Empirical Labs

Also known as: EmpiricalLabs, Empirical Labs Inc

Unclaimed

23 Products · Used by 169 Artists

Empirical Labs EL8-X Distressor Effects Processors

$1,799.00 - $1,839.00

9 available stores

5.0 (26)

^# 4

in Effects Processors Rank

42 artists using

Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Effects Processors

$1,549.00

7 available stores

5.0 (24)

^# 5

in Effects Processors Rank

110 artists using

Empirical Labs Distressor EL8X-S Effects Processors

$3,499.00 - $3,877.00

8 available stores

5.0 (2)

6 artists using

Empirical Labs Arousor Dynamic Processor Plugins

$149.00 - $199.00

3 available stores

5.0 (9)

^# 1

in Dynamic Processor Plugins Rank

4 artists using

Empirical Labs FATSO Tape Simulator Effects Processors

$2,449.00 - $2,599.00

8 available stores

5.0 (3)

3 artists using

Empirical Labs EL7 FATSO Jr. Effects Processors

$2,449.00

1 available store

5.0 (4)

15 artists using

Empirical Labs UBK Fatso (EL7-UBK) Effects Processors

$2,175.00 - $2,799.00

5 available stores

1 artist using

Empirical Labs Fatso EL7x Effects Processors

$2,449.00

8 available stores

7 artists using

Empirical Labs EL8-XS Distressor Stereo Pair with British Mode and Image Link Effects Processors

$3,499.00

8 available stores

Empirical Labs EL-9 Mike-E Preamp / Compressor Preamps

$1,699.00

8 available stores

Empirical Labs Pump 500-Series Compressor Module Effects Processors

$699.00 - $849.00

7 available stores

1 artist using

Empirical Labs ELDS DerrEsser Effects Processors

$475.00 - $577.00

6 available stores

1 artist using

Empirical Labs EL-FTC Fatso Threshold Controller Effects Processors

$179.00 - $247.00

5 available stores

Empirical Labs EL8-S Distressor Stereo Pair Effects Processors

$3,049.00

6 available stores

Empirical Labs Lil FrEQ EQ Plugins

$159.00 - $3,199.00

7 available stores

3 artists using

Empirical Labs Pump (Horizontal) Effects Processors

$699.00 - $849.00

4 available stores

Empirical Labs DocDerr 500 Series Instrument Channel Strip Channel Strips

$784.45 - $889.00

5 available stores

^# 50

in Channel Strips Rank

Empirical Labs EL8-XXX 30th Anniversary Distressor Effects Processors

$1,996.00

3 available stores

Empirical Labs EL-500 Accessories

4 artists using

Empirical Labs Lil FrEQ Equalizer Pair Effects Processors

$2,499.00

4 available stores

Empirical Labs Trak Pak w/ Mike-E and Lil FrEQ Channel Strips

$4,199.00

1 available store

Empirical Labs "Twin Pak" EL-9 Mike-E Preamp / Compressor Pair Preamps

$3,249.00

2 available stores

Empirical Labs BIG FrEQ Plug-in EQ Plugins

$149.00

1 available store

Empirical Labs is an American audio equipment manufacturer founded by Dave Derr, an engineer whose work at Eventide preceded the company's incorporation in 1996. The firm is best known for the Distressor (EL8), a digitally controlled analog knee compressor first sold in 1995 that draws on the sonic character of classic units like the 1176, LA-2A, and Gain Brain while adding selectable harmonic distortion modes and aggressive ratio curves. The Distressor was inducted into the TECnology Hall of Fame in 2016 and has become a studio standard across rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic production.

Beyond the Distressor, Empirical Labs produces the FATSO analog tape and tube emulator, the Lil FrEQ equalizer, the Mike-E preamp/compressor, the DerrEsser de-esser, and the DocDerr multi-purpose channel strip. The company also manufactures the EL500 and Proto500 500-series modules and the PUMP compressor. On the software side, it offers plugin versions of its hardware through the Arousor and Big FrEQ, as well as the lighter Arousor LT.

The brand's identity is closely tied to founder Dave Derr's design philosophy, which favors musically tuned analog circuits with digital control for recallability. Empirical Labs gear is widely used in professional tracking and mixing environments, particularly for vocal, drum, and bass compression duties.

Empirical Labs has 23 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Effects Processors, EQ Plugins, and Preamps. Their gear is featured by 168 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Electronic, and Pop. Notable users include Oliver Ackermann, John Osborne, and Vance Powell. Most Empirical Labs products sit firmly in the high-end, boutique range.