The D.W. Fearn VT-7 has an all Class-A vacuum tube audio path, like all D.W. Fearn products. The gain reduction elements utilize circuitry that duplicates the sound and characteristics of the finest classic vacuum tube compressors, without depending on tubes that are no longer manufactured. The control circuitry is modern solid-state analog.
The two channels may be used independently or linked together for stereo.
Controls:
- Threshold
- Gain
- Attack
- Release
- Curve
- Link.
The VT-7 is easy to adjust...
A THRESHOLD control sets the amount of gain reduction, from none to over 30dB. (The amount of available gain reduction depends somewhat on the settings of other controls.) The GAIN control provides the make-up gain to compensate for the gain reduction. The ATTACK and RELEASE controls provide a wide range of time constants, suitable for any type of sound. A knob labeled HARDER at one extreme and SOFTER at the other allows you to set the compression characteristics to match the material being recorded. More than just a ratio control, this adjustment affects many parameters of the compression. It is easier to hear than explain.
True analog VU METERS can be switched to monitor either gain reduction or output level. A LINK switch couples the two channels together for perfect stereo tracking of both channels. When the VT-7 is in the linked configuration, all settings for both channels are controlled with the A channel knobs (except for GAIN, which can be trimmed for each channel independently).
The VU meters can be switched between output level and gain reduction.
This compressor has a unique sound. It is highly transparent, adding only loudness to the audio without introducing obvious artifacts. The compression curves can be adjusted from very gentle to moderately hard. Like all our products, the VT-7 Compressor is designed to process high-quality audio and make it sound great. This compressor is not intended to be used as an obvious effect. It is more like having an engineer with infinitely quick hands on the faders.
Performance :
(no gain reduction, unity gain)
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.5dB -3dB at 5Hz and 65kHz
THD: less than 0.07%
Signal to Noise Radio: better than 80dB
5-year Warranty
The VT-7 has a 5-year warranty against all defects (tubes are warranted
for 1 year). If anything ever goes wrong with your VT-7 we will quickly
repair it at no charge. (See the instruction manual for full details.)
Design Philosophy :
D.W. Fearn products are hand-built by craftsman, one at a time, in the U.S.A. Unfortunately construction of this quality is not inexpensive. D.W. Fearn never designs to a price goal. They design products with the best possible performance, and then determine what the price has to be. D.W. Fearn products are not for everyone. They are for the discerning ear that will immediately hear the difference and for the user who does not compromise in his goal of making the world’s finest recordings. If that approach describes your recording philosophy, you will find that any of the D.W. Fearn products will make your job easier and more rewarding.
Since the introduction of the VT-1 in 1993, D.W. Fearn has maintained this philosophy - continually gratified that their products are in use by many of the world’s best studios, engineers, producers, and artists.
