Analogue Effects

Vintage Digital

Before digital signal processing came along, everything was analogue. Just because it isn’t digital doesn’t mean it isn’t as good! There are analogue effects from the sixties and seventies still in use in studios today even though there are digital or plugin counterparts available. One of the more well known analogue effects would be the Urie 1176 limiter. There would be very few records in history that does not have a Urie 1176 (or one of the many derivatives of it) use don it somewhere. Cult status certainly applies to the Urie 1176.

Another that is still used today even thought it was first made in 1957, and that is the EMT 140 plate reverb. To this day, the EMT 140 sounds amazing, and there are plenty of plugin options that try to emulate this great reverb, but no one is in a hurry to put their hardware out to pasture just yet. Roland’s Space Echo devices like the Roland RE-201 are worth a small fortune these days, as guitar players and studios chase after that warm sounding delay that only analogue tape can provide.

Released in 1951

Pultec EQP-1 Program Equalizer

The Pultec EQP-1 was a game changer in recording studios, as you now had the ability to manipulate the sound even farther than before.

Released in 1957

EMT 140 Plate Reverb

The use of simulated reverberation for recording, broadcasting and TV dates back many years. It has found many applications both for creating special effects and for optimizing the room acoustical impression in musical recordings.

Released in 1959

Fairchild 670 Tube Limiter

The Fairchild 670 Tube Limiter was the brainchild of Estonian immigrant to the USA, Rein Narma.

Released in 1962

Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier

The Teletronix LA-2A was released in 1962, and along with the Urie 1176, is one of the most iconic compressors ever made, and is still in use today.

Released in 1967

Urie 1176 Limiting Amplifier

There are not a lot of limiters designed in the 1960s that are still in production today, but the legendary Urie 1176 is one such beast.

Released in 1969

Teletronix LA-3A Leveling Amplifier

The Teletronix LA-3A released in 1969, fused the optical compression of the LA-2A with the solid state clarity and punch of the 1176 compressor.

Released in 1971

EMT 240 Reverb Foil

The EMT 140 Gold Foil Reverb replaces the EMT 140 with a far more compact reverb unit, taking up 1/5th of the space of the EMT 140 and features improved characteristics.

Released in 1974

Eventide Instant Phaser

Along with flanging, phasing was a very popular effect in the early seventies and Eventide were there to cash in on this trendy new sound!

Released in 1974

Roland RE-201 Space Echo

The Roland RE-201 was an engineering masterpiece. It featured a sophisticated tape-echo effect and a built-in spring reverb, with different sound variations selectable via 12 different operating modes.

Released in 1975

Aphex Aural Exciter

The original Aphex Aural Exciter from 1975 shown here is so rare, simply because they were never sold to the public, and as they improved on the product, it is assumed they destroyed the older models.

Released in 1975

Eventide Model FL201 Instant Flanger

The Eventide Model FL201 Instant Flanger was designed to simulate true tape flanging and offered a much deeper flanging effect than anything previously available, it was widely used on many legendary recordings.

Released in 1976

MXR Model 126 Flanger/Doubler

The MXR Model 126 Flanger/Doubler was released by MXR in the late 1970s and appeared in many studios of the time.

Released in 1976

dbx 160 Compressor/Limiter

The dbx 160 and 161 are single-channel compressor/limiters combining sophisticated technology and user-oriented features in a compact package.

Released in 1976

Klark Teknik DN50 Spring Reverb

The Klark Teknik DN50 Spring Reverb was introduced around the late seventies, just prior to the launch of digital reverbs.

Released in 1978

dbx 162 Compressor/Limiter

The dbx 162 compressor/limiter is a stereo device using true rms level detection circuitry tor signal sensing and sophisticated voltage controlled amplifiers as the gain control elements.