Fatso is infinitely more flexible with coloration and texturization. The Distressor is not. After 20 years, Empirical Labs finally entered the audio software plug-in industry with the Arousor. Large Distressor-style knobs control the input and output levels. As with most Empirical Labs products, the unit is incredibly easy and fun to use. save. Disto isn't a flawless recreation of the two, but it really does offer a taste of a pair of classic pieces of hardware in a clever combination at a very low price. Gregory Scott - ubk Its a Distressor that mated with a 2 inch tape machine. Unfortunately, this usually results in the track sounding dark and muddy. “The initial reception was really not that thrilling! The Fatso offers harmonic generation as well, but also adds soft clipping, high-frequency saturation, and transformer and tape head emulation. Thanks. The Fatso is stereo and Distressor is mono. I went for the Fatso. two completely different … Born of founder Dave Derr’s love of classic compressors like the 1176, LA-2A and Gain Brain (among others), the Distressor incorporates his favorite sonic characteristics of these, along with other unique and interesting features that have made it a staple for audio engineers all over the world. i can't believe they are made by the same company. Its function is to musically integrate frequencies and transients and increase the apparent volume of your source material in the same way classic analog equipment does. It's brilliant. First, to be a smart ass and use a Geoff Daking Joke... the difference is about $1000 dollars. The first one in Someone we all know asked me to get on this thread and give my take on the differences between the FATSO AND DISTRESSOR. If you do a lot of work in the digital domain and miss some of the smooth round bottom and softened high end of analog tape recordings, get the FATSO Jr. It is difficult to describe exactly what it does but it does it well. brad gets the award for "nail on head" today for me. 100% Upvoted. Magazine and professional user reviews of all Empirical Labs hardware and software products. But specifically, which will do a better job of making a LOUD, warm, fat kickdrum? If you need a fully controllable compressor, that sounds like it has tubes and can emulate some famous older compressors, get the Distressor. The buss comp (not 2 buss but their light comp) setting is money. The FATSO does have a compressor based on DISTRESSOR TECHNOLOGY, AND it does offer two settings that you cannot get in the Distressor. Hope that's helpful--Ted Re: Fatso vs distressor « Reply #1 on: December 21, 2004, 03:31:42 pm » The fatso is stereo and has preset attack and release times for the operational modes that are available. The Fatso Jr., which does a terrific job of emulating analog tape and the saturation of it, includes several fixed compressors set ups. I have both, would not sell either. I know one is a compressor, but what is the major difference between the ttwo Thanks HMK Fatso pushes things back, blurs them out, & softens. is the fatso jr. using the same compressor/technology as the distressor, but with more features? share. Close. have not found that on the Distressor. Here's where the FATSO and its four processors come in. How good is the Fatso suited for tracking purposes? hide. Retro Sta-Level, CL1b, MC77, Distressor EL8 - processed files, Major Compressor Plugin From Empirical Labs - AROUSOR. Hard to achieve all of those things at once. I already have a distressor with british mod, and I know it's a more versatile compressor. In my experience, prior to the UBK mod it was a great tracking tool to smooth everything out and make it easier to mix. When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Before founding Empirical Labs, Derr was an engineer at Eventide, where he helped to make the H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer, a multi-effects unit that, incidentally, also became a mainstay in pro studios. The film examines the subject matter of … You cannot adjust things like ratio, attack or release. Dave Derr, whom I had the privilege to talk to for this article, is the creator of the Distressor. The FATSO does have a compressor based on DISTRESSOR TECHNOLOGY, AND it does offer two settings that you cannot get in the Distressor. The FATSO EL7x from Empirical Labs is a digitally controlled analog processor that gives musicians and engineers easy access to many of the desirable characteristics exhibited by older tube and Class A electronics and magnetic tape mediums. A semi steep learning curve is involved but once mastered it is the go to on the kick, bass and drum buss. If the U87 is a touch too harsh on someones voice, the warmth on the Fatso works wonders taming it. It is difficult to describe exactly what it does but it does it well. ===== Here is a more detailed description of the differences between Fatso and Distressor: 2. Thye fatso is made for 'tape guys' to get happy uwith recording on PT, it has several styles of basic compression, that I think is 'your baby' The distressor is a very comprehensive mono compression unit, the Fatso is a stereo 'recording to digital aid' & compressor combined. I do not claim to be the worlds greatest but I get closer to it with the Fatso. Many folks chase their tail wanting all things out of one unit. Log in or sign up to leave a comment Log In Sign Up. Unlike the Distressor, the Fatso has two separate channels with a stereo link function so is ready for duties on the Stereo Mix Bus Re UBK Fatso “I wholeheartedly recommend the UBK FATSO, whether as (your) first dynamics processor or as the tenth. Distressor pulls things forward, brings them into focus, and adds bite. The COMPRESSOR is a junior version of the much-acclaimed Empirical Labs Distressor. A semi steep learning curve is involved but once mastered it is the go to on the kick, bass and drum buss. The warmth in the FATSO is a dynamic filter which works only on the high frequencies. Plus I am not looking to alter the frequency relationship so much. hidz However, you do get two channels in the FATSO for that difference. Fatso is a 1980 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Anne Bancroft, her only such credit, and starring Dom DeLuise, Ron Carey and Candice Azzara.It was the first film produced by Mel Brooks's Brooksfilms company. By scooping out some of the high-end or even some of the high-mids, you can reduce the brittleness. Is the tracking compressor on the FATSO most similar to the Distressor? (I assume you mean boost the fundamental and cut some other areas), and EQ is part of the equation, but in my experience an EQ is totally not what I'm