Engineers and producers agree that vacuum tubes bring a uniquely musical warmth and depth to sound. By combining eight active tube stages with the low noise and reliability of solid-state circuitry, the Drawmer 1960 offers the perfect bridge between classic analogue tone and modern recording precision.
Each channel features a natural-sounding soft-knee tube compressor and a low-noise microphone preamplifier with switchable 48V phantom power. A front-panel auxiliary instrument preamp with EQ provides direct access for guitars or keyboards. Together, they deliver the unmistakable character of valve circuitry with up to 60dB of clean, balanced gain — ideal for everything from detailed vocal recording to direct-to-digital capture of live performances.
The soft-knee design ensures musical, transparent control with minimal user intervention. Threshold is continuously variable from infinity to -24dB, with signals below the threshold remaining unprocessed while those above it receive progressively greater gain reduction.
Attack and release are switch-selectable, echoing classic all-valve compressors. Attack offers slow, medium and fast settings; Release offers six options, including two programme-dependent modes ideal for vocals, stereo mixes and complex material. The release setting also subtly shapes the attack behaviour, expanding the sonic palette beyond what first appears.
A make-up gain stage provides up to +20dB of boost after compression, with switchable VU metering for output level or gain reduction. Channels can be used independently or linked for stereo operation.
Side-chain access points allow external EQ insertion for de-essing or frequency-dependent compression. As with all Drawmer dynamics units, the Bypass switch offers three modes — Normal, Bypass and Side Chain Listen — so the effect of external processing can be monitored directly.
Alongside the balanced mic and line inputs, a front-panel DI input allows direct connection of instruments. With onboard EQ and ample gain to drive the tube stage into musical saturation, it functions as a DI box, equaliser and compressor in one — perfect for adding sustain and warmth to guitars, basses or synths while routing directly to a console or recorder.
