NAMM: Fairchild 670 Powered Plug-In Debuts

Universal Audio launched the UA Fairchild 670 compressor, further extending the range of classic modeled plug-ins for the UAD-1 DSP card. Existing UAD-1 users are able to experience the UA Fairchild 670 phenomenon via a 14-day fully functional demo that is part of the v3.4 UAD-1 software release. One of the most coveted and pricey of all vintage processors, the Fairchild 670 has long been the reference for classic stereo compression and a mainstay of vinyl mastering adding it's signature warmth and unique tonality.

" The hardware Fairchild 670 is the stuff of audio myth and legend and a luxury that only the very top tier of the recording studio world can afford. UA's Fairchild 670 not only brings those classic sounds to the realm of the project studio, but also does so at a breakthrough plug-in price point ($149) and allows users to run up to 12 mono or 6 stereo instances on a single UAD-1 card. We see this as another benchmark in establishing the UAD-1 as a 'must-have' revolutionary ingredient in native DAW systems." said Mike Barnes, Director Of Marketing for Universal Audio Inc.

The UA Fairchild 670 emulation was painstakingly modeled directly after Allen Sides' favorite golden unit at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles, which has seen action on countless classic albums. Universal Audio used their industry leading component modeling techniques to capture the sonic signature and behavior of the original 670 and added all the available functionality of the original hardware design including the popular "mods" to the user interface. One small change was however made to the front panel controls: the meter select switch positions, which were used to calibrate the meter on the original hardware, were removed since the software version of the meters have the benefit of not requiring recalibrating. The positions on the switch were replaced with highly useful input and output level metering views and the 'zero' screw-slot control was disabled.

In keeping with true Fairchild hardware tradition, UA included a separate aux panel that adds original rear access controls, common mods, or unique digital only additions:

• The DC bias controls are original controls (on the back of the real hardware units)
• The Sidechain Link control is a common mod, which had been done to the Ocean Way 670 that UA modeled
• The Controls Link is clearly a virtual-only addition, which allows linking of all seven dual controls
• The output level controls are also an addition for the plug-in, which allow make-up gain

The Fairchild 670 Compressor for the UAD-1 is now available as part of the new UAD-1 Studio Pak bundle and also for existing UAD-1 owners as a 14-day demo in the v3.4 UAD-1 driver/system download. Registered UAD-1 users can purchase authorizations instantly online for US$149 at my.uaudio.com .