{"product_id":"dbx-160-vu-the-first-vca-compressor-and-still-the-standard-on-drums","title":"dbx 160 VU: The First VCA Compressor, and Still the Standard on Drums","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1976 David Blackmer built the first solid-state VCA compressor and changed recording forever. The dbx 160 VU is brutally simple, three knobs and a big switchable VU meter, but it does one thing better than almost anything since: it grabs transients. Engineers reach for it on kick, snare and bass guitar, where its program-dependent, slightly grabby compression adds punch, glue and that unmistakable thwack. It earned its place next to the 1176 and LA-3A as a studio standard, and its transformerless design has stayed in front-line use for nearly fifty years. Simple, fast, and addictive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFEATURES \u0026amp; PROS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Original VCA:\u003c\/strong\u003e The first solid-state VCA compressor ever made, designed by dbx founder David Blackmer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTransient Magic:\u003c\/strong\u003e Famous for adding punch and thwack to kick, snare and bass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDead-Simple Controls:\u003c\/strong\u003e Threshold, compression ratio (1:1 to infinity) and output, nothing to get lost in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProgram-Dependent:\u003c\/strong\u003e Attack and release follow the material for natural, musical compression.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBig Switchable VU:\u003c\/strong\u003e Meter shows input, output or gain reduction at a glance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStudio Standard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mentioned in the same breath as the 1176 and LA-3A, on countless records.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrum-Bus Glue:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slam a parallel drum bus or tighten a bass in seconds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE WORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reverb describes the dbx 160 as David Blackmer's 1976 VCA classic, widely used to shape transients on kick, snare and bass. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reverb.com\/p\/dbx-160-compressor-slash-limiter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eRead more at Reverb\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPECIFICATIONS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e dbx 160 (160 VU); exact variant confirmable on request\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYear:\u003c\/strong\u003e introduced 1976\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDesigner:\u003c\/strong\u003e David Blackmer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e VCA compressor\/limiter, transformerless solid-state, half-rack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eControls:\u003c\/strong\u003e threshold, compression ratio (1:1 to infinity:1), output gain (-20 to +20dB)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMetering:\u003c\/strong\u003e large VU, switchable (input, output, gain reduction)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAttack\/release:\u003c\/strong\u003e program-dependent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition note:\u003c\/strong\u003e vintage unit; may benefit from a service\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"dbx","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49711854911727,"sku":"436","price":18500.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/5992\/9071\/files\/IMG_8461.jpg?v=1780999705","url":"https:\/\/innerpieces.art\/products\/dbx-160-vu-the-first-vca-compressor-and-still-the-standard-on-drums","provider":"Inner Pieces","version":"1.0","type":"link"}