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.

Outlines

00:00

🎚️ Exploring the Legendary Fairchild Compressor

Joe from Greenlight Sound introduces the Fairchild compressor, a highly sought-after piece of audio hardware from the early 1950s, known for its unique sonic characteristics in broadcast and recording applications. Due to its rarity and cost, plugin emulations like those from UAD, IK Multimedia, and Waves have become popular. Joe focuses on the UAD version, which meticulously models the original's tubes and transformers for authentic sound reproduction. The Fairchild's notable use at Abbey Road Studios on Beatles recordings highlights its significance. The compressor's design, featuring fast attack times and a variety of time constants, contributes to its smooth compression quality. Joe explains the technical aspects of the Fairchild, including its mid/side mode for mastering vinyl records, and the impact of input gain, threshold, and time constants on compression.

05:01

🔊 Advanced Features of the Fairchild Plugin

In this section, Joe delves into additional controls of the Fairchild plugin, such as the mix knob, headroom dial, balance, and DC threshold, which influence gain reduction, distortion, compression ratio, and knee width. He demonstrates the practical application of these controls on a drum bus, highlighting the compressor's ability to subtly color and glue together the drum mix without noticeable compression artifacts. By adjusting the input gain, threshold, and time constants, users can achieve desired compression levels with varying degrees of distortion. Joe's demonstration includes applying the compressor on bass, showcasing how it smooths out the signal while adding saturation, and on a vocal bus, emphasizing its capacity to add a sheen to vocals without aggressive compression.

10:11

🎤 Vocal Enhancement with the Fairchild Compressor

Joe concludes by showcasing the Fairchild compressor's subtle yet effective impact on a vocal bus. He emphasizes the compressor's ability to add a smooth, creamy quality to vocals, creating a sheen that enhances the overall mix without the harsh characteristics of heavy compression. The demonstration illustrates how the Fairchild's settings, particularly the time constants, can be fine-tuned for vocal applications, resulting in a polished, glued-together sound. Joe highlights the importance of listening on quality monitoring systems to appreciate the subtle nuances the Fairchild adds to vocals. He wraps up by expressing gratitude for the availability of digital versions of such rare hardware, inviting questions and comments while encouraging viewers to subscribe for more insights.

Keywords

💡Fairchild Compressor

The Fairchild Compressor is a legendary audio compression tool developed in the early 1950s, initially for broadcast and record cutting applications. It's known for its unique ability to color and shape tone, making it a favored choice in recording studios, notably at Abbey Road for The Beatles' recordings. The video discusses various plugin emulations of the Fairchild, focusing on its history, technical specifications, and its impact on music production.

💡Plugin Emulations

Plugin emulations refer to digital software versions that mimic the functionality and sound characteristics of hardware audio processing units. The video mentions three specific emulations of the Fairchild Compressor by UAD, IK Multimedia, and Waves. These plugins aim to replicate the sonic signature of the Fairchild, making its unique compression characteristics accessible without needing the rare and expensive hardware.

💡UAD Version

The UAD (Universal Audio) version of the Fairchild Compressor plugin is highlighted as the narrator's favorite due to its detailed modeling of the original hardware's tubes and transformers. This version offers a digital recreation that provides the sonic signature and compression characteristics of the Fairchild, including a comparison to the UAD Legacy version, which lacks the tube modeling.

💡Abbey Road Studios

Abbey Road Studios is a famous recording studio in London, known for its association with The Beatles. The video mentions that most of The Beatles' vocals from 1964 onwards and Ringo's drums were processed with Fairchild compressors. This highlights the compressor's historical significance and its role in shaping the sound of one of the most influential bands in music history.

💡Time Constants

Time constants in the context of the Fairchild Compressor refer to preset combinations of attack and release times for the compressor's action. The video explains that the Fairchild does not have separate attack and release controls but instead uses six different time constants, ranging from settings ideal for pop to classical music, and some that are material-dependent. This unique feature contributes to the Fairchild's versatility in music production.

💡Mid/Side Mode

Mid/Side mode is a stereo microphone technique and processing method that separates audio into mid (center) and side (left and right difference) signals. The video explains how the Fairchild Compressor can operate in Mid/Side mode, allowing independent control of the mid and side signals. This feature is useful for mastering vinyl records and can be creatively used in modern music production for spatial effects.

💡Input Gain and Threshold

Input gain and threshold are fundamental controls on a compressor that affect the amount of compression applied to a signal. The video discusses how adjusting these controls on the Fairchild plugin influences the level of signal compression and distortion. Increasing the input gain and lowering the threshold results in more compression with added distortion, a technique for shaping the sound's character.

💡Sidechain Filter

A sidechain filter is a feature on some compressors that prevents low-frequency content from triggering the compressor too aggressively. The video mentions that the UAD version of the Fairchild Compressor includes a sidechain filter, allowing users to avoid excessive compression due to bass-heavy elements. This is particularly useful in mixing scenarios where clarity and balance in the low end are desired.

