Published 25/3/08
Dual-channel tube compressor
Alongside Drawmer's new digital offerings at the Frankfurt show was the S2: a product that sits firmly in the analogue domain. It's a stereo tube compressor that's the second product in the signature series, designed by Ivor Drawmer to be "all tube, no compromise".
As expected, it features the standard threshold, ratio, attack and release controls that are common to almost all compressors, but it also has three additional sections on each channel that serve very specific purposes.
The first, called Big, is a side-chain filter that can prevent low frequencies triggering the compressor and creating a pumping effect. It has three different filter frequencies and a level knob that allows the user to shape the bottom end of the side-chain.
Bright is similar to the Big circuit, but applies to the high-frequency content of the incoming signal. It can be used to re-introduce high frequencies, which can sometimes be lost after heavy compression.
The final additional circuit enables some of the dry signal to be mixed with the compressed output to create parallel compression effects. All three special sections have level controls and on/off switches, which allow the user to tailor the sound to suit their material.
The two channels can be stereo linked, or they can act as dual-mono channels, so two signals can be processed individually at the same time. Signal levels are displayed on two large VU meters, while eight-step LED bargraph displays take care of gain-reduction metering.
In the UK, the S2 will retail for around £3000.
www.drawmer.com
As expected, it features the standard threshold, ratio, attack and release controls that are common to almost all compressors, but it also has three additional sections on each channel that serve very specific purposes.
The first, called Big, is a side-chain filter that can prevent low frequencies triggering the compressor and creating a pumping effect. It has three different filter frequencies and a level knob that allows the user to shape the bottom end of the side-chain.
Bright is similar to the Big circuit, but applies to the high-frequency content of the incoming signal. It can be used to re-introduce high frequencies, which can sometimes be lost after heavy compression.
The final additional circuit enables some of the dry signal to be mixed with the compressed output to create parallel compression effects. All three special sections have level controls and on/off switches, which allow the user to tailor the sound to suit their material.
The two channels can be stereo linked, or they can act as dual-mono channels, so two signals can be processed individually at the same time. Signal levels are displayed on two large VU meters, while eight-step LED bargraph displays take care of gain-reduction metering.
In the UK, the S2 will retail for around £3000.
www.drawmer.com
