Empirical Labs® EL8 Distressor
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The world’s most popular compressor, exactingly recreated for UAD and Apollo.
Introduced in 1993, the Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor is revered in studios all over the world as the modern, “must-have” compressor. Versatile, super fast, and offering tons of color, the Distressor picks up where the legendary UA 1176 and Teletronix LA-2A compressors leave off — a modern tool that’s equal parts utilitarian and creative, as heard on thousands of hit records.
The only authentic Distressor plug-in endorsed by Empirical Labs’ founder Dave Derr, the UAD Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor is available exclusively for UAD hardware and Apollo interfaces. An exhaustive end-to-end emulation of Derr’s iconic hardware, the UAD EL8 Distressor is the only faithful emulation of this true “desert island” compressor.Now You Can:
Track and mix with the only authentic emulation of the EL8 Distressor — the world's most popular modern compressor
Radically shape guitars, drums, and vocals with nearly infinite gain reduction variations
Harness plug-in-only features like Dry/Wet parallel processing and Headroom for user‑customizable operating level
Creatively color instruments and vocals with famous “Dist 2” and “Dist 3” modes
Embellish, pump up, or destroy bass, synth, and room mics with custom detector filtering
Mix with presets from Joe Chiccarelli (The Strokes), Vance Powell (Jack White), Jacquire King (Kings of Leon), Jimmy Douglass (The Rolling Stones), and more
Take a Listen
5-Min UAD Tip
In this video, learn how the EL8 Distressor compressor can transform your mixes into something truly special.
The Only End-to-End Distressor Emulation
The Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Compressor plug-in provides all the features and coveted sound of the original Distressor design. UA’s team of DSP experts started with a complete circuit trace and component study of Dave Derr's selected golden unit. Simultaneously, the team analyzed three more Distressors representing the lifetime of the product — ensuring one of UA’s tightest circuit models to date.
When comparing Distressor software emulations, contrast the original hardware’s ultra-fast attack time to quickly hear where most plug-ins fail, and the authentic UAD Distressor succeeds.
The Right Ratio
The crux of the Distressor are its staggering variations in compression —
1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1, 10:1, 20:1 and Nuke — each delivering unique tones and curves. Use the 1:1 ratio to gently warm up synths or strings without compression, while adding musical low-order harmonics. At the other extreme, the Nuke limiter setting is famous for adding explosive excitement to room mics, or energizing a entire mix.
Distortion Modes
The Distressor's iconic Dist 2 and Dist 3 modes feature a wide palette of compression coloration, letting you shape sources with even or combined even/odd-order harmonic distortion. From delicate thickening to burnished tape to fully saturated, the Distortion Modes, combined with low-frequency filtering, let you focus the Distressor’s textures.
Powerful Sidechain Controls
The Distressor’s sidechain control lets you easily focus your dynamics. High Pass filter unwanted low frequency pumping and breathing — perfect for drum bus processing. Band Emphasis works to tame strident vocals or can laser in on harsh “power region” instrument midrange peaks, or use both together.
You can also run the Distressor on buses, linked or unlinked, for flexible imaging. Exclusive plug-in features like Dry/Wet Mix offer easy parallel compression on a mix bus or instrument group. Finally, the Headroom control lets you optimize the Distressor’s overall operating level to your playback system.
“The UAD EL8 Distressor feels just like the hardware, giving me results that I’ve been missing in the box.”
– Jacquire King (James Bay, Kings of Leon, Tom Waits)
“The Distressor is capable of such radical compression tones, that it becomes its own instrument. I’m confident the UAD version will become just as useful as the hardware.”
– Joe Chiccarelli (Jason Mraz, Beck, The Strokes, Morrissey)
“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 (Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs)
“From subtle compression to destruction, the Distressor handles everything with style.”
– Hector Delgado (A$AP Rocky, Selena Gomez, Lana Del Rey)
“The Distressor truly is the desert island dynamics tool, for controlling levels or creatively reshaping instruments into sounds that couldn’t be heard otherwise.”
– Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beach House, Future Islands)Watch The Reviews
Customer Reviews
D. Cadoch
January 14, 2021
An amazing sound...
The UAD Distressor lives up to its goal compresses and delivers a balanced and hefty sound without compromising. Very satisfied with vocals and guitar highs midrange and low!!...
