A Modern Re-creation of the Legendary Fairchild 670
For over six decades, recording, mastering, and broadcast engineers alike have coveted the grandaddy of compressors, the iconic Fairchild. This reverence is due to its inimitably smooth, creamy, and natural-sounding dynamics control, heard on countless classic recordings of the ’60s, ’70s, and beyond. Less than 1,000 were ever built and today they are exceedingly rare, and even more so if you’re seeking one in good working condition. If you can find a suitable stereo Model 670, it will command a hefty price commensurate with its 66-pound curb weight. Fortunately, the Heritage Audio Herchild Model 670 brings home the bacon in a formidable re-creation that’s half the weight (and price) of a functioning vintage unit. The Herchild 670 gives you the sought-after sonics and program-dependent behavioral characteristics of this classic tube compressor, along with modern precision, premium components, and robust build quality that will serve you reliably for many years to come.
Smart, program-dependent soft-knee compression
The buttery-smooth sound of the vocals on Beatles’ records is largely thanks to the original Model 660, the mono version of the famous compressor, of which EMI Studios (Abbey Road) owned several. (If you prefer a mono unit, note that Heritage Audio also makes the Herchild Model 660.) This sound is the result of a number of factors, including — as featured in the Herchild 670 — 22 tubes and nine transformers. An inherent sonic attribute of this type of “variable-mu” dynamics control is the gentle, soft knee of the compression curve, with reasonably fast attack and fairly long release times. It’s also program dependent, so gain reduction starts at a very low ratio on small peaks and gradually increases to brickwall territory on very loud input signals. While on the Fairchild, the DC Threshold is adjusted via an internal trim pot, the Herchild 670 and 660 bring the powerful DC Threshold control out to the front panel for immediate access. This allows for adjustment over a wide range, from a seamless transition between compression and hard limiting to a harder, more pronounced knee. Another valuable feature is a sidechain filter that allows you to minimize the influence of low frequencies on compression action.
Discover the power of mid-side processing
Like its vintage inspiration, the Heritage Audio Herchild Model 670 works differently from most other compressors. The original design dated from the early 1950s and addressed the need for effective level control in vinyl disc mastering. The stereo long-playing record was becoming established and existed alongside monaural LPs. Being that stereo disc grooves stored twice the amount of information as those of a mono LP, dynamic shaping of the program material was essential (as was stereo/mono compatibility). The 670, placed in front of a cutting lathe, gave the mastering engineer precise control over the depth and the width of the grooves in order to maintain sufficient program length and level for an LP to be competitive with other commercial releases. Like the original, the Herchild 670 features LAT VERT as well as LAT VERT LINK modes. If you’ve discovered the advantages of mixing and mastering with mid-side (M-S) processing, LAT VERT gives you mid-side functionality for mixes with increased width, depth, and focus. LAT VERT LINK does the same, but with the two channels linked.
Heritage Audio Herchild 670 Stereo Tube Compressor Features:
The sound of a legend, now available to everyone
Classic tube-based compression
Class A circuitry with 22 tubes and 9 transformers
AMI input transformers; CineMag output transformers
Sidechain filter accommodates modern studio applications
Front-panel access to the continuously variable slope
LAT/VERT mode facilitates mid-side processing
Clean, intelligent design and robust build for many years of use
