Fairchild Compressor/limiter (model not stated)

Records it appears on · 12

• Hello

  Adele · 25, 2015

  • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedThe Fairchild 660 limiter came last in the vocal chain, working with a much slower attack and release than the 1176 before it.
• Rehab

  Amy Winehouse · Back to Black, 2006

  • Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedLast in the outboard vocal chain; smooths and holds the vocal level after the 1176Settings: Very slow release; how hard the 1176 drives it is varied during the mix
  • Drum kit (single mono track) · Mix effectsVerifiedOne channel inserted on the original drum track, after the Distressor, to glue it together
• The Best Damn Thing

  Avril Lavigne · Album, 2007

  • Lead vocal (Walker sessions) · Input chainReportedTube compressor used on the monitor side for the vocal in the Walker sessions.
• Rise

  Herb Alpert · Rise, 1979

  • Bass · Mix effectsReportedHahn believes he probably used a Fairchild on the bass at the mix.
• Continuum

  John Mayer · Album, 2006

  • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedOn a couple of songs a split second vocal channel was heavily crushed through it, then blended with or chosen over the clean channel at mix.
• Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

  Kelly Clarkson · Stronger, 2012

  • Guitars · Input chainInferredUsual practice, not stated for this record: Kurstin says he runs his guitar signal chain through it for an old-school analog sound; said in the present tense, so not tied firmly to this song.
• Those Were the Days

  Mary Hopkin · Post Card, 1968

  • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedEmerick believes the vocal would have gone through a Fairchild 660 limiter and onto the fourth track of the 4-track.
• Give a Little Bit

  Supertramp · Even in the Quietest Moments..., 1977

  • Tracking and mix tools · Mix effectsReportedCompressor the mono radio-edit mix was run through to survive radio limiting.
• Luka

  Suzanne Vega · Solitude Standing, 1987

  • Lead vocal · Mix effectsReportedAddabbo recalls a Fairchild 670 compressor following the equaliser in the mix vocal chain.
• Mine

  Taylor Swift · Speak Now, 2010

  • Drums · Mix effectsVerifiedCompressor on another drum subgroup.
• Beauty and the Beat

  The Go-Go's · Album, 1981

  • Studio chain and mix · Mix effectsReportedFreeman wonders whether the Record Plant's Fairchild tube limiter was part of why the late-night rough mix of this song sounded better than later attempts. (recalled with uncertainty)
• Ho Hey

  The Lumineers · The Lumineers, 2012

  • Lead and background vocals · Mix effectsVerifiedOne of two pieces of outboard on the lead vocal, where he wanted the vocal to punch out and sound bigger and brighter.

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

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