looking for. My prediction is Fatso here.. First prototyped in 1994 and officially released in 1996, the Distressor was the first of several pieces of top-end studio gear to come out of Empi… The FATSO does have a compressor based on DISTRESSOR TECHNOLOGY, AND it does offer two settings that you cannot get in the Distressor. I'm looking for something that will allow the kick to peak for longer. Introduced in 1993, the Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor is revered in studios all over the world as the modern, “must-have” compressor. I think they share the same line amp (speculation confoosed ). Its a Distressor that mated with a 2 inch tape machine. [IMG] Disto is a set of two devices in one, with some extremely useful add-ons like a Mid/Side encoding/decoding matrix. About the 2nd-3rd harmonic distortion - I don't think the Fatso does that like the Distressor does. I have both too. Note: All textual, visual and aural references to the Distressor and the FATSO Jr (Empirical Labs’ products) and use of certain Empirical Labs’ trademarks are being made with written permission from Empirical Labs. Distressor is infinitely more flexible with compression. Posted by 2 hours ago. That’s why I have ten channels of FATSO, and my … Awhile ago I was contemplating whether to get the Fatso or a pair of Distressors. At the time I emailed Empirical Labs about the differences between the two and this is the answer I got: I have both and consider the fatso a gentle levelar with some tone options with the warmth and tranny, the distressor is more of a sound sculptor where you can really sculpt the transient of a signal and add a little subtle color if you wish. The FATSO (Full Analog Tape Simulator and Optimizer) is a hardware device designed by Dave Derr’s Empirical Labs, makers of the highly popular Distressor compressor. The Distortion on the distressor is a soft clip feature which can emphasize the 2nd harmonic if desired. I'm not sure I would use the Distressor to do what the FATSO can do. I'm not sure I even know how I would go about trying to make the Distressor do what the FATSO does setting-wise. If you could only nab 1 of these during this sale which would it be? The world famous digitally controlled, analog knee compressor by Empirical Labs. I see where Dave said that, yes, but I was not exactly sure if the General Purpose compressor got closer to the Distressor. The UBK Fatso comes with the original unit's manual and a guide to what's new in the Kush Audio version, making it clear that the differences are not operational but behavioural. Distressor vs 1176 Rev F. Distressor vs Arousor vs 1176 Rev F (Harmonic Distortion %) Extra note re our tests between the Distressor and the Arousor. report. Where as the Distressor has more of everything (including attack and release)and you can turn off the distortion. I do not claim to be the worlds greatest but I get closer to it with the Fatso. In 1996, we got lucky when George Peterson pushed for a review in Mix Magazine, one of the most important music publications of the day, and the Distressor sales slowly started to climb. 2nd the love for the trannies........ adds weight to the gtr buss......and the warmth circuit for when theres a little too much bite....... or if you need more bite just add spank to whatever you already have going.....I LOVE THIS BOX......very versatile......best buy of 2005. It’s been well over 20 years since Empirical Labs released its first compressor, the Distressor. “The Distressor was initially sold in 1995, and only one here, and one there, at first,” he recalls. the distressor is pretty much a must have over here...the Fatso would gather dust. More about the Arousor and UAD Empirical Labs plug-ins. Distressor or FATSO. Even audiophiles can benefit from the FATSO, bringing back the warmth and ambience of LP’s and tapes to their CD players and other digital reproduction mediums. Distressor can be tweaked in terms of attack/release/ratio whereas the Fatso has no option to mess with those. As far as sound goes - totally different animals and compression flavors, apart from ability of both units to add certain extra flavor. I need to know how much of a fatso's character do I already have in the Distressor (with the right settings?). Thanks. This two channel audio processor musically integrates frequencies and transients, increasing the apparent volume while keeping tight control over peak levels. Sort by. There are a zillion saturation plugs that can do what the fatso does...there are NO plugs that can do what the distress or does....and the distressor is Very versatile and very useful for tracking and mixing...the fatso is all hype in my opinion. But if I had to....the Distressor would go first. They're not in the least bit interchangeable, at least not to my ears. I have the UBK Fatso and 2 distressors and here's my take: Sure, the FATSO is going to have less controls with compression characteristics, but when using the UAD Sr. version of it (more compression controls), how is that going to make that huge of a difference versus the Distressor? The Distressor is a dedicated compressor with full control over attack and decay, plus some soft clipping options. For Gearshoot we generally aim to work with standardised compression ratios to allow as close as is practically possible (within realistic time etc constraints) comparisons for you. Versatile, super fast, and offering tons of color, the Distressor picks up where the legendary UA 1176 and Teletronix LA-2A compressors leave off — a modern tool that’s equal parts utilitarian and creative, as heard on thousands of hit records. IMO the FATSO is about subtlety. 2 comments. Kush Audio, in collaboration with Empirical Labs, has taken the original Fatso and adjusted the preset compression parameters (attack, release, ratio and knee) as well as the "saturation-to-compression relationship". In this video Zack does a shootout of the Hardware distressor vs the UAD plugin Distressor vs the Arouser plugin. If we were to sum the Distressor hardware up in one line, we'd describe it as 'the sound of the Top 40' - and Fatso Jr, too, has graced countless hits. The Fatso has less fixed ratio steps and you will always have some harmonic distortion engaged. There are plenty more usage scenarios for the UBK FATSO that I could describe, but I’ll end the review here by reiterating that I love the original Empirical Labs FATSO Jr for the analog magic it adds to all my recordings. (I assume you mean boost the fundamental and cut some other areas), but in my experience an EQ is totally not what I'm looking for. 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