Empirical Labs® EL8 Distressor
Customer Reviews
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Compressor
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J. Birr
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
I can't say I have worked with the hardware so I can't compare the accuracy of the emulation, but this plug in sounds great for colorful compression. The EL8 can really crush source material without the unpleasant artifacts. Excellent on drum buses or single percussive sources, but can be used for "everyday" compression and dynamics control at more moderate settings on vocals, bass, and (I haven't tried it yet but probably) horns.
I have the Fairchild, LA-2A, and 1176 plug-ins too. The EL8 is a great compliment to those rather than a "me too".
E. Szypulski
C.Gutierrez
Don’t like people, who gives multiple opinions, not even having the product (vide C.Gutierrez), trying to be a judge to even out the mark. Super product by the way!
E. Bergendorff
Stellar But Useless
Tried it out for various instruments - sounded quite good. Looks good too.
But because of the latency, can't use it.
UAD is great for hardware - the rest is for the most part, hype.
D. Ho
Perfect for everything
I've spent a lot of time with this compressor in different musical settings from acoustic duos to crushing rock mixes. I love how you can hit it so hard and it maintains the tone and integrity of the source. It is the best at bringing out bass, drawing attack out of drums, and getting vocals to sit perfectly in a mix without having to ride words. The filters are useful, the distortion provides nice tonal options, and I found the attack and release to be exceptionally useful in shaping sound. I was particularly amazed by how the release time controlled the brilliance of a snare drum. At 6+ it would shorten and warm the snares, at 4 or less, the compressor allowed the bottom mic to ring out after the attack adding more brilliance and sustain to the snares. If I could have only one compressor, this would be it!
M. Reeves
Had to have !
Demoed it and knew I had to buy it ! Love it.
G. Rios
SINGER, MUSIC PRODUCER
I have used the original for a long time and are identical, good work UA.
d. rogers
CLUTCH!!
this is thing is the secret sauce for drums and vocals!
L. Maggio
Amazing
Amazing sound with drum acoustic guitar
L. Hester
Instant Bliss!
I’ve owned the hardware for 20 years and recently transitioned to a mostly itb setup. Nothing does what a distressor does so I am thrilled to hear the sound I’ve grown to love in a plugin format. Now can we please get a Brit mod!!!!
V. Kotljarow
The Best compressor!
Super powerful compressor with many possibility !
I am very pleased ! One of the best UA compressor !!!
Super starken Kompressor mit vielen möglichkeiten !
Bin sehr zufrieden ! Einer der beste UA Kompressor !!!
Супер мощный компрессор с множественными возможностями !
Я очень доволен! Один из лучших UA компрессоров !!!
Супер Класс !
P. Duffy
Everyone needs one
I'd used various emulations of this and just decided to bite the bullet and get the UA version. Very glad that I did. A must have for drum mixing!
D. Guevara
Best digital compressor i have ever used!
This digital compressor has so many options and you can do so much with it, I am very satisfied with my purchase.
.
Thinned voice
Excellent for the voices and guitares.
R. Attias
legendary
...and now I know why.
M. Robinson
Damn
I waited way too long to get this comp, one of the best of the entire UA folder
s. donat
good job
sound great and nasty
C. Gutierrez
British Mode
Sounds good, I like the demo, but I'll buy it when you add a british mode
C. Gutierrez
British Mode
Sounds good, I like the demo, but I'll buy it when you add a british mode
C. Gutierrez
British Mode
Add British mode please
W. Shanks
Sounds like our golden unit!
A dedicated study by UA's algorithmic circuit model experts was held over the course of six months. Our chief scientist did a complete circuit trace and component study of Dave Derr's selected golden unit. Simultaneously, the team analyzed and measured our four specimen Distressors representing the lifetime of the product to ensure one of the tightest sonic and behavioral circuit models to date, well within our goal of analog unit to unit variation. By coincidence, the golden unit had the fastest attack among the four units.
UA reached out to many famous proponents of the EL Distressor to ensure every nuanced detail of the hardware that fans have come to know and love were faithfully captured, along with feedback on their favorite digital convenience features they wanted to see included. UA's plugin product manager and QA staff scrutinized every facet of the plugin against the analog counterpart at every step along the algorithmic development path, ensuring the emulated sonics and circuit behaviors raised the bar of the UAD platform and the Empirical Labs brand. Finally, our work was then made available to Dave Derr for his own sonic verification and ultimately blessing of authentication and release approval.