mix levelsSwitchable 115/230 Volt Operation
• Extra fuse provided inside unitOver Designed Power Supplies
• Runs cool allowing cabinet to be sealed without heat vents and features long life componentsTrue Bypass
• All contacts doubled up for maximum reliability with no internal audio connectorsXLR and 1/4″ Phone Inputs and Outputs
• The XLRs are fully balanced with a transformerless design pin 2 hot changeable by user to pin 3 hotStereo strappable