The 1976 is designed to bring character, colour, and energy to recordings and live sound, inspired by classic 1970s hardware. It adds analogue richness with independent control of low, mid, and high-frequency harmonic distortion, letting you sculpt and enhance your mix with precision.
Inspired by the acclaimed saturation and width functions of the Drawmer DC2476 Digital Mastering Processor, the 1976 delivers three bands of independent saturation to add the pleasing imperfections so characteristic of vintage gear. From subtle warmth to bold harmonic grit, saturation brings fullness and depth, transforming a cold, sterile mix into something vibrant and alive.
In addition, the 1976 goes beyond conventional saturation units by offering three bands of stereo width control. This allows you to expand or tighten the stereo field across specific frequencies, giving your mix greater depth, space, and presence - all with genuine stereo operation.
Saturation enriches audio by introducing subtle distortion and harmonic content. In the analogue era, recordings naturally picked up these qualities as they passed through multiple pieces of hardware, giving them warmth and character.
In today's digital workflows, this process no longer occurs naturally, often leaving recordings overly clean or sterile. While plug-ins can approximate the effect, the 1976 delivers genuine analogue saturation, adding presence, warmth, and life to any source - whether drums, vocals, synths, or full mixes.
Unlike single-band processors, the 1976 gives you independent control over three frequency ranges. You can enhance a bassline with grit and presence without muddying the highs, or bring vocals forward in the mix without clouding the low end.
This flexibility lets you control transients, add harmonic richness, and shape frequency balance in ways single-band saturation cannot.
It really does shine in giving the user access to a '70s analogue vibe using only a few knobs and the minimum of effort - it's all so quick and easy. And all the while, the 1976 adds that extra sparkle that only the 'real thing' provides.
Saturation can enhance almost any audio, but it excels with certain sources:
Running audio through analogue circuitry can improve it - running it through the 1976 takes it to another level.
Without stereo width control, a mix often feels flat and two-dimensional. The 1976 addresses this with three bands of stereo width processing, allowing you to widen, narrow, or rebalance the stereo image with ease.
You can open up the highs for an expansive soundstage while keeping the low end tight and centred, or narrow the midrange to improve focus. Because the controls are stereo-linked, adjustments are intuitive and musical.
The width processor is built around an M/S (Mid-Side) encoder/decoder, with the Width knob adjusting the balance between Mid and Side information. This provides precise control over the stereo image in specific frequency ranges, giving your mixes width, focus, and professional polish.
The layout of the 1976 has been designed to be as simple, familiar and intuitive as possible whilst still giving complete control over the audio.
The front panel consists of an Input control that allows you to optimise the input level should it be to low, or hot. This is followed by three identical Low, Mid and High Saturation and Width bands, flowing left to right, with the Variable Crossover Frequency knobs separating them. To the right are the Output controls to optimise the output level.