Empirical Labs Distressor

Records it appears on · 21

• Ordinary

  Alex Warren · You'll Be Alright, Kid, 2025

  • Hammond C3 organ and piano · Mix effectsVerifiedUAD Distressor used on the pianos to glue them together.
• Rehab

  Amy Winehouse · Back to Black, 2006

  • Drum kit (single mono track) · Mix effectsVerifiedAdds bite to the drums, feeding a FairchildSettings: British Mode; not driven hard
• Let Go

  Avril Lavigne · Album, 2002

  • Lead and backing vocals · Input chainVerifiedCompressor used with the Neve 1272 on Lavigne's vocals, chosen because her voice suited that chain.
• The Best Damn Thing

  Avril Lavigne · Album, 2007

  • Lead vocal (Walker sessions) · Input chainReportedCompressor after the preamp on the lead vocal in the Walker sessions.
  • Guitars (Walker sessions) · Input chainReportedCompressor used on guitars among nearly everything else in the sessions.
  • Drums (Walker sessions) · Input chainReportedCompressor used on the drums as well as guitars and vocals.
• Lost Highway

  Bon Jovi · Album, 2007

  • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedCompressor after the preamp on the lead vocal, described as being driven hard, before the signal reached Pro Tools.
• Glycerine

  Bush · Sixteen Stone, 1996

  • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedAlbum sessions, not stated for this song: Rented that year and used by the engineer to compress Rossdale's vocals; the studio then bought two.
• 21st Century Breakdown

  Green Day · Album, 2009

  • Bass · Input chainReportedCompressor in the bass chain after the DI and preamp.
• Power Trip

  J. Cole · Born Sinner, 2013

  • Guest vocal (Miguel) · Mix effectsVerifiedMiguel's vocal was put through it in the mix.
• Chaos and the Calm

  James Bay · Album, 2014

  • Drums · Mix effectsVerifiedUsed lightly on the drums to tighten the kit together.
• Tribute

  John Newman · Album, 2013

  • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedCompressor used on one deluxe-edition song, 'Nothing'; Newman wanted to hit it hard but it ended up at 6:1 and sounded subtle.Settings: 6:1 ratio
• A Little Bit Longer

  Jonas Brothers · Album, 2008

  • Tour-bus recording rig · Input chainVerifiedCompressor carried in the bus rig; no part or setting is given.
• Beggin'

  Måneskin · Chosen, 2017

  • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedProbably a second Distressor on the vocal while recording, to keep spikes under control; he is not certain.
  • Bass · Input chainReportedProbably used to compress the bass while recording; he is not certain.
• Songs About Jane

  Maroon 5 · Album, 2004

  • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedCompressor that followed the Chandler unit in the vocal chain, set to a quick 2:1 ratio.Settings: Quick 2:1 ratio
• V

  Maroon 5 · Album, 2014

  • Bass · Input chainVerifiedCompressor in the DI bass chain on some tracks; pushed hard for a distorted tone where a harsher bass sound was needed.
• The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage

  Panic! at the Disco · A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, 2005

  • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedCompressor on the lead vocal, between the preamp and Pro Tools.Settings: Set to Opto
• Paramore

  Paramore · Album, 2014

  • Guitar · Input chainVerifiedUsed a lot for compressing the guitars, according to de la Garza.
  • Bass · Input chainVerifiedUsed a lot for compressing the bass, according to de la Garza.
• Treat You Better

  Shawn Mendes · Illuminate, 2016

  • Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedMatched stereo pair of compressors following the Avalon EQ on the lead vocal.
  • Drums and percussion · Mix effectsVerifiedCompressor fed from small desk faders as a parallel compressor on drums and percussion.
• Break the Cycle

  Staind · Album, 2001

  • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedDistressor EL8 was the second compressor in the vocal chain, ahead of the Neve module.
• Mine

  Taylor Swift · Speak Now, 2010

  • Guitars · Input chainVerifiedAlbum sessions, not stated for this song: Compressor after the API 512 in Chapman's acoustic guitar chain, and on harmony vocals.
  • Bass · Input chainVerifiedCompressor the Mine bass went through after the preamp.
• Speak Now

  Taylor Swift · Album, 2010

  • Acoustic guitar · Input chainInferredUsual practice, not stated for this record: Compressor after the API preamp in the acoustic guitar chain.

Sources for each use are on the record’s own page.

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