Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor

Get the vibrant sound of the world's most popular compressor! The EL8 Distressor is the only true emulation of this highly - sought - after modern compressor. It's ideal for dramatically shaping guitars, drums, and vocals with countless gain reduction options. Revered in studios worldwide, this compressor fills the gap left by the legendary UA 1176 and Teletronix LA - 2A. It offers both practical and creative functions, as heard on numerous hit records. Available in UAD Native (runs on Mac or PC without UA hardware in AAX, AU, VST3) and Apollo Realtime & UAD - 2 (accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD - 2 hardware in AAX, AU, VST2, and VST3) versions. The EL8 plug - in replicates all features and tones of the original hardware. Compare it with other emulations and you'll quickly notice the difference. It has various compression ratios like 1:1, 2:1, etc., each with a unique sound. The Dist 2 and Dist 3 modes add rich color with different harmonic distortions. Powerful sidechain controls help focus dynamics. It also comes with plug - in - only features like Dry/Wet Mix for parallel compression. Features include authentic emulation, infinite gain reduction, unique processing features, famous distortion modes, custom detector filtering, and presets from top producers.

Using the Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor is a breeze. First, choose the right version for your setup - if you're using a Mac or PC without UA hardware, go for the UAD Native version. If you have Apollo interfaces or UAD - 2 hardware, the Apollo Realtime & UAD - 2 version will give you an accelerated performance. To shape your audio, start by selecting a compression ratio. For a gentle warm - up of synths or strings, use the 1:1 ratio. If you want to add some explosive excitement to room mics or your entire mix, the Nuke setting is great. The Dist 2 and Dist 3 modes are fun to play with. Try them to add different textures to your instruments and vocals. Use the sidechain controls to get rid of unwanted low - frequency pumping in drum bus processing or to tame strident vocals. When using the Dry/Wet Mix feature for parallel compression, adjust it according to how much of the processed sound you want in your mix. As for maintenance, keep your software up - to - date to ensure the best performance. Make sure your computer meets the system requirements. Avoid using it on a computer with low memory or a slow processor, as it may cause lag. Also, be careful when adjusting the settings to avoid over - processing your audio, which could lead to a less - than - ideal sound.