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14-day money back guarantee included if product is not activated
You can purchase from Gear4music with complete confidence and peace of mind. All of our digital products come with a 14-day money-back guarantee as standard.
If you decide you don't want your order, you can return it within 14 days of receiving it. Provided your product hasn't been activated in that time, you can exchange it for a different product, or get a refund.
We will only issue a new product or refund if the supplier confirms that your product has not been activated. At the same time, we will ask them to invalidate it so that it cannot be used in the future.
This does not affect your statutory rights.
For more information, please refer to our Returns and Refunds Information.
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 50 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
- Mouth and Lip-Care Products
- CDs, DVDs and Software
We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 50 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
Key Features
The Universal Audio Empirical Labs Distressor is a true end-to-end digital recreation of a famous studio compressor. Originally introduced in 1993, this iconic piece of equipment has become a staple in recording studios around the globe. Known for its versatility and lightning-fast response, the Distressor brings a whole new level of colour and character to your recordings.
Building upon the legacy of the UA 1176 and Teletronix LA-2A compressors, the Distressor takes compression to new heights. It seamlessly combines utilitarian functionality with creative flair, resulting in a tool that is unmatched in its capabilities. The Distressor has been featured on countless hit records, making it an essential part of any audio engineer's arsenal.
Designed in collaboration with Empirical Labs' founder Dave Derr, the UAD Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor is the only authentic plug-in emulation of this legendary hardware. With an attention to detail that is second to none, every aspect of the Distressor has been meticulously recreated. From its unique sonic characteristics to its intuitive controls, this plug-in faithfully captures the essence of the original hardware.
Product Ref: 284054
The Universal Audio Empirical Labs Distressor is not just your average compressor plugin. UA's team of DSP experts went to great lengths to provide a faithful emulation of the original Distressor design. They started by conducting a complete circuit trace and component study of Dave Derr's selected golden unit. In addition, they thoroughly analyzed three more Distressors to capture the full range of variations that the product has undergone over its lifetime. The result is one of UA's most accurate circuit models to date, ensuring that you get the true sound and functionality of the original hardware.
When comparing the Distressor software emulations on the market, the ultra-fast attack time is where many fall short. However, the authentic UAD Distressor excels in this area. With lightning-fast attack time, you can easily shape the dynamics of your audio sources, ensuring clarity and precision. Whether you're taming transients or adding punch to your mix, the Distressor's attack time is there to help you achieve the desired result.
The heart of the Distressor lies in its wide range of compression ratios. With options including 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1, 10:1, 20:1, and Nuke, you have an incredible amount of control over the compression characteristics. Use the 1:1 ratio to gently warm up synths or strings without compression, while adding subtle harmonics. On the other hand, the Nuke limiter setting is perfect for adding explosive excitement to room mics or energizing an entire mix. Whether you need subtle compression or extreme dynamics shaping, the Distressor has got you covered.
The Distressor is well-known for its distinctive distortion modes, labelled as Dist 2 and Dist 3. These modes offer a wide palette of compression colouration, allowing you to shape your audio sources with even or combined even/odd-order harmonic distortion. From delicate thickening to burnished tape to fully saturated sounds, the Distortion Modes combined with low-frequency filtering provide you with endless creative possibilities. Whether you want to add warmth and character or push your tracks to the edge, the Distressor's distortion modes allow you to achieve the desired textures.
The Distressor also offers powerful sidechain controls that allow you to focus your dynamics precisely. The high-pass filter helps eliminate unwanted low-frequency pumping and breathing, making it ideal for drum bus processing. The band emphasis feature can tame strident vocals or target harsh instrument midrange peaks. You can also combine both features to achieve your desired outcome. Additionally, you can run the Distressor on buses, linked or unlinked, for flexible imaging. Exclusive plug-in features such as Dry/Wet Mix offer easy parallel compression on a mix bus or instrument group. Finally, the Headroom control optimizes the Distressor's overall operating level to suit your playback system, ensuring maximum compatibility and quality.
"This is the definitive Distressor Emulation" - Dave Derr (Founder of Empirical Labs)
"The UAD EL8 Distressor feels just like the hardware, giving me the results that I've been mixing in the box." - Jacquire King
"The Distressor is capable of such a radical compressor tones that it becomes its own instrument. I'm confident the UAD version will become just as useful as the hardware." - Joe Chiccarelli
"The Distressor is the perfect all-around compressor, and no studio should be without a few of them. Now with the UAD Distressor, you can have as many as you need." - Vance Powell