💡Drums Bus Compression

Drums bus compression refers to applying compression to the combined output of all drum tracks in a mix. The video demonstrates using the Fairchild Compressor on a drums bus, showcasing how it glues the drum elements together while adding a characteristic tone. This application is common in music production to achieve a cohesive and punchy drum sound.

💡Vocal Bus Compression

Vocal bus compression involves applying compression to a group of vocal tracks to ensure they blend smoothly within a mix. The video illustrates using the Fairchild Compressor on a vocal bus, emphasizing its ability to add a smooth, creamy quality to the vocals without noticeable pumping effects. This technique is widely used in recording and mixing to enhance the vocals' presence and consistency.

Highlights

The Fairchild compressor is a legendary and highly sought after analog unit known for its smooth compression and tone shaping abilities

The Fairchild was originally developed in the 1950s for broadcast and record cutting applications before becoming popular in recording studios in the 60s

The Beatles used Fairchild compressors extensively on vocals and drums at Abbey Road studios in the 60s, shaping their iconic recorded sound

The Fairchild 670 is a large, complex analog unit with 20 tubes and 11 transformers that contributes to its signature sound

The Fairchild has unusual time constant settings instead of typical attack and release controls to determine compression behavior

Time constants 1 and 2 are common pop settings with fast attacks and slower releases, while 3-6 are more specialized program dependent settings

Pushing up input gain and lowering threshold increases compression amount but also increases distortion

The Fairchild imparts subtle tonal coloration and glue that helps bind tracks together

On drums, the Fairchild can transparency tighten and glue the kit while adding pleasing saturation

On bass, the Fairchild smoothly evens out levels and enhances tone

On vocals, the Fairchild adds a desirable sheen and creamy quality

Even when only applying subtle compression, the Fairchild has an audible effect of coloring and shaping tone

The original Fairchild hardware is rare and expensive, but software emulations capture its sound while being more accessible

The UAD Fairchild modeled here simulates the original's tubes and transformers for an authentic analog sound

Tweaking controls like headroom and bias further shape the Fairchild's distortion and compression character

