A BRIEF EXPLANATION ABOUT WARMTH

Anyone who has tried to record a human voice has found the dynamics of real world speech and music are impossible to handle with a 'linear' recorder. Even if the signals do not overload, the final result is a recording that seems to be thin, quiet and too wide in dynamic range. Early analog tape recorders had a built-in answer to the problem. By slightly overloading the record channel, it produced (predominantly) a 2nd order harmonic distortion and some volume compression. This made recordings sound 'warm' and reduced the problems of dynamics.

Unfortunately, modern digital recorders don't react that way. They produce an accurate reflection of the input with all its built in problems. Most engineers know about these problems and correct them with the use of equalizers (to change the psychoacoustic distance from the microphone), limiters (to reduce dynamic range at the louder end) and enhancers (to sparkle it up). Whether you are recording with analog or digital formats, you will find it is extremely difficult and time consuming to get a true 'vintage' warm and cozy sound.

Joe Meek, in common with all engineers, experimented with the limited facilities of the time (1960 - 1965) and came up with a way of enhancing the 'tape bend' effect with compression. The compressor he used was primitive at best, but coupled with the compression distortion provided by the valve 'tube' tape machines he had, the result was voice and music sounds that were unique and Joe Meek sold records by the millions. While significant improvements were made in the way Joe's early compressors worked, JOEMEEK Compressors are now a vital component to today's engineers, and are used in top studios all over the world. The consensus from these famous studios, producers and engineers is that the sound of Joemeek Compressors is right, and really does recreate the warmth and power of the much sought after 'Vintage' equipment without the side effects and the cost.