A Brief History of DBX Compressors

[@thomaspolychuck]

This is the coolest channel I’ve subscribed to in YEARS

[@CarlosKTCosta]

For sure my favorite is the 160A, it was a staple on bass racks in the late 90's early 00's so it triggers the nostalgia.

[@monovladd4392]

I have in my home studio: - DBX 160A - DBX 560A - DBX 160X (X2) - DBX 118 All of them are amazing, I use the UAD plugin too a lot but, anytime I put these analog racks in kick and snare... it always make me smile. Great video. loved It

[@VintageDigital]

Thanks for sharing!

[@judsonsnell]

Shout-out to the overlooked silver-sided 903 compressors made for the 900 racks. 202C "Gold Can" VCA's were used in a LOT of classic late 70's / early 80's machinery - the original SSL Quad Bus compressor comes to mind.

[@ThisGuyDude]

My favs are the dbx118 and the dbx566. That 118 is especially hella fun!

[@Rhuggins]

What a fabulous video - subscribed

[@VintageDigital]

Thank you, do spread the word!

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

I've got a few now (a 160VU, a 165, pair of 160A's and an Audio-Scape 260 which is an excellent clone version of two 160VU's) but _man,_ I wish I had known better back when I was in high school and saved all the money I made from my restaurant job. Back then (mid-to-late 1990's) 160VU's _pairs_ went for +/- $600, 162's and 165's would go $200/$250 and the latter 160X/XT/A's could go for anywhere from $50 to $150. Not to mention how cheap 1176's, 1178's, LA-3A's, and Pultec EQ's were. _Ughh!_ I get physically sick just thinking about it. The State college in my town had a recording arts program and back then they were fully committed to going digital and were selling stuff like that. They also ran and housed a radio station and were liquidating gear at that time. Pultecs, 1176's and 78's, CBS and Altec compressors, Urei "Little Dipper" EQ's, EV RE20's and original Shure SM7's etc. etc. I had _multiple_ opportunities to buy that stuff but naively, I thought I'd always have an opportunity to buy others down the line and although I knew it was useful stuff, I didn't realize just _how_ useful. _Ha!_ What a fool I was. Now I kust after this stuff. To this day my friend's father still has two "silver face" (Rev H?) 1176's, a pair of Pultec program EQ's, a pair of LA-3A's and several CBS Volumax broadcast compressors that he modded into _awesome_ units that sound incredible on lots of stuff but especially vocals and bass and a stash of RE20's and SM7's. All of which he bought from that college here in town for a price that today wouldn't get you _one_ LA-3A or pair of 160VU's.

[@janetkirby2448]

Hated the 162 back in the day … wish I had one now😎

[@joaoantoniovione484]

I use the 160A and 166 a lot. Would love to get the 163s and 165.

[@thanksmomstudio]

Love this video!

[@OPdbx]

I see lots of 118 love all over the net, but 119 is the GOAT

[@UrbanGarden-rf5op]

You omitted the 163X Over Easy Compressor. Half rack mono unit with a mounting bracket system, so you could build your own stereo version. Unbalanced I/O. Stereo link via TRS. It had an extra Hi Z input on the front and just a level pot and a horizontal fader marked MORE at the right end. Clearly targeted for guitar- and bass players. I didn’t get the soft knee concept at the time, I just thought the unit sounded cool. My limited budget prevented me from buying a proper stereo unit. This unit allowed me to buy one half at a time😎

[@VintageDigital]

We do have information for the dbx 163X on or website now: www.vintagedigital.com.au/dbx-163x/

[@UrbanGarden-rf5op]

@@VintageDigital 👍

[@robertwestinghouse4098]

Cool Could you do a video on the dbx 150X Type I Noise Reduction. I have one and not sure what/how it works.

[@marcferr07]

What about the awesome 166 stereo with gate from the 80s and 90s?

[@stevelees6225]

It is a 'brief' history, not a complete history.

[@icollided]

It's ironic that Blackmer is most famous for the opposite of what he was originally trying to accomplish with his first few products.

[@thechuckster6838]

I'm a 165 fan. That unit took the 160 and added what should have been in the 160 originally. The 165A is a dog. The clipping makes the peak stop limiter a useless addition.

[@joaoantoniovione484]

I have the old 166 (not sure if the numbering is an indicator of being a successor), and yeah, it's not what you'd expect for a limiter. But you definitely can make good artistic use of it, to add harmonic distortion on snare drums, vocals etc. (edit: 1 extra spacebar)

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

The entire unit isn't a dog, just the added peak stop limiter function is.