DESCRIPTION
The HERCHILD model 670 is our newest release and one of the products we are proudest of. A tube-based audio
compressor with a striking resemblance to one of the most famous compressors of all time, the Fairchild 670. After years of
research, development and new designs we are finally ready to release this beast to the public. While making sure to
capture all the lush sound and mystique of the original we were able to improve on several aspects and offer a more
reliable, more durable, modern version that will last you for decades to come. The HERCHILD Model 670 contains nothing
less that 22 valves and
9
transformers to achieve that indistinguishable, classic, triumphant sound that we all know and
love. The original intention of the his historical compressor was to be used in the cutting of lacquer masters for vinyl
albums, but it soon became an industry standard for getting that all enveloping sound that takes us to another level. The
Fairchild Model 670 is found on almost all of the classic releases in the 60´s and 70´s, defining the sound of a generation…
or two.
The grandaddy of all tube-based compressors had a relatively limited amount produced, somewhere between 500 and
1,000 units. Therefore, some 60 years later there are only a small amount that remain today. There are even fewer that are
totally usable as years have gone by since it´s late 1950´s introduction so many units aren´t exactly as they once were.
Maintenance is obligatory on a high-end piece like this and unfortunately, too many of them have simply been neglected
and aren´t up to their optimal specifications. This means an alternative is needed. And this is where the HERCHILD Model
670 comes in, to once again offer that magic that only this compressor design can.
Our HERCHILD Model 670 offers a couple of new and ever so helpful features. The user now has immediate access to the
all important
DC THRESHOLD
. This control basically combines adjustments to the progressively developing curved RATIO
and the KNEE simultaneously through 4 different settings varying from a gentle slope to a more pronounced and aggressive
slope. This control really does put sound manipulation right at your finger tips as opposed to the original´s out of reach and
inconvenient screw adjuster. The other main addition is something no modern day studio can be without, a side chain filter.
With the
SC FILTER
on the HERCHILD Model 670 you have 4 different frequencies to choose from: 50, 100, 200 and
350Hz. Using this feature you now have lots more control over just how much compression will be applied as you can
make it less sensitive to the lower frequencies therefore allowing more compression where you need it and for the track to
stay powerful.
The HERCHILD Model 670 also has the
AGC
section to determine which mode it will work in. There are 4 modes of
operation to choose from: I
ND
,
LINK
,
LAT VERT
&
LAT VERT
LINK
. The
IND & LINK
modes are for normal stereo
operation. IND give you independent control for each channel while
LINK
, obviously, links the two channels operation
together so both channels are controlled by (the
LEFT-
LAT
channel´s settings.
)
taking the average from the two channel´s
settings to determine what the overall stereo control will be
.
The
LAT VERT
mode is originally from the days of using a
cutting lathe to prepare vinyl records. It was crucial to carefully decide the depth and the width of the grooves, so you had
precise control over both aspects in this mode. Nowadays, people have discovered the advantages of mixing and
mastering with MID/SIDE
processing as it allows you creative control over the center and side signals of a stereo track
separately.
LAT VERT
is the equivalent to MID/SIDE and when used properly it really gives you the control to make your
songs sound wider, deeper and more focused. And the last option is
LAT VERT
LINK
and is again for MID/SIDE processing
but this time with the two channels linked together and controlled by taking the average from the two channel´s settings to
determine what the overall control will be
.
3
