Fink Analog Audio LM1-76LA FET Limiter / ELOP Compressor

LM1-76LA FET Limiter / ELOP Compressor

The LC1-76LA is a FET limiter followed by an ELOP compressor in a classic dual dynamics chain, inspired by the UREI 1176 and LA2. The normal signal path is FET limiter followed by ELOP compressor, much used in US studios. A SWAP switch reorders the chain, placing the ELOP compressor first and FET limiter last, a classic British dynamics chain. A SPLIT switch unlinks the limiter and compressor so that they may be used independently with separate transformer coupled inputs and outputs. Both have sidechain EQs to provide D-ESSing, or D-SPLOSing with the FET limiter and D-EMPHASIS with the ELOP compressor.

The FET limiter section is the same as in the CS2 channel strip, inspired by the UREI 1176. It has the same FET attenuator and control circuitry as the original, and the same controls and ranges . Our twist is to use class-A vacuum tube stages in place of the original’s 2 discrete transistor stages. For the Limiter ratio control, we added a Soft Knee compression curve, as well as an All Button curve. A parametric bell EQ filter with 2 frequency ranges in the sidechain provides D-ESS or D-SPLOS capability.

The ELOP Compressor section, inspired by the UREI LA2, uses the same ELOP and tube signal path as the original, but we use a discrete transistor sidechain control circuit like that of the LA3 to drive the ELOP attenuator. The controls and their ranges are the same as the original. We included a parametric low frequency shelving EQ in the side chain for D-Emphasis

The Meter monitors input or output VU and gain reduction for either limiter. A headphone amplifier lets you monitor whatever the meter shows. When the meter shows GR, the phones monitor the sidechain filter so you can set the frequency by ear.

Our products are designed by veteran UREI and Universal audio design engineer, Dennis Fink. Manufactured in the USA (we outsource to New Jersey), each is tested and final assembled by the designer. We use the best electronic components for professional audio signal processing.

 

LIMITER Controls BYPASS - limiter in/out, hardwired INPUT - input to FET attenuator, sets threshold (0 to 11) OUTPUT - output make-up gain (0 to 11) ATTACK- dynamics attack time (20 to 400uS) RELEASE - dynamics release time ( 2 to 200mS) RATIO - compression slope

(1:1, SOFT, 2:1, 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1, ALL)

De-Ess / De-Splos Controls BYPASS - SC EQ in/out, bypass BOOST/CUT - bandpass filter gain (-12 to +12 dB) x1 / x!0 - 50 to 500Hz or 1k to 10kHz frequency range FREQ- sweeps filter over tune range

ROUTE and METER Controls SWAP - exchanges the order of Lim and Comp path SPLIT - separates Lim and Comp to their own I/O XLRs METER -selects input VU, outputVU, GR LIM / COMP- selects Lim or Comp to meter switch LEVEL- sets headphone level for meter monitor

COMPRESSOR Controls BYPASS - compressor in/out, hardwire GAIN - input to FET attenuator, sets threshold (0 to 11) PEAK REDUCTION - output make-up gain (0 to 11) LIM / COMP- dynamics attack time (20 to 400uS) DeEmphasis Controls BYPASS - SC EQ in/out, bypass BOOST/CUT - shelving filter gain (-12 to +12 dB) FREQ- sweeps filter over 50 to 500Hz

 

LC1-76LA Specifications

BANDWIDTH - 20 Hz to 50kHz +/- 1dB MAX OUTPUT - +21dBu

TUBE COMPLEMENT - 2 @ 12AX7, 1 @ 12AT7, 1 @ 12BH7

GAIN - E.I.N - DISTORTION -

40 dB -121dBu < 0.1% typ; 1% at +20dBu output

POWER- FUSE-

DIMENSIONS- WEIGHT-

20watts at 115/ 230 VAC 125 mA slow blow (115 V)

19”W x 3.5“H x 15.25”D 20 lb.

INPUT IMPEDANCE - 200 ohms OUTPUT IMPEDANCE - 600 ohms