Originally constructed in 1959 there was an initial run of 45 unit’s retailing at around $800, still a lot of money in those day’s and about $6500 in todays money.
It was licensed by the Fairchild Recording Equipment Corporation and designed by Mr Rein Narm who built the first 10 mono unit’s himself. The first unit sold was to Rudy Van Gelder a recording engineer specializing in Jazz music, the second 660 was sold to Olmstead Recording in New York, with the third going to Les Paul.
Rein was born in Estonia and immigrated to New York after fleeing the Soviet Union occupation in World War Two. He has an incredibly story about his journey to America and his history in electronics and design that you can read about HERE.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1716″ img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”400×400″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1728″ img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”400×400″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The 670 can act as two independent limiters or or can be switched to become a Verical-Lateral Component Limiter. Each half of the unit uses only a single push-pull stage of audio amplification and an extremely high control voltage, Resulting in a Automatic Gain-Controlled Amplifier that never produces any audible thumps or spikes. It’s famous for its lack of distortion and noise when pushed hard and used for long period’s of time. It has a very fast attack time, with the limiting effect kicking in at 10,000ths of a second, and the release time can be adjusted from 0.3 seconds to 25 seconds in six steps. You can download the original manual from 1959 HERE.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]If you are not able to find or can’t afford to spend $30k on one of these classic compressor’s then there are several company’s who make their own custom hardware versions of the units.
Anthony DeMaria Lab’s has what they claim is a perfect copy of the original unit. Their limited run has a stand alone PSU, 14 transformer’s and 20 vacuum tubes and all the capacitor’s and resistor’s match value’s as the per original.
They also offer replacement part’s based on the original 670 design. You can purchase their unit at Vintage King for $19k. The company also makes the “ADL 660″ a mono version of the Fairchild compressor using the same parts as the stereo version.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1684″ img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”400×400″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Mode Machines a German company that clone’s famous analog synthesizer’s from the 70’s and 80’s has created what they say is the first ever replica of the 670, and they have named it FairComp 670. Hand made in their own factory the circuitry is 100% matched to the original model, with 20 hand-selected tubes and 8 transformers. They are currently selling it on E-Bay for $19.990 with $499 shipping.
Pierre Oliver Margerand of “Pom Audio Design” specialise’s in recording studio equipment made between 1939 and 1981. He build’s custom units with some original part’s for around £6000.
You can also get units from Tube Equipment, HHB, Analogtube and several other vendor’s.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1678″ img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”400×400″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1696″ img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”400×400″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]If you cant afford the price of an original or a clone then there are now several options in the virtual world. I personally have two version’s one running on a UAD card and the other running native from Wave’s. You can also get clone’s by T-Racks, IK Multimedia and Tube-Tech among other’s. While they won’t be the same as the real thing they will be pretty close and the fact that you can run as many as your CPU will allow, they will never break down or need servicing is something those engineer’s in the 50’s could only dream about.
It sounds great on Vocal’s, Drums and Bass and it was my main compressor for the “Colin Cooper Project” album where i used it on all the vocals and most of the guitar’s. I also use it a lot for mixing and mastering Hip Hop as well as my Reggae and Club mixes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image image=”1692″ img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”721×461″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Below is a great video from Vintage King where over a 50 hour session in their tech shop they restore and bring life back to a fifty year old 670 with impressive result’s.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-5iEBR1Ii4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Ronan Chris Murphy is an engineer and songwriter who has worked with King Crimson and run’s the Recording Bootcamp. Check out the video below where he got to play with a Analogtube AT 101 in his studio.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfC-NhHqp9Q”][/vc_column][/vc_row]