Verspyck Hirsch Clear Compression Mono Tube Compressor

Verspyck Hirsch Clear Compression Mono Tube Compressor

The VH “Clear Compression” compressor is the co-creation of Chip Verspyck and Henry Hirsch. It is a mono vacuum tube compressor of a proprietary design and is not a clone, or based off of any brand X, or re-boot of any classic. These are hand built to order solely by Chip Verspyck, with old-school hand-laced cloth covered wire soldered to turrets pressed into a modern circuit board.

“My favorite thing about the VH comp is how heavy you can use it without losing fidelity.  It’s unreal how it can hold a vocal in place without any loss while adding a euphoric glow.”
-Dave Cobb

CLEAR COMPRESSION

IT’S WHAT IT DOES

By Henry Hirsch

Upon trying to establish a basic track sound that then integrates with a vocal, the need for tight dynamic control is most important for clarity and separation in the stereo field.  This compressor works by effectively compressing low end material that would get lost with too wide of a dynamic range, and the muddy sound of low bass ringing out, confusing to the lower range of the music arrangement.  To be able to control the clarity, it allows for the bass frequency to be kept as well as controlling the level. There is always a compromise between limiting and frequency on the bottom end where low notes are soft and sluggish sounding. This unit does away with that problem better than any compressor I have ever used. Then as you move into subtle harmonic chords that enforce the arrangement, by selecting the tonal range of your guitars, pianos, or orchestra, you literally can open up the harmony that usually crosses over into the bass range, and by clarifying the harmony, audibility of these stereo chords with the bass brings you into unparalleled clarity.  For punch on the drums, the compressor again allows you to choose how much natural drum kit to be kept next to heavily compressed drums.  Usually the mics for drums come in sounding soft and surprisingly different than our natural perception, and because of this they quickly disappear into the tapestry.  By choosing the specific range of compression, the drums can be glued to the track and will get your balance to sound clear and tight.  Finally for vocal compression, this device is so fast, it can tighten up the peaks and dips in a vocal, and even out those variables to allow the lyric to ride on top of your bed of music.  Most compressors are too slow to catch all the peaks or they mangle the sounds trying to catch up to them.  This device is lightning fast, and is inaudible when set at the precise position.  In the end, compression is the most difficult job of the engineer, and this device allows you to use the ranges of the instruments to lock in together what’s usually a confused series of sounds.  Absolutely invaluable.