Heritage Audio Herchild 670

For years the industry has defined this extraordinary tube instrument as something special, unique and even magical. The original Fairchild was indeed an essential part of the sound of so many hits over several decades. It has certainly earned the title of "grandfather" of all compressors. Being based on 11 valves and 5 transformers, you can be sure that the HERCHILD Model 660 will deliver its signature sound on all your tracks, providing that familiar sound we have all grown to love. Although it was originally designed to be used for cutting lacquered masters for vinyl albums, it didn't take long for engineers to realize that it could do so much more. It soon became an essential studio tool for many innovative artists, engineers, and producers and could be found in most professional studios. Since only about 500 units were originally produced, there were simply not enough for everyone. Add to that that the original requires quite a lot of special maintenance and after almost 60 years there simply aren't many still in good shape. And that's where Heritage Audio comes in... We were able to successfully follow the original design and trace the necessary components to provide a modern alternative. It took years, but we feel we have finally produced something so special that it is able to let the old grandfather take a well-deserved rest and make room for the new to take over. It has been quite a long journey, from sourcing thousands of various mu NOS tubes from all over the world to commissioning the best names in the industry to make the necessary custom transformers. While remaining true to the original in terms of response and sound, we were able to add a few things to make it more practical in modern studios. First of all, we gave direct access to continuously variable slope control. This is something that makes the compressor much more flexible and was only available on the original via an awkward screw adjustment hidden from immediate access. Then there is the SC FILTER. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to understand a compressor without this feature because it has become so important in everyday use. Here we have provided 4 different frequencies to choose from to precisely match your compression needs. We have also faithfully reproduced the exact attack and release times in the Time Constant section so that you can confidently recreate the feel of its ancestor. So finally, after so many years when this was unavailable to mere mortals, the HERCHILD Model 660 is here. Enjoy the sound that has blessed thousands upon thousands of successes over the years. Feel the warmth as it embraces your tracks and makes them stand out proudly from all the rest. The original is a classic, but working in the 21st century we expect some different features. HERCHILD's Model 670 will not disappoint. The 6 attack and release times have been exactly duplicated as has its all-valve side-chain circuitry for precise control. Now you can access the "progressive ratio," which is a unique curve adjustment that combines ratio and knee control. This is continuously adjustable from a hard limiter to a very smooth and transparent compression. There is also a side chain filter with 4 selectable frequencies to reduce the influence of the lowest frequency on the signal, a must nowadays. The HERCHILD Model 670, being a 2-channel unit, also has the AGC section to determine which of the 4 modes it will operate in. The 4 operating modes to choose from are: IND, LINK, LAT VERT and LAT VERT LINK.IND gives you independent control for each channel while LINK, of course, links the operations of the two channels together so that both channels are controlled by taking the average from the settings of the two channels to determine what the overall stereo control will be. LAT VERT mode originated in the days when a cutting lathe was used to prepare vinyl records. It was essential to carefully decide the depth and width of the grooves so that you had precise control over both aspects in this mode. Nowadays, people have discovered the advantages of mixing and mastering with MID/SIDE processing because it allows them to control the center and side signals of a stereo track separately. LAT VERT is the equivalent of MID/SIDE and, when used properly, really gives you the control to make your songs wider, deeper and more focused. And the last option is LAT VERT LINK and is again for MID/SIDE processing but this time with the two channels linked together and controlled by taking the average from the settings of the two channels to determine what the overall control will be.