Gear · compressor
Empirical Labs Fatso
Two-channel analogue tape simulator and compressor. Digitally controlled analogue circuits that add soft clipping, high-frequency saturation, transformer colour and gentle compression.
Source, read 15 Nov 2026
Records it appears on · 2
- Take Me to Church
Hozier · Hozier, 2013
- Drums · Input chainVerifiedHeavily compressed ambient-mic drum track, the main character of the drum sound in this song's session.
- Unlimited Love
Red Hot Chili Peppers · Album, 2022
- Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedParallel compression on the vocal to keep it forward in the mix.
- Drums · Mix effectsVerifiedGentle compression and some high-frequency attenuation on the drum overheads.Position: overheads
Sources for each use are on the record’s own page.
Get the sound
First choice · Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs FATSO Tape Simulator
saturation
A plugin model of the Empirical Labs Fatso itself, made with the hardware's designer.
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