While the 660 had been designed primarily for broadcast, the 670 was intended for cutting stereo lacquer masters. The 670 can process two stereo channels either as a left/right stereo pair, or as lateral and vertical components for stereo disc cutting.
What type of compressor is a Fairchild?
The Fairchild 660 is a tube-based single-channel audio compressor invented by Rein Narma and manufactured by the Fairchild Recording Equipment Corporation beginning in 1959. The 660 was the first intelligent automatic volume control limiter.
What is a Fairchild good for?
The Fairchild Tube Limiter Plug-In Collection provides you with two workhorse limiters that can gently massage a single track and put the final polish on a mix, or push a drum bus or bass track into a frothy lather, full of overdriven harmonic goodness.
How much is a Fairchild 670?
Product Info: The two-channel Fairchild 670 is the “Holy Grail” of compressors in studio gear esoterica, not only because of its price (around $30,000 on the vintage market), but its extreme rareness and the difficulties in maintaining such a piece.
What year was the Fairchild 660 compressor released?
1959
Launched in 1959, the single-channel 660 and stereo 670 quickly found favour with top recording studios. It was on a visit to Capitol Records’ American studios that EMI engineer Peter Bown heard the Fairchild in action, prompting the purchase of several units.
What is a Fairchild compressor best for?
Given its primary purpose as a protective device in broadcast or vinyl cutting environments, in which the limiter was required to catch any unwanted signal peaks reliably, these fast attack times were one of the Fairchild’s most important features.
Who made Fairchild 670?
Rein Narma
The original design was created by Rein Narma as he was building Les Paul’s first 8-channel mixing console. The design was then licensed by Sherman Fairchild who hired Rein Narma as the company’s chief engineer….Fairchild Recording Equipment Corporation.
| Fairchild 670 compressor | |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronics |
| Owner | Sherman Fairchild |
How many tubes does a Fairchild 670 have?
20
With 14 transformers, 20 vacuum tubes, and a 6 rack-space encompassing girth, the 670 is the heavyweight champion of compression weighing in at 65 pounds.
Is Fairchild a vari mu?
Vari-mu are the old school compressors. What are examples of variable-mu compressors? Fairchild 660 (and its bigger sibling — the holy grail — the stereo 670) which can cost you over $10,000, Federal AM-864/U, Manley Variable-Mu, Altec 436B, and Chandler Limited RS124.
Who owns Fairchild?
In December 1999, Fairchild Aerospace Corporation was acquired by German insurer Allianz A.G. and the United States investment group Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Inc. for $1.2 billion. In 2003, the assets of Fairchild were purchased by M7 Aerospace and the new company was moved to San Antonio.
What is Varimu?
Vari-mu, which is just shorthand. Variable-gain compression, which is perhaps confusingly similar to variable-gain amplification or voltage-controlled amplification (VCA). More on VCA compressors here. Tube compression, though any compressor with tubes in its design could be called a “tube compressor”.
What do you think of the original Fairchild 670?
These days there are so many really excellent emulations of the 670 (the 660 is the mono version I believe) in hardware form that having an original Fairchild 670 is rather like preferring an original signed Picasso print over an equally beautiful one that does not bear his name. It looks like vanity or elitism.
What was the Fairchild 670 Compressor/Limiter used for?
– Fairchild 670 Compressor/Limiter used at Sound Exchange Studios New York, NY – The 670 was being utilized as a Vertical-Lateral component limiter for the associated disc cutting lathe – circa late 1960’s Do you have content, to add, about the Fairchild 670 Compressor/Limiter or associated topics?
Is the Fairchild 660/670 still the best dynamics processor?
The Fairchild 660/670 compressor-limiter is arguably the most iconic of all dynamics processors. A decent plug-in emulation can now be considered pretty much a standard tool, and there are quite a few to choose from.
Is the Fairchild 6386 valve a worthy replacement?
The Fairchild is said to ‘eat’ the 6386 valves at a fast pace. The original 6386 was phased out a long time ago, and NOS types are becoming scarce, fetching premium prices. A modern equivalent is available from JJ Electronic, but the debate over whether this new valve is a worthy successor to tried and true NOS specimens hasn’t yet been settled!
