Empirical Labs EL7-X FATSO - Stereo Full Analog Tape Simulator/Optimizer

Features

• Soft clip features modeled after broadband tape saturation. WITHOUT THE NOISE! Smooth clipping up to 20% THD.
• User programmable high frequency saturation, simulating the "softening" for which analog tape and phonographs are known. This is the "Warmth" control on FATSO.
• Switchable transformer circuits, which can add the musical artifacts generated by classic devices like NEVE, API, etc. These artifacts include frequency "rounding", low order clipping & intermodular distortion, transient clipping... and some other very musical non-linearities.
• Four compression modes - One for tracking, one general purpose, one "bus" compressor, and SPANK (see below). All LINKABLE! Classic knee compressor sound that really grabs.
• SPANK!- An additional limiter that musically smashes the dynamic range, and can be used to stop clipping before digital recorders. There is a subtle knee followed by hard limiting.
• Huge "DISTRESSOR" knobs with high resolution numbering - For easy readability and repeatable settings. They also go to 10 1/2.
• Distortion indicator lights - A 0 VU LED and a "Pinned" (5%) LED. No hard clipping until a few dB past "Pinned".
• Sidechain output and input for eq-ing control signals.
• Locked, calibrated, output level - Allows speed in setting tape and live mix levels.
• Foolproof operation - it's almost impossible to get a bad sound.
• Single height and light weight - Two channels of classic sound in a small, extremely reliable package.
• Discrete and integrated combination - the best of speed/linearity with repeatability. Hand tested & selected components. All metal film and Roederstein resistors in the audio path - top quality components, most being high temperature military spec parts.
• Switchable 110/220 volt operation - Extra fuse provided inside unit.
• True bypass - Know what it's really doing. All contacts doubled up for maximum reliability. No internal audio connectors
• XLR, 1/4" phone and RCA ins and outs - XLR fully balanced, transformerless design, pin 2 hot. Changeable by user to pin 3 hot!
• No internal connectors, high reliability parts and military grade switches and relays.
• Three year unlimited warranty.
• Interface and features found nowhere else.
• Allows processing not readily available in our current digital domain. New life for analog processing!
• Hand wired, calibrated in USA. Shipping weight 13.25Lbs.

Fatso's Four Types of Processing (Available on both channels)

1. Harmonic Generation and Soft Clipper (Distortion generation)
2. High Frequency Saturation - WARMTH!
3. Transformer & Tape Head Emulation
4. Classic Knee Compression - Empirical Labs Style!

Specifications

• Freq. Response is 2 Hz to 60 kHz in clean audio mode (+0, -3 dB).
• Dynamic Range - 110 dB from max. output to min. output in 1:1 mode. Greater than 100 dB signal to noise.
• Distortion Ranges between .06% and 20% depending on mode and settings.
• DC coupled Input and Outputs - High quality audio caps used internally.
• Compressor Time Constants - Attack range 1mS - 200mS. Release range .05 sec to 3.5 seconds. Attack and Releases are fixed by the compression type selected.

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