Heritage Audio Herchild HA660

A Modern Re-creation of the Legendary Fairchild 660

For over six decades, recording, mastering, and broadcast engineers alike have coveted the grandaddy of compressors, the iconic Fairchild. This reverence is due to its inimitably smooth, creamy, and natural-sounding dynamics control, heard on countless classic recordings of the ’60s, ’70s, and beyond. Less than 1,000 were ever built and today they are exceedingly rare, and even more so if you’re seeking one in good working condition. If you can find a suitable mono Model 660, it will command a hefty price commensurate with its beefy curb weight. Fortunately, the Heritage Audio Herchild Model 660 brings home the bacon in a formidable re-creation that’s half the weight (and price) of a functioning vintage unit. The Herchild 660 gives you the sought-after sonics and program-dependent behavioral characteristics of this classic tube compressor, along with modern precision, premium components, and robust build quality that will serve you reliably for many years to come.

Smart, program-dependent soft-knee compression

The buttery-smooth sound of the vocals on Beatles’ records is largely thanks to the original Model 660, the mono version of the famous compressor, of which EMI Studios (Abbey Road) owned several. (If you prefer a stereo unit that can also handle mid-side processing, note that Heritage Audio also makes the Herchild Model 670.) This sound is the result of a number of factors, including — as featured in the Herchild 660 — 11 tubes and five transformers. An inherent sonic attribute of this type of “variable-mu” dynamics control is the gentle, soft knee of the compression curve, with reasonably fast attack and fairly long release times. It’s also program dependent, so gain reduction starts at a very low ratio on small peaks and gradually increases to brickwall territory on very loud input signals. While on the Fairchild, the DC Threshold is adjusted via an internal trim pot, the Herchild 660 and 670 bring the powerful DC Threshold control out to the front panel for immediate access. This allows for adjustment over a wide range, from a seamless transition between compression and hard limiting to a harder, more pronounced knee. Another valuable feature is a sidechain filter that allows you to minimize the influence of low frequencies on compression action.

Heritage Audio: legendary performance and epic value

Founded in 2011 by engineer/producer Peter Rodriguez, Heritage Audio immediately set about designing and manufacturing equipment inspired by legendary vintage British console modules. The company leverages the same handwired, transformer-coupled Class A circuitry, with functionality aimed at today’s studio workflows. In 2021, the company turned its attention across the Atlantic with the acclaimed MotorCity EQ, and now the Herchild 660 and 670. Designed to stringent tolerances and meticulously crafted in the company’s factory in Spain, Heritage Audio gear delivers clean, problem-free audio with generous headroom and the vintage-flavored sonics we all crave. Sweetwater is proud to offer you this distinguished line of high-performance pro audio equipment.

Heritage Audio Herchild 660 Mono Tube Compressor Features:

• The sound of a legend, now available to everyone
• Classic tube-based compression
• Class A circuitry with 11 tubes and 5 transformers
• AMI input transformers; CineMag output transformers
• Sidechain filter accommodates modern studio applications
• Front-panel access to the continuously variable slope
• Clean, intelligent design and robust build for many years of use
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