DRAMASTIC AUDIO raises the bar and redefines the classic console buss compressor

DRAMASTIC AUDIO is an exciting brand delivering exciting compression devices. Inspired by some of the most popular compressors in the world, the Obsidian - in its most basic form - is a stereo feed-forward VCA style compressor designed with the recording, mixing, and mastering engineer in mind. Each unit is hand crafted in the U.S.A using high quality precision components.

Dramastic Audio's John Ellis discusses his motivations for developing the Obsidian:

"Developing this product has truly been a rewarding experience. It originally started as a project to build a compressor that suited my needs as a producer and engineer. One day while working on a project with another producer, I was explaining to him that after using so many great compressors, there isn’t one that has all the characteristics I want in one box. He replied, 'You’re a tech guy, why don’t you build one?' I thought to myself, 'Why not'?

"My goal was to build a compressor based on feel, musicality, character, and whether or not it sounds good. What do technical specs really mean to people anyway? All most people really care about is how it sounds, and I’ve always trusted my ears. After over a yearof R&D, trial and error, and numerous prototypes, I finally got it sounding right. Due to such a positive response from fellow engineers, producers, and clients, as well as many requests asking if I would build them one, I decided to go into production. Each unit is calibrated and tested with precision equipment, as well as with real music in a studio environment, just like you would be using it in."

The original Dramastic Audio Obsidian Stereo Compressor is the 19-inch 1 RU stereo unit. However, John Ellis saw the opportunity to take advantage of the 500-series and the ability to create a more cost effective stereo compressor, but also a 5.1 channel compressor solution via expansion modules. Enter the Dramastic Audio Obsidian 500-Series Stereo Compressor and its Dramastic Audio Obsidian 500-Series Dual Mono Expansion. For surround compression, you simply use one of the Dramastic Audio Obsidian 500-Series Stereo Compressor and then can add up to two of the Dramastic Audio Obsidian 500-Series Dual Mono Expansions. This expands the master module's control circuitry out to the slave modules and their detectors feed back to the master.

The Dramastic Obsidian Stereo Compressors (both the rack unit and the 500-series units) deliver all of the classic tone of the 'industry standard' console buss VCA compressor, and they heap on a ton of luscious feed-forward compression refinement, a completely overbuilt worldwide power supply, premium Jensen TXIO transformer interface, lots of useful new features like internal side-chain HPF in addition to other side-chaining options, and attention to maintaining incredible tone without compromise.

Bottom line? The Dramastic Obsidian should definitely be one of your goals to have on your stereo or surround busses.