In this video I compare the Heritage Audio Herchild 670 compressor to the smaller 500 series Grandchild Module. The Grandchild costs only £1699 compared to the Herchild costing £8500. Is there £7000 difference. Quite honestly no there isn’t. And I feel that is audible in the audio examples. Not that the Herchild sounds bad, it’s more a fact that the Grandchild sounds so good. And for the price it is quite unbelievable.
- Original – Playback of Grandchild
- Herchild – Playback of Herchild
ABOUT HERCHILD
After decades of being so rare, hard to come by and almost considered mystical and near impossible to acquire, most people just assumed they`d never be able to actually use this legend, but don`t worry, the HERCHILD Model 670 is finally here and within reach of everyone.
For years the industry has referred to this tube-based beast as something special, unique and even magic-like. The original Fairchild has indeed been an essential part of the sound to so many hits during several decades.. It certainly has earned its title as the ´grandaddy´ of all compressors. Being based around 22 tubes and 9 transformers you can be sure the HERCHILD Model 670 will imprint its signature sound all over your tracks providing that familiar tone that we`ve all come to love. Although it was originally designed to be used for cutting lacquer masters for vinyl albums it didn`t take long for engineers to realise that it could do much more. It soon became an essential studio tool for many innovative artists, engineers and producers and could be found in most professional studios.
As there were only about 500 units originally produced there just simply aren`t enough to go around for everybody. Add to that the original requires quite a lot of special maintenance and after nearly 60 years there just simply aren`t many still in good shape. So that`s where Heritage Audio comes in…
Heritage Audio has been able to successfully follow the original design and trace the necessary components to provide a modern day alternative. It`s taken us years, but we`ve finally produced something so special that it`s capable of letting the old grandaddy take a long deserved rest, and make room for the new blood to take over.
It`s been quite a long journey, from sourcing thousands of NOS vari-mu tubes from all around the world to commissioning the best names in the industry for making the needed custom transformers.
While staying true to the original in terms of response and sound, we`ve been able to add a few things to make it more practical in modern day studios. First off we`ve given direct access to the continuously variable slope control (DC Threshold). This is something that makes the compressor so much more flexible and was only available on the original via an inconvenient screw adjustment hidden from immediate access. Then there`s the SC FILTER. Nowadays, it`s just about impossible to fathom a compressor without this feature as it`s become so important in everyday use. Here we`ve provided 4 different frequencies to choose from to precisely tailor your compression needs. We`ve also faithfully reproduced the exact attack and release times in the Time Constant section so you can confidently recreate the feel of its ancestor. The HERCHILD Model 670 is a two channel unit so you have the option to use them independently or linked together. There are actually 4 modes of operation: Individual, Link(Stereo), LAT/VERT(MID/SIDE) & LAT/VERT Link. Using the LAT/VERT mode provides a whole new world of options to your mix.
So finally, after so many years of this being unobtainable to mere mortals, the HERCHILD Model 670 is here and within reach of everyone. Enjoy the sound that has blessed thousands and thousands of hits throughout the years. Feel the warmth as it hugs your tracks and makes them stand out proudly from all the rest.
FEATURES
- Fully tube-based compression
- Side chain filter for modern day needs
- Immediate access to the continuously variable slope
- LAT/VERT mode makes MID/SIDE processing possible
- Clean, intelligent design to guarantee many years of use
- That legendary sound finally available to everyone
PRICE
- Heritage Audio Herchild 670 SX Pro – £8599.00
- Heritage Audio Herchild 670 Sweetwater – $9999.00
CONNECTIONS
- XLR – L/R
ABOUT GRANDCHILD
The GRANDCHILD 670/500 is stuffed with 4 6BA6 (5749) NOS tubes, three exclusively designed transformers (one per channel & and one for the Sidechain) and the necessary select components and circuitry to capture that elusive sound. For the first time ever it is possible to achieve that sought after tone and response in such an affordable package.
In common with its big brother, there is an INPUT GAIN control with an adjustable range of 20dB, the AC Threshold, 5 Attack and Release selectable times, the DC Threshold which gives access to the progressive ratio, which is a unique curve adjustment combining control of the ratio and knee, soft stepped from hard limiting to a very smooth and transparent, light compression. There is also a 3 position high-pass Sidechain filter to reduce the lower frequency´s influence on the detection circuit, a must have nowadays for current productions.
As this is a stereo unit, a sum of the two channels will determine the overall dBs of gain reduction for both channels ensuring a stable stereo image. All built into a solid 2 space unit for the popular 500 series format with an attractive age-referencing front panel complete with a beautiful, informative VU meter that not only indicates Gain Reduction metering but also informs the user of the unit’s 3-position Active/Bypass /Off switch confirming the status even from a distance.
It’s not easy to achieve that classic warm, hugging, intimate sound that just seems to effortlessly glue together a MIX in a musical way, but the GRANDCHILD 670/500 does it perfectly. Having already designed the 19¨ rack Stereo/M&S/two channel version and the 19¨ rack Mono version, it was just a question of fitting that ever so familiar sound, into a smaller space. The engineers at Heritage Audio accepted the challenge and responded with determination to achieve that lush, classy, elegant tone. With four 6BA6 (5749) tubes and three transformers you can be sure that your signal will be treated like royalty and whatever you put through the GRANDCHILD 670/500 will come out sounding much better.Try it for mixing, and hear the magic no other compressor can deliver!
For Live use the SMC2B is adding quality and musicality to top touring acts.
FEATURES
- The Fairchild for the rest of us.
- A true recreation of the classic Fairchild sound in a convenient and affordable 2-slot-unit 500 series module.
- Real Vari-MU compression powered by 2 NOS military grade 6BA6 tubes per channel and 3 custom made transformers at its core.
- 5 Attack and Release times have been made even more flexible than in the original unit.
- Immediate access to the continuously variable slope.
- Clean, intelligent design to guarantee many years of use.
PRICE
- Heritage Audio Grandchild 670 SX Pro – £1699.00
- Heritage Audio Grandchild 670 Sweetwater – $1999.00
CONNECTIONS
- 500 Series
