Empirical Labs EL7XFATSO, Full Analog Tape Simulator and Optimizer

Empirical Labs Fatso EL7X PRODUCT FEATURES:

• A new ratio “Eleven”, which emulates a favorite classic compressor setting.
• New Two Color Front Panel
• Improved Logic
• Separate TRACKING LED, more intuitive display.
• Backwards stepping when a front panel button is held.
• New extended stereo link functions. More choices of how to lock compressors.
• Cooler running Logic Circuitry, resulting in an overall cooler operating temperature.
• Improved overall noise floor, due to lower logic power consumption.
  
  

With the slower “1176” attack, the transients keep the dynamics present, while the high ratio, can radically limit the dynamic range of any source, making it present and sitting in a nice little place in your mix.  One can slam it, or just touch it with a few dB of compression.  You will find it great on Vocals, Bass, acoustic guitars, drum room mikes, pianos etc. 

The ELEVEN ratio took several months of experimentation, and required a rather radical attack mod to get close.  It was one of those projects that Dave Derr, the designer, thought would only take a few days, but upon initial research and listening tests, subtleties emerged which required starting over several times. “I got in one of these design loops, where you would get one thing right, then change another parameter or component, and find that it changed the first thing you thought you had right.  It was actually a long frustrating series of changes, that slowly spiraled towards the desired result.  Any kind of math calculations or scaling seemed useless. In addition, while testing 1176’s, I discovered issues that I’m quite sure were not intended by the original designers, and probably things of which they were not even aware.  But using modern digital oscilloscopes and analyzers, along with digital workstations, and our good old ears, we could see artifacts that the original designers couldn’t.” “Heck, they may have even tried to fix the little imperfections that gave the 1176 its unique character, had they the tools to see them. Thank gosh they didn’t, right?

Anyway, the design loop was frustrating, but like anything that takes you to unexpected places, hopefully you come out a little bit wiser, and with a great product.  I hope our customers find the new ELEVEN ratio fun to use, and discover it can add some more magic to your music.”

NOTE:  ALL existing older “Fatso Jr’s” can be modified to change the GP ratio to the new ELEVEN ratio. In addition, all Fatsos shipped from Empirical Labs since June 2013 have had the ELEVEN ratio already installed in the circuit, under the GP ratio, so if you bought a Fatso recently, you probably already have the equivalent EL7-X circuitry.

Empirical Labs Fatso EL7X TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

• Freq. Response is 2 Hz to 60 kHz in clean audio mode (+0, -3 dB).

• Dynamic Range 110 dB from maximum output (20%THDsoft clipping) to minimum output. 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 - 60mS. Release range .05 sec to 3.5 seconds. Attack and Releases are fixed by the compression type selected.