Doug Turkel
Liz Atherton
Joel Snyder
Tom Antonellis
Marc Preston
While the feature set and control layout of the Drawmer 1970 Dual FET preamp/compressor may be similar to the company’s acclaimed 1960 model, the 1970 is a FET, rather than valve-driven, device with overall improvements, including an EQ section that has been fine-tuned for higher accuracy. The 1970 incorporates the latest THAT Corporation technology in its two mic preamps to deliver ultra-clean, precise, and transparent recordings that you can process at a later stage using your preferred warming method, be it saturation, tube, transformer, or tape. A high-quality instrument DI input with low- and high-frequency EQ and a bright switch gives you unprecedented control over your direct instrument sound.
Related Videos: 1970 2-channel Microphone Preamp & Compressor
Generous gain and switchable impedance for all your mics
Each mic input channel of the 1970 features an ultra-clean THAT Corporation mic preamp with 66dB of gain, with switchable impedance for accurate mic matching, to coax optimum performance from any microphone, including passive ribbons. The mic input sections feature a novel and intuitive per-channel rotary source selector switch with settings for instrument, line, three mic impedances (2.4k, 600, and 200 ohms), and 48V phantom power. Additionally, the section is fitted with handy polarity-reverse and highpass filter switches.
Studio-grade instrument DI with 2-band EQ
The 1970’s studio-grade DI is also noteworthy, having both defeatable low- and high-frequency EQ plus an additional bright switch to tailor your direct instrument input to your preferences right at the front end. A boost switch is fitted for accommodating both low- and high-output instrument pickups.
Stereo compressor linking
The compression section includes the standard threshold, ratio, attack and release controls, along with surprise bonuses. The 1970 can be used as two separate mono tracking compressors or a stereo buss compressor (avoiding image shifting) via the provided link switch. Beyond that, the compressor section offers other unique features that provide immense tonal and operational flexibility.
FET and compressor bypass
As FETs (Field-Effect Transistors) impart their own unique (and quite desirable, depending on the situation) coloration, Drawmer has thoughtfully allowed them to be bypassed (along with the using the Bypass switch in the output section. This connects the mic preamps directly to the output without passing through the compressor section or the master section’s mix and gain controls for an ultra-clean mic signal. It’s also great for A/B auditioning a signal with and without compression.
FET and compressor bypass
As FETs (Field-Effect Transistors) impart their own unique (and quite desirable, depending on the situation) coloration, Drawmer has thoughtfully allowed them to be bypassed (along with the using the Bypass switch in the output section. This connects the mic preamps directly to the output without passing through the compressor section or the master section’s mix and gain controls for an ultra-clean mic signal. It’s also great for A/B auditioning a signal with and without compression.
Big and Air circuits; Program-dependent operation
The compressor section is also fitted with “Big” and “Air” circuits. The former reduces the sidechain’s low-frequency sensitivity, resulting in less gain reduction being applied to those frequencies and a fatter and overall bigger sound. The Air switch re-introduces high frequencies that can be lost as a result of heavy compression, giving your sound more intimacy, transparency, and detail; without inducing harshness or unnatural artifacts. Cymbals are more vibrant without becoming splashy, and vocals sound more open without being sibilant. Used together, these proprietary circuits product a larger-than-life sound with massive punch, weight, and shimmer. Yet another compressor feature is the PGM switch, which causes the release times to vary in a program-dependent fashion (similar to a vari-mu design), automatically adapting to the dynamics of the incoming signal.
Sidechain input for creative ducking
Every dynamics processor has a sidechain circuit that examines the signal and determines how much the VCA will reduce gain — but not every unit provides access to its sidechain. In compressors without a separate sidechain input, your main input signal is, essentially, compressing itself. With compressors that have a separate sidechain input — like the Drawmer 1970 — you can introduce a different signal that determines the compression action on the main signal.
An overt illustration of sidechaining is the “pumping” effect that’s popular in EDM production. A control signal — a bass drum, in this example — is plugged into the sidechain input, triggering the detector and causing the main signal — let’s say, a synth bass — to “duck” under each bass drum hit. This clears the way for maximum kick drum impact. Another classic use is for auto-ducking music under a voiceover, as in a radio commercial spot. Sidechaining can be used creatively in many ways, limited only by your imagination!
Backlit VU plus 8-LED GR metering
The Drawmer 1970 is perhaps the most feature-rich — and hence, versatile — compressor/preamp unit we’ve seen at Sweetwater. It’s packed with highly useful features that enable you to tailor your sound to perfection right at the input without the need for a lengthy signal chain. Many units have onboard parallel processing these days, but the 1970 provides both variable wet/dry Mix controls and separate output Gain pots, in addition to a hard-wire Bypass that connects the input source directly to the output without passing through the compressor FETs, the mix, and gain controls. This provides an ultra-clean microphone signal, and can be used, for instance, to A/B the signal with and without compression.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Drawmer without two backlit analog VU Meters with switchable a +10dB rescale mode. Lift the bonnet and you will find additional professional niceties such as time delay relays on the outputs for clean power up/down and an internal low hum toroidal linear power supply with a voltage selector switch. It all adds up to classic Drawmer: innovative features, premium sonics, and weapons-grade build quality with a rugged steel chassis and intuitive, control-laden aluminum front panel. All this, for a price that won’t break the bank. The Drawmer 1970 is an incredible value!
Drawmer 1970 Dual FET Compressor/Preamp Features:
- Per-channel THAT Corporation ultra-clean mic pres with 66dB of gain
- Switchable mic impedance/phantom power, HPF, and Polarity reverse
- Pro-quality instrument DI input with 2-band EQ
- Separate rear-panel XLR inputs for Mic and Line
- Can be used as 2 mono tracking compressors or stereo buss compressor (avoiding image shift) via comprehensive linking facilities
- Compressor FETs may be bypassed to provide ultra-clean mic outputs
- Standard controls include Threshold, Ratio, Attack, and Release; 8-LED GR metering
- Rear-panel Sidechain insert points for triggering compression with external signals
- Big and Air Modes preserve deep lows and enhance your signal with sparkling highs
- Variable Wet/Dry Mix plus Output Gain knobs on both channels
- 2 backlit analog VU Meters with a switchable +10dB rescale mode
- Time delay relays on outputs for clean power up/down
- Internal low-hum toroidal linear power supply with voltage selector switch
- Classic Drawmer build quality with rugged steel chassis and aluminum front panel
- Designed and handcrafted by Drawmer in the UK