Drawmer 1973 Compressor

Unlike a full-band compressor that reacts to the entire signal, the 1973 splits your audio into three frequency bands. This allows you to compress the low end independently of the mids and highs, preventing heavy bass hits from triggering unwanted gain reduction on your vocals or cymbals.

Yes, the unit features a dedicated wet/dry mix knob. This allows you to blend the compressed signal with your original, uncompressed audio, which is ideal for retaining natural transients while adding density.

The 'Big' switch applies a subtle boost to the low-end frequencies to add weight, while the 'Air' switch enhances the high-end to add clarity and shimmer. These are useful for quickly shaping the tone of a mix without needing an external equalizer.

The 1973 is versatile enough for both. Its fast-reacting FET design makes it excellent for tracking instruments that require tight control, while the independent band control and precision metering provide the surgical accuracy needed for mastering applications.

The variable crossovers allow you to define exactly where the low, mid, and high bands begin and end. By adjusting these, you can fine-tune the compressor to react specifically to the problem areas in your mix, such as isolating a muddy low-mid range.

Yes, it features individual gain-reduction metering for each of the three bands, plus illuminated VU meters for the overall output. You can also switch the VU meters to a 'Peak' mode, which is helpful for monitoring fast transients that standard needle meters might miss.