The Hazelrigg Industries DNE is a 500 Series compressor that incorporates compression circuitry from the Hazelrigg Industries VNE and the D.W. Fearn VT-7, optimising attack and release times for a user-friendly interface, with additional features like a High Pass Filter (HPF), transformer-based signal path, and LED-based gain reduction indicators.

Compression Circuitry

The DNE's compression circuit comes directly from the highly regarded VNE and VT-7 units, ensuring top-tier performance. The compressor’s attack and release times have been fine-tuned to streamline operation, making it simple for users to achieve optimal results without complex adjustments.

High Pass Filter (HPF)

The High Pass Filter (HPF) feature allows the DNE to be less sensitive to low-frequency signals, such as bass and kick drums. This ensures that the compressor responds more naturally to the audio spectrum, preventing excessive compression of low-end elements.

Linking Units

Linking multiple DNE units requires a 500 series rack with a link function. When units are linked, the attack and release times average between the connected devices, allowing flexibility in settings. It’s important to note that threshold settings affect how the sidechain references the audio, so adjusting the threshold is crucial to proper operation.

Signal Path

The signal path utilises high-quality input and output transformers, ensuring robust performance with minimal total harmonic distortion (THD). The DNE also employs low-THD, high-gain solid-state components, delivering clean yet powerful compression.

PWM Methodology

The DNE uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technology, enabling extremely fast attack and release times. However, fast-release settings, especially when compressing bass-heavy instruments, can introduce audio artefacts that are less concerned with full-range program material.

Gain Reduction Monitoring

LED indicators display real-time gain reduction, providing clear visual feedback during operation. This allows users to monitor compression performance accurately and adjust settings as needed.