Welcome to the world of classic analog sound, reproduced with extraordinary precision in the digital realm! If you’re looking for that elusive vintage compression “glue” that has held together countless legendary recordings for decades, then Modern Fire Chainer by Antress is exactly what you need.
This plugin doesn’t just imitate, it embodies the spirit of one of the most respected and sought-after compressors in the history of audio engineering – the Fairchild 660. The original Fairchild 660 is a true icon, known for its unique tube character, smooth and musical compression, and its ability to give tracks incredible presence and depth. Its price on the secondary market reaches sky-high, making it inaccessible to most musicians and studios.
Modern Fire Chainer democratizes this legendary sound, giving you the opportunity to integrate its magic into your Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) completely free of charge. Designed with attention to detail, this plugin reproduces the key features and controls of the original hardware device, allowing you to shape the dynamics of your audio with a vintage color.
Features and Controls
Modern Fire Chainer offers an intuitive set of controls that allow you to delve deep into the world of analog compression. Each parameter has been carefully modeled to reproduce the behavior of the original.
Key Controls:
- Power On/Off: A simple switch to activate or deactivate the plugin, allowing for a quick comparison of processed and unprocessed audio.
- Input Gain: Input gain control with 1 dB increments, allowing you to precisely adjust the signal level before compression (from 0 to 20 dB). Correct input level setting is critical to achieving the desired degree of compression and character.
- Threshold: Compressor threshold control (from 0 to 30 dB). Allows you to set the level above which compression begins. The lower the threshold, the more signal will be processed by the compressor.
- Time Constant Selector: A time constant switch that determines the speed of the compressor’s response to changes in the input signal (attack and release times). The Fairchild is known for its unique timing characteristics, and this plugin reproduces them.
Time Constant Details:
- Attack Time: Fixed values (0.2, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 0.4, 0.2 ms) – although the values may seem similar, each mode has its own unique reaction to transients, affecting the punch and character of the sound’s attack.
- Release Time: Fixed values (0.3, 0.8, 2, 5 seconds, auto 1, auto 2) – a variety of options from very fast to very slow, as well as two automatic release modes that adapt to the input signal. This is one of the most characteristic elements of the Fairchild, giving it its signature “breathing.”
Additional Features:
- Ratio: Compression ratio control (from 1:1 to 20:1). Allows you to adjust how much the dynamic range of the signal will be reduced after exceeding the threshold. From light compression to hard limiting.
- DC Adjust: Control that allows you to smoothly transition between compression and limiting modes. This function adds flexibility in shaping dynamics and allows you to achieve different shades of compression.
- Metering Switch: Level meter display mode switch (VU, GR, Off). Allows you to visually monitor the output level (VU) or gain reduction level (GR – Gain Reduction), or turn off the indication.
- Output Gain: Output gain control with 0.5 dB increments (from 0 to 20 dB). Allows you to compensate for the volume reduction caused by compression, or simply adjust the plugin’s output level.
Why do you need Modern Fire Chainer?
This plugin is ideal for a wide range of audio processing tasks. You can use it for:
- Vocals: Give vocal tracks density, presence and a classic “radio” sound. The Fairchild is known for its ability to delicately tame vocals, making them more even and expressive.
- Drums: Add punch, body and vintage groove to drum instruments (especially kick and snare drums). Experiment with time constants to get different effects, from light “gluing” to aggressive pumping.
- Bass: Give bass parts stability, depth and character. The Fairchild helps the bass “sit” in the mix, making it dense and controlled.
- Guitars: Add warmth and “fatness” to acoustic or electric guitars. Especially good with funk or blues parts.
- Mix of Bass and Kick: A legendary application of the Fairchild – on a group of bass and kick or on the entire rhythm section to make it more cohesive and dynamically integrated.
- Mastering: Careful use on the master bus can give the whole mix vintage warmth, density, and the feeling of expensive analog equipment. But be careful, as this is quite a characteristic compressor.
Technical Details
- Author: Antress
- Format: VST
- Compatibility: Windows (Win32)
With Modern Fire Chainer, you get a professional dynamics shaping tool that carries the sonic heritage of the analog era. It’s easy to use, but offers enough depth to achieve a variety of sound results. Add this plugin to your workflow and give your mixes that classic shine.
