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Product Review
Audified U73b – Compressor/Limiter Plug-In
Sound On Sound Magazine
November 2015

by Sam Inglis
Although not as well-known as the classic Fairchild 660, the Telefunken U73b is in many ways its European counterpart. Like the Fairchild, it is a ‘variable-mu’ compressor/limiter which achieves gain reduction by varying the bias of a vacuum tube, and was originally intended for the same purpose: to control the dynamics of programme material being fed into a vinyl cutting lathe.

Audified’s recreation is, as far as I know, the first attempt to emulate this particular vintage valve cult object in software.

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The U73b’s control set is even more basic than that of the Fairchild: a three-position switch offers a choice of compression, bypass or limiting modes, while you also get a choice of three fixed and three variable release times. Like many old compressor designs, there’s no threshold or ratio controls, and the amount of gain reduction you obtain is purely a function of how hot the input level is. To make it easier to vary the amount of compression, Audified’s emulation includes input and output gain knobs, plus a calibration dial to set a suitable amount of headroom for your chosen working level. It’s also possible to defeat the original’s built-in 100Hz side-chain high-pass filter, and to link or unlink the left and right side-chain signals in stereo mode.
"Audified’s recreation is, as far as I know, the first attempt to emulate this particular vintage valve cult object in software."
Even with these concessions to the 21st century, though, the U73b plug-in can be a bit fiddly to use. The input and output controls are small, and I invariably found that they needed to be set completely differently in compression and limiting modes. And despite the option to switch it into limiter mode, this obviously isn’t the most versatile compressor in the world. In compressor mode, the knee is so soft as to be non-existent, and even the fastest release time isn’t what you’d call snappy.
Nevertheless, what the U73b plug-in lacks in flexibility it makes up for in character. Although smooth, it’s not exactly lush in the way that a Fairchild can be, and it has a noticeable effect on the tone of the programme material, lending everything a slightly forward, mid-rangey character. It’s the sort of thing that doesn’t work in every context, but can really enhance the right sources. There were times when I particularly liked it on vocals, and as a mix-bus compressor it has a definite presence and authority to it. If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, this is very much worth a try. Sam Inglis.

$149.

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  • ABOUT
  • PRODUCTS
    • Auro 3D Audio
    • BOME >
      • BOME Network Pro
      • MIDI Translator Pro
      • BOME Box
    • ESI Audiotechnik >
      • USB Audio Interfaces >
        • UGM192
        • MAYA22 USB
        • MAYA44 USB+
        • U24 XL
        • Gigaport eX
        • U22 XT
        • U22 XT cosMik Set
        • U86 XT
        • U108 PRE
        • U168 XT
        • Dr. DAC nano
      • Network Audio Interfaces >
        • planet22x
      • PCIe Audio Interfaces >
        • MAYA 44 eX
      • Mobile Accessories >
        • cosMik Lav
        • MIDI nTour CX
      • MIDI Interfaces >
        • MIDIMATE eX
        • M4U eX
        • M8U eX
      • Studio Accessories >
        • cosMik uCast
        • cosMik 10
        • eXtra 10
        • MoCo
      • Monitoring Speakers >
        • aktiv 05
        • unik 05+
        • unik 08+
        • aktiv 10s
    • LIVELOOP >
      • LIVELOOP
    • PEACH AUDIO >
      • CUBE 5
    • Ploytec >
      • PL2
      • AROMA
      • ONE.2
    • PSI Audio >
      • STUDIO MONITORS >
        • A14-M V3 Studio
        • A17-M
        • A21-M
        • A23-M
        • A25-M
        • A215-M
        • A214-M
        • A125-M
        • A225-M
      • ACTIVE BASS TRAPS >
        • AVAA C214
        • AVAA C20
        • AVAA TECHNOLOGY
      • Accessories >
        • R&B Router & Bass Management
        • Metal Grill & Brackets
        • Gig Bags
    • reProducer Audio Labs >
      • Epic 4 Nearfield Studio Monitor
      • Epic 5 Nearfield Studio Monitor
      • Epic 55 Midfield Studio Monitor
    • Teknosign >
      • BOX LINE >
        • PEQ – Parametric Equalizer
        • MVC – Vari-Mu Compressor
        • DSMP – Dual Solid State Mic Preamp
        • SSMP – Solid State Mic Preamp
        • RPS – BOX Line Power Supply
        • PPS – 48 Volt Power Supply
        • SAM – Sum Adjust Mini
        • DIA – Dual Active DI Box
        • DIP – Dual Passive DI Box
        • DPS – Dual Mic Splitter
        • HPA – Headphone Amp
        • HUB – High Power USB Hub
        • MNB – Mini AC Line Conditioner (USA)
        • MNB – Mini AC Line Conditioner (EU)
      • Summing Amplifiers >
        • Sum Adjust Classic
      • Automixer
      • Patchbays & Adapters
    • Ultramixer
    • Zynaptiq >
      • Zynaptiq Software Bundles >
        • CREATE Bundle
        • REPAIR Bundle
        • MASTER II Bundle
        • ZAP Bundle V
        • The Mac Audio Apps Bundle >
          • TRIUMPH
          • LOOP EDITOR
          • MYRIAD
          • SPECTRE
      • INTENSITY 2
      • BALANCE >
        • BALANCE - Mobile
      • PUNCH
      • PITCHSHIFT
      • PITCHMAP::Colors
      • ORANGE VOCODER nano
      • ORANGE VOCODER IV
      • ADAPTIVERB
      • WORMHOLE
      • MORPH 3
      • UNMIX::DRUMS
      • UNVEIL
      • UNFILTER
      • UNCHIRP
      • PITCHMAP
      • TIME FACTORY II
  • COMMUNITY
    • Product Reviews
  • BUY