The Neve 33609 Stereo Compressor offers comprehensive limiting and compression facilities for music recording, mastering, post production and broadcast applications. The combination of hand-wired transformers and gain reduction circuitry produces a sound quality which is often duplicated, yet seldom achieved by any other compressor / limiter. Coupled with the unit's unparalleled ease of use, this inimitable sound quality has made the 33609 a worldwide studio standard for three decades. The hallmark 33609 compression sound is very smooth, and extreme settings may be used with the compression or limiting remaining relatively transparent. After several versions of this classic Neve compressor over the years, today's 33609 provides the best of both worlds: original Neve 33609 sound, with enhanced internal and external I/O switching compared to the original model. The 33609 also utilises a discrete output stage like the original model, for a slightly warmer sound that is preferred by many professionals over previous iterations. Multiple units can be easily linked for multi-channel operation. The 33609 features independent sidechains for the compressor and limiter sections, with similarly independent threshold, recovery and attack controls. The compressor features a selection of ratios from 1.5:1 to 6:1 and a gain make-up control that comes before the limiter. Overall gain reduction is indicated on a moving coil meter. Much like our classic 1073 and 1081 microphone preamplifiers, the 33609 Stereo Compressor is often cited as a "desert island" compressor - one which a healthy sampling of the world's top engineers and producers would choose above all others.
