Neve 33609J

The 33609 is based on a circuit design first used in the classic 2254 limiter/compressor which was designed by Neve in 1969. The 33609J’s combination of transformers and gain reduction element produces a sound quality which is unique amongst compressor limiters. Coupled with the unit’s unparalleled ease of use, this sound quality has made the 33609J a studio standard.

The limiter/compressor is a 2U rack-mounting unit with a clear, uncluttered panel layout. There are independent sidechains for the compressor and limiter sections with similarly independent threshold, recovery and attack controls. The compressor features a selection of ratios from 1.5:1 to 6:1 and a gain make-up control that comes before the limiter. Overall gain reduction is indicated on a moving coil meter.

Specifications:

• Frequency Response 20Hz to 20kHz +/-0.5dB, measured at 0dBu relative to 1kHz.
• Noise -75dBu with input terminated in 600 ohms, by-passed IN, compress and limit OFF;
  -55dBu with compress IN and gain make-up at maximum.
• Limit Level +4dBu to +15dBu, measured with limit recovery set at 50ms, level at
  +8dBu using a 1kHz sine-wave at +20dBu and +8 control adjusted to give
  +8dBu output.
• Limit Ratio with input level at 10dBu, increased to +20dBu the change in output level should be 0.1dB, +/-0.1dB.
• Attack Time slow: 4ms, +/-1ms
  fast: 2ms, +/-1ms
  being the time taken for a signal to return to within 1dB of its original value, using an increase in input level of 10dB on an input adjusted to
  +10dBu at 1kHz.
• Limit Recovery this is the time taken by the control voltage to reach a new value when an input at +20dBu is reduced in value by 10dB. The recovery times can be set to 50ms, 100ms, 200ms, 800ms, AUTO 1 1500ms, AUTO 2 3000ms (all +/-50%).
• Gain Make-up settings 0 to 20dB correspond with output level +/-0.5dB.