Skip to main content

Hey guys, i'm fairly new to the Empirical Labs EL-8x Distressor. I really like what I hear so far but I thought it might be cool to have a forum just for Distressor and FATSO talk. There is some pretty cool info I found by searching but you have to wade thru a lot of stuff to get to the interesting tid bits. Just my thoughts.

CYA

Topic Tags

Comments

Guest Thu, 12/16/2004 - 05:26

Whaddaya wanna know about them? I'm the guy that named it the EL-8 [after two years of me and Dave Derr (the designer) passing the thing back and forth I was finally elated... get it.. ha ha... right].

There has been a ton of stuff written all over the net about these things, is there anything kinda specific you have a question about?

J-MADD Thu, 12/16/2004 - 10:25

I would like to try a distressor as well. Seems like it might add some edge to heavy vocals on rock stuff. Before I drop 1300-1500 bucks on one though I would like to try it first (RNC has not worked out on vocals for me). Is there a place where you can try before you buy? I live in Missouri and I don't know of any places that even sell high end recording gear.
Justin

J-3 Fri, 12/17/2004 - 07:37

Thanks for the replys guys. I like mine as well. I really like to experiment with recording gear for a while before I say if I like it and to what degree. I can get some nice sounds coming thru it but I can also get some nice sounds using the UA 1176 and LA2A on my UAD card. I really haven't had the advanage of using "real" gear except for the EL8x, MP2NV, R-121 and TLM 103. Everything else is Guitar Center level at best.

Fletcher
As far as specific questions.........
1. I'm wondering if it's worth going thru my Delta 1010's again to get the MP2NV and EL8x on more tracks. I.E. I useually multitrack and can spread the good gear arcoss many tracks. Right now I'm doing a project where 80-90% of the tracks are cut live. I'm using a MP2NV and EL8x for the bass. And a MP2NV and R-121 for Elec. Should I come back out and run the kick, snare, overheads,room etc thru the GR and EL8x? All the other tracks are going thru an Allen & Heath 16 channel Mix Wizard.

2. I have to admit that I can't really hear much difference in the "opto" modes versus the other modes. Also, I know the distortion isn't like guitar amp distotion but more color I guess. Still I have a very hard time hearing a difference between no dist and dist 2 and dist 3.

3. Any winning Snare and Vocal settings?

I know it's a good unit, and again I just need to mess around with it more. I'm kinda wondering if I should have gone for a tube pre instead but I'm shure I'll get lots of use outta this guy.

Thanks guys.......

x

User login