Description

The Drawmer 1978 takes the FET compression pedigree of the 1973 multiband and reworks it into a stereo mastering-grade tool that still fits in a single rack space. Behind its straightforward front panel sits an unusually deep control set for shaping the character, not just the level, of your mix.

Alongside standard Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release controls, you get four character switches that let the compressor mimic a range of different compression styles, plus a variable saturation knob for dialing in 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion. A wet/mix control blends processed and dry signal for parallel compression without needing an external mixer or DAW routing. On the side-chain front, both channels have insert points and a full side-chain EQ with LF and HF bands, useful for frequency-specific compression tasks like de-essing.

Metering comes via dual-colour backlit VU meters that double as saturation indicators, with a switchable +10dB rescale mode. Time-delay relays keep power-up and power-down silent, and an internal toroidal linear supply keeps hum out of the signal path. Build quality follows Drawmer’s usual approach: steel chassis, aluminium front panel, designed and made in the UK.

Fast, accurate stereo FET compression with tight L/R tracking
Four character switches for varied compression flavours
Variable saturation control for harmonic distortion
Side-chain EQ (LF/HF) plus rear-panel insert points, both channels
Wet/dry mix control for parallel compression, no external gear needed
Dual analogue VU meters with backlight saturation indicators, +10dB rescale mode
Time-delay output relays; toroidal linear power supply with voltage selector

Winner of the Resolution Award 2016 in the dynamics category, the 1978 is aimed at studios that want a bus compressor capable of gluing, warming, and widening a mix, without needing a rack full of separate boxes to get there.