Aphex Dominator II - How does it work and an easy fix

[@judsonsnell]

The original 700 models are worth tracking down - Aphex originally produced their own VCA (the 1537/A) that was famously used in the original Solid State Logic B/E consoles. The original Dominator has six of them (stereo x 3 bands). Compared to its contemporaries like the DBX202 or the Alison Research EGC-101, I have found the 1537 really 'snaps' well on percussive sources. One other thing people who want vintage analog character on a budget should check out are the DBX 900 series racks/moudles. Silver-side 903 compressors and Aphex 9721 Dominators can really get hairy if that's the vibe you're going for.

[@AERVBlog]

Wow. So much info in one post. Thanks.

[@linuxgamecast]

I've been tempted to put a Dominator after the Compellor for our live streams. Can't justify it but It looks like it could keep up with a modern lookahead limiter. I find the older Aphex and Orban gear absolutely fascinating. Thanks for taking the time to explain how they work, and how to repair them.

[@AERVBlog]

You should! The two were made to work together IMO. The Compellor is great for adding that little something that is hard to explain and the Dominator can take out the crashes and bangs without coloring the audio almost at all. The nice thing about both of them is that they are easy to set up to your liking and it's hard to make them ruin the sound. Thanks for watching

[@cylonvoiceguy]

Mine has a faint "thump" sometimes when engaging. I wonder if that's normal or needs service? 1993 was a looong time ago.......

[@AERVBlog]

I would start by checking the caps. The thump you are hearing might be the compressor kicking in too hard on the first sound. These have a circuit that is supposed to limit that, depending on where you have it set, and if the caps have changed value drastically they could cause it. Other than that I would say it might need to be looked at by someone with the right equipment to trace it down. Since you say it only happens sometimes that could be a challenge. Intermittent failures are hard to trace down.

[@medicinal_soul]

I have a compressor in front of this boy and he never lights up unless I bypass the compressor. I'm all diy was blessed with this guy for 10 dollars lmao is this okay

[@AERVBlog]

Please contact me at [e-mail]

[@dannydaniel8975]

Once you know how to set it to your particular music, its a beast, if you don't know what you're doing, it will ruin your music, and l mean, in a bad bad bad way!!!

[@AERVBlog]

Oh so true. Rule of thumb, if you can hear a difference you are doing too much.

[@dannydaniel8975]

@@AERVBlog Quite right!!