The EL8 Distressor from Empirical Labs is an automatic gain (or volume) control device (AGC in engineering terms) designed for pro audio applications. Basically, the compressor electronically controls the volume of just about any source in a very pleasing and "musical" manner—adding fullness, intelligibility and especially in the Distressor's case—excitement. This type of device is often called a "limiter" or "compressor" by audio industry people. The EL8 Distressor Compressor's most probable use will be in recording studios, live sound situations, movie sound production and radio broadcast production.

Unlike most analog compressor/limiters, the EL8 Distressor is a digitally controlled audio device and actually incorporates several products into one by utilizing digital controls to switch totally different circuits in and out. Years of beta testing and redesign went into the EL8 Distressor as is the case with all Empirical Labs products.

Besides offering a wide range of control and unique features, the EL8 Distressor offers a warm, vintage sound by using a custom-designed gain control circuit. This "warmth" or vintage sound has become an important issue in the last 15 years, as the super clear and linear digital technology does very little (or nothing) to soften "harsh" sounds nor emphasize the bass frequencies in music sources. Older analog tape, vinyl records and tube equipment on the other hand, could not be prevented from coloring the sound, often to the frustration of recording engineers. However, many people have now realized that this coloring can be extremely pleasant and "musical." The current digital technology is often referred to as "cold" and "brittle" among other terms, although Empirical Labs' prefers the term "unforgiving" to describe the negative side of the "linearity."

The EL8 Distressor compressor offers several modes that color the signal, even without compression (or gain control). These extended modes were designed to allow emulation of some very old and some very expensive vintage gain control units (compressors & limiters) and deliver a classic "knee" sound all its own.

About Empirical Labs:
Empirical Labs was started in 1988, and functioned mainly as a recording studio and electronics consulting firm. The founder, Dave Derr, was also employed at the time by Eventide as an audio engineer and was one of the core designers of their legendary H3000. EL's first product, the EL8 Distressor (#501578) immediately took the recording industry by storm and hardly a record has been made without it since. With a mission "to make products that work a little easier, a little better, a lot longer and are fun to use," Empirical Labs continues to create unique and innovate products that quickly find homes among the top professionals of the audio industry (and anyone else who wants in on the Empirical Labs sound).

Empirical Labs Users:
Aerosmith (Joe Perry - 8 Distressors)
Al Schmidt
Alanis Morrisette
Angela Piva (Mary J. Blige, Naughty by Nature, Janet Jackson)
Ashes Divide (Billy Howerdel)
Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Niacin, David Lee Roth)
Bob Clearmountain (Journey, Bryan Adams, Stones, Springsteen)
Bob Dylan
Bob Powers
Bon Jovi
Brendan O'Brien (producer/mixdown engineer)
Bruce Calder (Electric Lady Studios, Degeneration)
Butch Vig
Cher
Chimera
Chris Lord-Alge
Chuck Ainlay
Clair Brothers (Clair Global)
Coldplay
Craig Melvin (Gloria Estefan)
Creed (8 Distressors on their 2003 tour)
D&D Studios NYC
Daniel Lanois (U2)
Dave Hewitt (Remote Recording Services)
Dave Matthews
David Kahne
Death Cab for Cutie
Disturbed
Dolly Parton
Don Was
Dust Brothers (John King)
Ed Cherney
Ed Kowalcyzk (Live)
Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix)
Effanel Remote Recording (Randy Ezratty, 2003 Grammys)
Elton John
Eminem
Eric Schilling (Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada)
Finn Halle (German producer, sound engineer)
Fiona Apple
Five Towns College (6 Distressors)
Fleetwood Mac
Fletcher
Full Sail School for the Recording Arts
George Massenburg
Goo Goo Dolls
Greg Calbi (Sterling Sound)
Gordon "Gungi" Patterson
Hole
Jason Slater (Snake River Conspiracy)
Jay Baumgardner (NRG Studios)
Jay Gordon (producer, lead vocalist of Orgy)
Jerry Harrison (Live, Verve Pipe - 12 Distressors)
Jerry Only (The Misfits)
Joe Barresi
Joe Chiccarelli (Hole, Beck, U2)
Joe Satriani
John Agnello (producer, engineer, mixer)
John Kurzweg (Creed)
John McBride (Blackbird Studios - 8 Distressors, 4 Fatsos, 2 Lil FrEQs)
John Paterno
John Patterson
John Siket
Josh Abraham (Orgy, Staind, Korn, Limp Bizkit)
Judy Saiya
Julien-K
Kevin Killen
Kip Winger
Kooster McAllister (Record Plant Remote)
Linkin Park
Marc Costanzo (Len)
Mark Anthony
Mark Plati (David Bowie)
Maroon 5
Matt Wallace
Megadeth
Metallica
Michael Bienhorn
Michael Wilton (Queensrÿche)
Micheal Brauer (Sony Studios NYC)
Mick Gazauski (Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton)
Mick Hughes (Metallica FOH engineer)
Mike Keating (Sting, Bush, Springsteen live)
Mike Shipley (Millbrook Sound)
Mitch Goldfarb
Mutt Lange
NSYNC
Natalie Merchant
Nathaniel Kunkel
Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe)
Nine Inch Nails
Outsmarting Simon
Paul Tennebekk (Norway's Midwest Audio)
Peter Denenberg
Phil Nicolo of Butcher Bros. (The Stones, Amy Grant, Sting, Aerosmith, Judy Saiya)
Phil Ramone
Rammstein
Real World Studios (Peter Gabriel's facility in England)
Ricky Martin
Robert Solomon (Woodland Studios)
Roey Shamir (Information Society, Al B. Sure!)
Ross Hogarth (Jewel, Coal Chamber, Grade 8)
Ryan Hewitt (engineer)
Scott Anthony (Harold Dessau Recording Studio - Beastie Boys)
Seal (on tour)
Sean Beresford (Third Eye Blind)
Shania Twain
Sheryl Crow
Staind
Sting
Stone Temple Pilots
Susana Shoemaker (Blues Traveler)
Tchad Blake (Sheryl Crow, Richard Thompson, Crowded House, Pearl Jam, Bonnie Raitt)
The Academy Is...
The Police
The Sound Kitchen
The Who
Tom Lord-Alge
Tony Levin
Wheatus
Whitney Houston