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FEEDFORWARD COMPRESSION SETUP
The concept is pretty straight-forward: Run the input signal to both the INPUT of the compressor
and the SC - RCV. You can utilize the included splitter cable, or split the signal externally in a patch-
bay.
SPLITTER FEEDFORWARD SETUP
1) Use the provided XLR splitter consisting of a female XLR on one end and two male XLR connec-
tors on the other end.
2) The split left signals get connected to both the LEFT INPUT and the SC - RCV - L.
3) The split right signals get connected to both the RIGHT INPUT and the SC - RCV - R.
4) Switch the SIDE CHAIN INSERT toggle switches to the IN or UP position to hear the FEEDFOR-
WARD compression.
PATCHBAY FEEDFORWARD SETUP
1) Send the signals that would normally be going to the input of the UnFairchild to a ‘mult’ in your
patchbay. Both the left and right signals would be mult’d.
2) The mult’d left signal gets connected to both the LEFT INPUT and the SC - RCV - L.
3) The mult’d right signal gets connected to both the RIGHT INPUT and the SC - RCV - R.
4) Switch the SIDE CHAIN INSERT toggle switches to the IN or UP position to hear the FEEDFOR-
WARD compression.
7. FEEDBACK VS. FEEDFORWARD
One of the advantages of having a side chain insert on the Fairchild circuit, is that you can set up the com-
pressor to be FEEDFORWARD instead of its intended FEEDBACK design.
FEEDBACK compression means that the compressor is using the signal from the final output of the device to
trigger the compression. Counterintuitively, when the compressor starts compressing, the signal triggering
the compression gets quieter. In a way, it gives the compressor an awareness of how much it is compressing.
If it starts to compress a lot, the UnFairchild will automatically ease off on the compression. This FEEDBACK
design is the one if the defining characteristics of the Fairchild sound. It is what makes it so smooth when
compressing vocals, bass, piano etc. Smooth is nice; but it’s not the only way! Extreme, insane, aggressive
compression is also awesome. That‘s where FEEDFORWARD comes in.
FEEDFORWARD compression simply uses the input signal to trigger the compression directly. This approach
is much more common in VCA type compressor designs (DBX 160 or similar) When set up for FEEDFOR-
WARD, the UnFairchild will sound more like a VCA compressor. It’s a very extreme, unforgiving compression
effect. It can be amazing on any source material where you want to REALLY hear the compression. The one
benefit of doing this type of extreme compression with tubes instead of a VCA is that the end result is more
organic and musical sounding while still being very aggressive.