Transcripts

everyone its Joe from greenlight sound

calm and today we've got a look at a

legendary processor the Fairchild

compressor and not many of us are

fortunate enough to own this extremely

rare and extremely expensive piece of

hardware but lucky enough there are many

plug-in emulations of this that exists

nowadays I've got three up on the screen

right now I've got the UID version on

the left I've got the i--came ulti media

version on the top right and the waves

version on the bottom right but are all

based upon that same exact piece of gear

the Fairchild 670 which is the stereo

version or the 660 the mono version for

today we're going to be taking a look at

the UAD version this is one of my

favourite versions in plug-in form and

this particular version models all the

tubes and everything else going on

behind the scenes if you take a look at

the UAD legacy version which I don't

have up on the screen right now that one

does not model the tubes and the inside

this does so this kind of gives you that

sonic signature in addition to the

regular compression characteristics and

curves that come from the Fairchild

compressor so the actual hardware

Fairchild was developed in the early

1950s for broadcast and record cutting

applications and some of the controls on

there are specifically related to those

applications so as recording developed

through the late fifties and early

sixties it became more prevalent in

recording studios as engineers

discovered its usefulness in colouring

and shaping tone one of its most notable

uses was at Abbey Road Studios where

most of the Beatles vocals from 1964 on

and Ringo's drums were processed with

fair child´s among many other sources

that the beatles used as well there's a

kind of a famous woosh sound that ring

goes cymbals make in some recordings

that is a direct result of the Fairchild

compressor being applied to them so

behind the scenes in this Fairchild it's

a big beast it's a six you rack mounted

unit it weighs nearly 70 pounds it's got

20 tubes and 11 transformers in there

and as I said before some of the plugins

model these this UAD version does indeed

model those it had the fastest attack

times for a compressor at the time and

that had to do with its broadcast usage

those fast attack times wouldn't be

surpassed for a decade until fete style

compressors like 1176 s came along they

had much faster attack times so that

combination of fairly fast attack times

and longer release times

eliminated artifacts but resulted in a

really smooth compression characteristic

which is what the Fairchild is known for

so to get right into the settings right

past our vu meter we've got this control

for the meter laughs - lat and right -

vert left right is its normal stereo

mode lat vert is its mid/side mode and

the that lat vert that's originally from

record mastering and the terms lateral

or side-to-side and vertical up and down

refer to the mechanical modulations in a

vinyl record groove so the middle

signals are routed to the LAT channel

and the side signals are routed to the

vert channels so when we set the

controls to lat vert over here and we

unlink the controls down here we can

have independent control of our made

inside signal which is kind of cool and

then left/right is normal stereo

operation and we'll link the controls

again together to have the left and

right sides compress the same amount

though you could compress them with

different amounts and unlink them if you

wanted to so moving on the next two

controls you've got the input gain and

the threshold and the amount of signal

compression is determined by both the

input gain and the threshold controls so

for less distortion with the same amount

of compression you would lower the input

gain and increase the threshold control

on the other hand you could do the

opposite increase the input gain and

lower the threshold for a similar amount

of compression with more Distortion now

here comes the section that usually

trips people up the time constant

because it doesn't have a setting it

doesn't have attack and release controls

like most modern compressors would it is

different time constant number one and

two were considered pop settings time

constants three and four were considered

classical music settings and five and

six were completely programmed dependent

most Hardware compressors are left on

one or two most of the time if they're

found in a studio so going through these

time constants number one has an attack

of 200 microseconds and a release of 300

milliseconds fast attack slow release

time constant number two was a 200

microsecond attack in an 800 millisecond

release of same attack time different

release time time constant number three

we've got a 400 microsecond attack and a

two-second release time number four

we've got an 800 microsecond attack and

a five second release time so we're

getting really long with our release

times here and five and six where things

get strange five has a 200 microsecond

attack so just like the first two

settings

but its release is dependent upon the

material it's two seconds for transients

and ten seconds for overall many

multiple peaks and number six has a 400

microsecond attack so they're just like

setting number three but it's got a

release time of 300 milliseconds for

transients and ten seconds for multiple

peaks and 25 seconds for a consistently

high level a 25 second release time

which is crazy so those are your basic

controls now this version does have some

extra features like a sidechain filter

so the low end doesn't trigger too much

compression we've got output control

we've got a mix knob here we've got a

Headroom dial here which clockwise

turning this clockwise will push the

plug-in in to gain reduction and

distortion more easily the balance

controls the bias but moving it changes

the amount of additive signal deflection

or thud you get in it a DC threshold

down here which you could change on the

original unit by calibrating it it

controls the ratio of compression as

well as the knee width so turning it

clockwise lowers the ratio and broadens

the knee and also lowers the threshold

so those are just a few of the extra

controls in this unit but basically if

you understand that pushing the input

gain lowering the threshold and choosing

one of these time constants will get you

the amount of compression you want

you're going to be in good shape and for

most uses you're going to stick with

time constant one or time constant to

one of the most common uses of a

Fairchild is on a drums bus so we're

gonna try that now first thing I want to

do is bypass the compressor this is a

processed drum mix but with no buss

compression going on here is just the

mix without any Fairchild

[Music]

so we're now going to engage the

Fairchild

[Music]

so you can hear a little bit of

coloration to the tone for sure here it

is without I match the output I'll boost

it a little bit

[Music]

you can definitely hear it grab those

Peaks and hear that recovery time

breathe a little bit now if I don't want

to push it quite as hard let's see what

we get

[Music]

and that'll result in compression that

you can kind of glue everything together

with but not really here a noticeable

amount of compression pumping or

anything like that so again without we

could also crush the compressor

[Music]

if we do that in parallel we get some

really cool effects bring down this knob

here next in German we're going to try

it on his bass and here it is without

any compression

[Music]

and we'll engage the compressor and set

it up we're going to stick with kind

time constant one again

[Music]

you're do that again

[Music]

just smooth things out nicely I once

moved to cut time constant to here and

try it on that setting I'll have a

little bit longer release time remember

same attack time here but a little bit

longer release

[Music]

a bypass that as we play

[Music]

just nicely smooth things out you can

hear some of that saturation in there as

well we could also mess with the

Headroom here

[Music]

which results a little bit more

Distortion another really common use for

the fair child is on a vocal bus

usually on a vocal bus I'll leave it on

time constant number 1/4 a little bit

faster release time let's dial this one

and here it is without any compression

sweet will dial in with some compression

sweet back when we without sweet

engage you I remember last September

back when we were we

we get more aggressive we could back now

if you're listening on a really nice

monitoring system or good headphones

you'll notice there's a sort of a sheen

applied to the vocals that wasn't there

without the Fairchild listen closely for

that you're not gonna hear so much of a

compression characteristic as

something's getting slammed or like

you're parallel compressing with an 1176

or something you're gonna hear more of

just this nice sheen on top of the vocal

as the vocals being glued together so

again we'll start without it listen for

that little bit of Sheen on top of the

vocal suite

[Music]

we

II

so it's a subtle compression but it just

adds a nice smoothness a nice creaminess

to the vocal bus there so there it is

the Fairchild compressor the legendary

Fairchild all of its controls and how we

can kind of easily set it up we are

lucky to live in an age and we have

access to a digital version of this

because the actual hardware unit if you

have an original is so expensive and so

rare nowadays there are very few people

who own one and if you do consider

yourself very lucky you have any

questions or comments let me know in the

comment section down below don't forget

to subscribe if you haven't done so

already so we can keep you in the loop

as to what's coming up next and I will

see you in the next one