Nod to The Legend · The gear · Late 1950s
The Fairchild 670
Variable-mu tube limiter, designed by Rein Narma
Rein Narma, who also built Les Paul's first console, designed this stereo limiter with about 20 valves inside and a weight to match. Abbey Road leaned on it through the 1960s.
Still heard: Its gentle glue on a mix bus or vocal is modelled by dozens of plugins, and originals sell for car money.
Related legends
- Bill Putnam: Engineer, studio builder, father of the modern console
- Les Paul: Guitarist and multitrack pioneer
- Bob Ludwig: Mastering engineer
- Rupert Neve: Console and preamp designer
- The SSL 4000 Console: Solid State Logic, founded by Colin Sanders
- Georg Neumann and the U47: Microphone maker