Drawmer 1968 Dual Ch Tube Compressor - Manual (Page 3)

3 DRAWMER 1968 MkII O PERATOR’S M ANUA L
DRAWMER
1968
MkII
DUAL CHANNEL VACUUM TUBE COMPRESSOR
The 1968 MkII is a 1U Tube/FET dual channel / ‘stereo
bus’ compressor which by design delivers a transparent
‘open’ sound even during periods of heavy compression.
The original Drawmer 1960 used a tube stage at the front
of the compressor, whilst the 1968 MkII utilisies a J-FET
(Field Effect Transistor) gain reduction circuit that operates
faster than an opto-isolator. The compressor uses a 12AX7
tube makeup gain amplifier where you can add, with the
Output Gain control, up to 20 dB of additional gain.
The need for a ratio control has been removed as the
compressor operates on the soft knee principle where the
onset of compression is progressive.
The 1968 MkII expands attack times to six choices: 2, 9,
15, 25, 30 and 50 ms. Release times come in three fixed
times (100ms, 500 ms and 1 second) and three program-
dependent choices--200 ms to 2 sec, 500 ms to 5 sec
and 1 to 10 seconds--all program-dependent and
automatic.
The 1968 MkII provides full sidechain access for connecting
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
an external equalizer for vocal stressing or de-essing.
Featured on both channels is a switchable ‘BIG’ and
‘BIGGER’ mode which applies less processing to the
fundamental low frequency but still disciplines the upward
associated harmonics which if untamed can result in a
‘boomy’ or ‘boxy’ sound. The result - a solid bottom end
with enhanced sub-bass and a smoother, wider frequency
response overall. This lets the operator use more
compression on an overall mix with less pumping action
caused by a kick and/or bass instrument.
The outputs of Channels 1 and 2 are monitored on two
yellow illuminated VU meters - with a red warning glow to
signify ‘approaching clipping’. A three-position switch
adjusts the meters to show either normal output level, gain
reduction or VU +10dB mode, which re-scales the meter
for users working at ‘hot’ output levels.
An output switch selects normal compressor output, hard-
wired bypass and sidechain listen.
The key features are as follows:
• 2 Channel Tube/FET Compressor
• 2 soft-knee compressors with variable threshold, attack, release and output gain
• Switchable BIG and BIGGER control on each channel
• Dual mono or true stereo link operation
• Side chain access and side chain listen facility
• VU metering of gain reduction and output levels
• Switchable +10dB mode on VU re-scales the meter for users working at ‘hot’ output levels.
• VU red warning glow to signify ‘approaching clipping’
• Balanced +4dB XLR in/outs