Read MoreA. Mitrofanov
January 14, 2021
Удивительный компрессор
Отличный компрессор, с удивительными свойствами по компрессии. Можно применять на любом материале!...
Read Moreb. Nieminen
January 12, 2021
Amazing for everything
I think this sounds amazing for kick and snare, overheads, bass, guitars and vocals, so easy to use and sounds crazy good.
Read MoreM. Riecks
January 11, 2021
The modern compressor
There is actually nothing to say, but that in case you want to do modern music this is the compressor to go for. Versatility and options are great and the sound is amazing. I use this on...
Read MoreM. Riecks
January 11, 2021
The modern compressor
There is actually nothing to say, but that in case you want to do modern music this is the compressor to go for. Versatility and options are great and the sound is amazing. I use this on...
Read More -
Key Features
Painstaking, end-to-end circuit emulation of the iconic hardware designed by Dave Derr, exclusively for Universal Audio
Provides the entire circuit path and control set of the original Empirical Labs hardware
Features seven fixed ratios, including Optical and Nuke, Distortion Modes, and Detector Modes
Plug-in-exclusive features include Dry/Wet parallel processing and Headroom for user-customizable operating level
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Customer Reviews
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor Compressor
D. Cadoch
An amazing sound...
The UAD Distressor lives up to its goal compresses and delivers a balanced and hefty sound without compromising. Very satisfied with vocals and guitar highs midrange and low!!
A. Mitrofanov
Удивительный компрессор
Отличный компрессор, с удивительными свойствами по компрессии. Можно применять на любом материале! Круто заходит на Барабанной шине, на вокале. Если микшируете танцевальную музыку, компрессор, однозначно MUST HAVE!!!!
b. Nieminen
Amazing for everything
I think this sounds amazing for kick and snare, overheads, bass, guitars and vocals, so easy to use and sounds crazy good.
J. Neves
A Must Have...
Pure and simple!
M. Riecks
The modern compressor
There is actually nothing to say, but that in case you want to do modern music this is the compressor to go for. Versatility and options are great and the sound is amazing. I use this on Bass, Drums, even on Guitar. Only for vocals or busses/groups I am using the LA-2A or the Fatso. Thanks UAD for this plugin!
M. Riecks
The modern compressor
There is actually nothing to say, but that in case you want to do modern music this is the compressor to go for. Versatility and options are great and the sound is amazing. I use this on Bass, Drums, even on Guitar. Only for vocals or busses/groups I am using the LA-2A or the Fatso. Thanks UAD for this plugin!
b. zucchetti
Excellent as the original hardware and everything of UAudio !
Must to have !
A great big portable studio in my Mac !
By the time and waiting the right promotion i will buy everything of UAudio!E. Castro
UNA BELLEZA
tienen que tenerlo!!!!
E. Castro
UNA BELLEZA
tienen que tenerlo!!!!
M. De Maio
I'm super impressed!
What a great plugin, almost identical to the hardware version, plus I can add it to every channel I want- I'm so impressed by the instant quality it gives to my drums. Thank you!
S. Vasiľ
Best mix and subgroup compressor!
Best universal modern compressor for an track or subgroup, modern vibe, highs and stereo wide no cut, super tight dynamic BD and Bass ( vs all native soft plugins) super replica HW
S. Hellings
Perfect!
Does the trick every time!
I. Williams
Impressive Emulation
100% Happy...Sounds great just like the hardware :)
R. Miranda de Freitas
Perfect!
odd sound for drumsR. Miranda de Freitas
Perfect!
odd sound for drumsJ. Bru
Compresor por excelencia
Este compresor aporta una característica que lo hace muy especial, deja que tu creatividad fluya....
M. Elliott
Must have plugin!
Definitely a "must have" plug in for anyone doing production!
K. Landri
Sounds so nice!
Easy to make it sound good and use!
A. Petrakov
Great aggressive compressor
When I want things upfront or add some bite I use this, great addition to other UAD compressors. And it’s very versatile, controllable and adds strong character to everything.
T. Allen
Damn great!
Did a lot of research and checked a bunch of shootouts before my purchase... This is a beautiful emulation of the hardware. Gives you the grit when you need it, keeps is tight when you don’t.
