The Fairchild Compressor Explained | The History, Controls, and Sounds of a Legendary Compressor

Summary

The video examines the legendary Fairchild compressor, a rare and expensive analog hardware unit known for its smooth compression and 'sheen' on signals like vocals and drums. It compares three popular software emulations and focuses on the UAD version which models the tubes and transformers. It explains the unique controls like time constants rather than attack/release, and demonstrates settings for drums, bass, and vocals, noting how the Fairchild gently glues things together. The video conveys the magic of this classic gear now available to more people through quality digital versions.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The Fairchild compressor, developed in the early 1950s, is a legendary piece of audio hardware known for its use in broadcast and recording studios.
• 💻 There are several plugin emulations of the Fairchild compressor available, including versions by UAD, IK Multimedia, and Waves, each based on the Fairchild 670 (stereo) or 660 (mono) models.
• 🔍 The UAD version of the Fairchild plugin is highlighted for its detailed modeling of tubes and internal components, offering a closer sonic signature to the original hardware.
• 📈 The Fairchild compressor gained fame for its use in Abbey Road Studios, processing vocals and drums for The Beatles, contributing to the distinctive sound of their recordings from 1964 onwards.
• 📦 Physically, the Fairchild is a large, 70-pound unit with 20 tubes and 11 transformers, designed for rack mounting, showcasing its complex and robust construction.
• 🔥 The compressor is known for its fast attack times relative to its era, which were not surpassed until the advent of FET-style compressors like the 1176s.
• ⚙️ Unique to the Fairchild, the 'Time Constant' settings control attack and release times, with six different settings catering to various musical styles and material dependencies.
• 🛠 The plugin versions of the Fairchild offer additional features not found on the original hardware, such as a sidechain filter, output control, mix knob, Headroom dial, and more, allowing for greater flexibility in modern mixing.
• 🎶 Demonstrations of the Fairchild plugin on drums, bass, and vocals illustrate its ability to glue mixes together, add coloration, and smooth out dynamics without noticeable compression artifacts.
• 💡 The Fairchild compressor is celebrated for imparting a unique 'sheen' and 'creaminess' to audio, especially noticeable on vocal tracks, enhancing the overall sound quality.

Q & A

What is the Fairchild compressor and why is it so legendary?

The Fairchild compressor is a highly coveted analog compressor that was originally developed in the 1950s for broadcast and record cutting applications. It became very popular in recording studios in the 60s thanks to its smooth compression characteristics and unique tone-shaping abilities. It's considered legendary due to its sound quality and rarity.

What are some notable uses of the Fairchild compressor in music recording history?

The Fairchild was famously used to process vocals and drums at Abbey Road Studios on many Beatles records starting in 1964. It contributed to the distinctive compressed drum sounds on Ringo Starr's recordings and the smooth vocal tones on many Beatles tracks.

What accounts for the smooth compression sound of the Fairchild?

The Fairchild combines relatively fast attack times with longer release times which eliminates artifacts and results in very smooth compression.

What do the different Time Constant settings on the Fairchild compressor correspond to?

Time Constants 1-2 are considered "pop" settings, 3-4 are "classical" settings, and 5-6 are fully program dependent. Each has different attack and release time combinations, with higher numbers having increasingly longer release times.

How can the input gain and threshold controls be used to shape the compression amount and distortion?

Lowering the input gain while raising the threshold results in less distortion for a given compression amount. Raising the input gain while lowering the threshold gives more distortion for the same amount of compression.

What is the Headroom control on the Fairchild compressor plug-in?

The Headroom control pushes the plug-in into gain reduction and distortion more easily in a clockwise direction. It simulates calibrating the hardware unit.

What are some common instruments to use the Fairchild compressor on?

The Fairchild is commonly used on drums, bass, and vocals. It excels at glueing and smoothing out these instruments with its signature smooth compression.

What does the Fairchild add to vocals specifically?

On vocals, the Fairchild adds a subtle sheen and creaminess. Rather than aggressive compression, it imparts a smoothness and cohesiveness.

Why are Fairchild compressor plug-ins so widely used compared to the hardware?

The original Fairchild hardware is extremely rare and expensive. Plug-in emulations make this classic compressor far more accessible to most producers and engineers.

What makes the UAD Fairchild compressor plug-in special?

The UAD Fairchild models all of the original unit's tubes and transformers, simulating the sound and distortion characteristics accurately. The Legacy version does not model the tubes.