RGE AM864U V1
This is a brand-new RetroGrade Equipment Vari-Mu based on the legendary Federal AM864 from the 50's, it takes the original circuit and brings it back to life using modern manufacturing while adding in all the features you could want and making it a Dual-Mono unit.
The Goods:
All the typical mods that are done to the old original Federal compressors are standard on the RGE Vari-Mu. Old school octal tubes throughout and a newly designed solid state power supply makes this unit much quieter than the original and includes a blend circuit for more flexibility, stereo link switch, true relay bypass. A custom designed case with sacred geometry artwork and power transformer will bring an artist style and cool operation to your studio.
The Sound:
The sound of these units is a very silky-smooth/slightly rounded tone that can be driven into either overdrive madness or crystal-clear tone via the input knob. While you can drive this unit into aggressive compression, it really shines gluing and bringing forward any source, mix it with the ability to slightly overdrive the octal tubes and blend back some clean signal you can really bring forward, hold together and add excitement to your audio. I find this compressor works well with vocals, bass, drum buss/room mics, or light master buss duty. I think it doesn't have a big "compressed" sound but rather it holds everything together and makes it sound smooth/finished with a bold midrange.
Some of the features:
Dual mono compressor
Octal vacuum tubes throughout
4U black high gloss case with white sacred geometry artwork
Two very large backlight VU
Redesigned solid state power supply
Blend circuit for more flexibility
True relay bypass
Stereo link switch
Custom power transform to minimize noise
Edcor input/output transformers
Front power switch with a spring-loaded anti-bump safety
Specs:
Attack ranges from about 22ms to 47ms (slow to slower), Release ranges from about 1000ms to 2100ms (also slow to slower). Threshold and Ratio ranges have been tamed to the usable regions, Threshold range is minimum (least sensitive to input) to maximum (most sensitive to input). Ratio range is minimum (softest compression) to maximum (compressed into oblivion).
The Input, Threshold and Ratio are VERY interactive due to the nature of the circuit and can have an effect of the VU meter calibration when used in extreme settings. When stereo linked, attack and release times are also doubled, just the nature of this old compressor. To have a level 1:1 of clean to wet signal on the BLEND knob, you will need to adjust the TRIM knob, the trim sits between the compressor section and blend section. Just remember these units really want a loud signal source.
This is a brand-new RetroGrade Equipment Vari-Mu based on the legendary Federal AM864 from the 50's, it takes the original circuit and brings it back to life using modern manufacturing while adding in all the features you could want and making it a Dual-Mono unit.
The Goods:
All the typical mods that are done to the old original Federal compressors are standard on the RGE Vari-Mu. Old school octal tubes throughout and a newly designed solid state power supply makes this unit much quieter than the original and includes a blend circuit for more flexibility, stereo link switch, true relay bypass. A custom designed case with sacred geometry artwork and power transformer will bring an artist style and cool operation to your studio.
The Sound:
The sound of these units is a very silky-smooth/slightly rounded tone that can be driven into either overdrive madness or crystal-clear tone via the input knob. While you can drive this unit into aggressive compression, it really shines gluing and bringing forward any source, mix it with the ability to slightly overdrive the octal tubes and blend back some clean signal you can really bring forward, hold together and add excitement to your audio. I find this compressor works well with vocals, bass, drum buss/room mics, or light master buss duty. I think it doesn't have a big "compressed" sound but rather it holds everything together and makes it sound smooth/finished with a bold midrange.
Some of the features:
Dual mono compressor
Octal vacuum tubes throughout
4U black high gloss case with white sacred geometry artwork
Two very large backlight VU
Redesigned solid state power supply
Blend circuit for more flexibility
True relay bypass
Stereo link switch
Custom power transform to minimize noise
Edcor input/output transformers
Front power switch with a spring-loaded anti-bump safety
Specs:
Attack ranges from about 22ms to 47ms (slow to slower), Release ranges from about 1000ms to 2100ms (also slow to slower). Threshold and Ratio ranges have been tamed to the usable regions, Threshold range is minimum (least sensitive to input) to maximum (most sensitive to input). Ratio range is minimum (softest compression) to maximum (compressed into oblivion).
The Input, Threshold and Ratio are VERY interactive due to the nature of the circuit and can have an effect of the VU meter calibration when used in extreme settings. When stereo linked, attack and release times are also doubled, just the nature of this old compressor. To have a level 1:1 of clean to wet signal on the BLEND knob, you will need to adjust the TRIM knob, the trim sits between the compressor section and blend section. Just remember these units really want a loud signal source.
This is a brand-new RetroGrade Equipment Vari-Mu based on the legendary Federal AM864 from the 50's, it takes the original circuit and brings it back to life using modern manufacturing while adding in all the features you could want and making it a Dual-Mono unit.
The Goods:
All the typical mods that are done to the old original Federal compressors are standard on the RGE Vari-Mu. Old school octal tubes throughout and a newly designed solid state power supply makes this unit much quieter than the original and includes a blend circuit for more flexibility, stereo link switch, true relay bypass. A custom designed case with sacred geometry artwork and power transformer will bring an artist style and cool operation to your studio.
The Sound:
The sound of these units is a very silky-smooth/slightly rounded tone that can be driven into either overdrive madness or crystal-clear tone via the input knob. While you can drive this unit into aggressive compression, it really shines gluing and bringing forward any source, mix it with the ability to slightly overdrive the octal tubes and blend back some clean signal you can really bring forward, hold together and add excitement to your audio. I find this compressor works well with vocals, bass, drum buss/room mics, or light master buss duty. I think it doesn't have a big "compressed" sound but rather it holds everything together and makes it sound smooth/finished with a bold midrange.
Some of the features:
Dual mono compressor
Octal vacuum tubes throughout
4U black high gloss case with white sacred geometry artwork
Two very large backlight VU
Redesigned solid state power supply
Blend circuit for more flexibility
True relay bypass
Stereo link switch
Custom power transform to minimize noise
Edcor input/output transformers
Front power switch with a spring-loaded anti-bump safety
Specs:
Attack ranges from about 22ms to 47ms (slow to slower), Release ranges from about 1000ms to 2100ms (also slow to slower). Threshold and Ratio ranges have been tamed to the usable regions, Threshold range is minimum (least sensitive to input) to maximum (most sensitive to input). Ratio range is minimum (softest compression) to maximum (compressed into oblivion).
The Input, Threshold and Ratio are VERY interactive due to the nature of the circuit and can have an effect of the VU meter calibration when used in extreme settings. When stereo linked, attack and release times are also doubled, just the nature of this old compressor. To have a level 1:1 of clean to wet signal on the BLEND knob, you will need to adjust the TRIM knob, the trim sits between the compressor section and blend section. Just remember these units really want a loud signal source.
