dbx

The VCA at the heart of so many compressors and console automation systems started with David Blackmer. He founded dbx in 1971 with a tape noise reduction system built around his VCA gain cell, then put that cell into compressors with a hard, punchy attack and, later, the OverEasy soft knee. We’ve got dbx compressors, de-essers, channel strips and 500 series modules coming through.

The 160 family makes up most of what comes in - the 160X, 160XT and 160A, the stereo 162 and 164, and the 165 with its extra timing controls - but the 676 channel strip and the DDP digital dynamics processor are worth a look too.

Then the oddities people hunt for: the 120A adds a sub-octave under the bass line (the bass player will notice), the FS900 rack takes 900 series modules such as the 902 de-esser, and in 500 series there’s the 520 de-esser, the 530 parametric EQ and the 560A compressor.

These were built to work hard, and they still do. If the model you want isn’t listed, tell Find Me Gear and we’ll find one, bench-tested and ready to ship UK-wide.