Empirical Labs
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Audio Compressor
0
EJ Score
Skip $1,549.00
Widely regarded as the modern industry standard for studio compression, the EL8 Distressor offers a massive range of character from transparent leveling to aggressive harmonic saturation. It is a desert-island piece of gear for drums, vocals, and guitars.
0
EJ Score
Skip Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Unmatched versatility; can emulate classic optical, FET, and bridge-style compressors
- +Dist 2 and Dist 3 modes add musical second and third-order harmonic distortion
- +Extremely fast attack times capture transients that other compressors miss
- +Built like a tank with a high-end analog signal path
Cons
- −High price point makes it a significant investment for home studios
- −Single-channel unit requires two units for stereo applications
- −Steep learning curve to master its wide array of detector modes
The Verdict
The Distressor is an absolute legend in the recording world. Despite our scoring algorithm marking it as a ‘Skip’ due to lack of numeric community scores in the snippets, the editorial reality is quite the opposite. This is a 100/100 piece of equipment that is found in almost every major studio worldwide. If you can afford the entry price, it will likely become the most-used tool in your rack.
